A day of joy and connection: June 28th

June 28

We began the day with a trip to Barbacoa, a local restaurant, to enjoy delicious breakfast tacos before returning to the compound to prepare for church.

During the church service, Pastor Nacho invited members of our team to share their testimonies. Anne, Mik, Todd, Beth, and Lindsay each shared heartfelt and emotional stories of how God had been working in their lives. Their testimonies were a blessing and an encouragement to everyone in attendance. During this time, Pastor Nacho shared a prophetic word with Lindsay, speaking about her heart and expressing his belief that God has a special purpose for her in this place. It was a powerful and emotional moment that deeply touched everyone present.

At the conclusion of the service, Pastor Nacho invited our entire team to come forward for prayer. He laid hands on each of us as he prayed over our team, asking God to continue using us and to bless the work being done throughout the week.

Following that prayer, Pastor Nacho asked Louis and his wife to come forward. Louis was preparing for kidney surgery scheduled for Tuesday, and the church gathered around him in prayer. Several members of our team laid hands on him as we joined together, asking God to guide the surgeons, grant a successful procedure, and provide complete healing and peace for Louis and his family.

After the church service concluded, the members of Pastor Nacho's church had prepared homemade burritos that were available for purchase. Many of us enjoyed the delicious burritos for lunch before leaving to spend the afternoon exploring the local community.

We visited a candy store where we purchased a variety of traditional Mexican candies, followed by a stop at a local ice cream shop. Everyone enjoyed different flavors, including chocolate, pistachio, cookie dough, vanilla, bubble gum, coconut, and even a couple of banana splits.

Later that afternoon, we returned to the compound and went to the children's home, where we prepared hamburgers for the children and staff. Their style of hamburger is quite different from what we are accustomed to in the United States. The burgers were grilled and topped with sliced boiled hot dogs, a fried slice of bologna, cheese, and mayonnaise. It was a fun cultural experience to share a meal prepared the way they enjoy it.

While we were there, two local gentlemen on horseback stopped by after Memo spoke with them. They graciously brought their horses into the children's home, allowing the children to take turns riding them. The smiles and excitement on the children's faces made this an unforgettable part of the day.

After dinner, we spent the evening simply enjoying time with the children. We played basketball and soccer, created fun shapes with Play-Doh, decorated the sidewalks with colorful chalk, and laughed together until about 9:00 p.m.

The day was filled with worship, prayer, fellowship, laughter, and the joy of building relationships. It was a beautiful reminder that some of the greatest ministry happens through simply spending time with others and sharing God's love in practical ways.