El Salvador Mission Report - Day 6, Pastor Tara
Aug 16, 2010Sunday, Day 6
I have posted some amazing reports from the students participating as evangelists on this trip. Their experiences that they’ve shared after
returning from our evening evangelistic meetings each evening have caused me to laugh and cry. I hope you’ve enjoyed the stories they’ve written for this
mission report blog. I am so proud of our team and I praise God for what He’s doing in and through each of them. Today, it is my turn to share.
This Sunday morning, we woke up early to leave the house by 7:30am for worship and meeting at the Mission Office. Each of the student evangelists
and the local pastors discussed how the first meetings have gone and how we can improve. After this, it was time to work on sermons and prepare for
our evening meetings. Tonight we made a very important appeal to follow Jesus and surrender their lives to Him. It was a beautiful gospel presentation
and our first altar call.
Last night at Amanda’s site, two girls raised their hands to accept Jesus. At Alyssa’s site one person was baptized that evening and two more committed
to baptism after her appeal. At Greg’s site, he had the opportunity to pray for healing for a little boy and the mom was crying all through his prayer.
At Lee’s site, a couple that has been going back and forth about committing to Christ, surrendered to him and said they want to be baptized! At Delon’s
site he had everyone’s attention and many talked afterwards about surrendering to Jesus. At my campaign site, there were many who surrendered to Christ
as I made the longest appeal I have ever made. I felt the Holy Spirit leading my words, saw tears in people’s eyes and invited them to come forward. We
all had powerful experiences with the sermon and appeal last night and we really see God working among all classes of people – poor and professional –
impressing their hearts with God’s amazing love!
It’s been a great experience leading this group, and preaching an evangelistic series myself here in El Salvador. The West Mission has really
devoted pastors and its been such a pleasure to join them in the evangelistic efforts with their churches. It’s encouraging to me as a pastor
to know that I have such amazing collegues in other parts of our world church!
The site that I am preaching at is a 3-sided government building with a metal roof and an open recreation area. This campaign is the joint
effort of three beautiful churches, lead by Pastor Juan Montano. He is the ShareHim coordinator for this Mission and he and his wife have been
fantastic! They are around the same age as Caleb and I too, which has been fun. His mother-in-law cooks amazing meals for us everyday for lunch and
then the church members provide us dinner each evening.
When I met with the church leaders on Thursday night before the meetings began, I told them that there was a church in Philadelphia called Chestnut Hill
Seventh-day Adventist Church that was joining them in prayer for all that God would do during our time together. That even as we are serving here, there
are members who are over 4,000 miles away who are a part of this evangelistic effort. You – my dear community – were an encouragement to them, and I pray
that they are an encouragement to you.
One of the most powerful experiences for me so far was yesterday, on Sabbath. After my sermon about the signs of the coming of Jesus, I felt impressed
to make an invitation for anyone to share the burdens of their heart and to have special prayer with me. One at a time, people came up to me as I stood
under the tree in the courtyard area of the church yard, and shared the burdens of their hearts.
As my translator and I ministered together, we heard stories about cancer, gang activity, engagements, abuse, family members who left the church,
sick babies, and addictions – and we prayed with each person, seeking the throne of grace on their behalf. As Luis, my translator, and I flowed seamlessly in conversation and in prayer, I sensed the Holy Spirit rest on us. There were many people who looked up after we said amen, with tears flowing
down their faces. It was a powerful experience of God’s grace!
I praise God for this experience, especially because I was praying to be able to minister even though I only speak a little bit of Spanish. I felt a
burden on my heart, as I do while ministering at Chestnut Hill, that I needed to make an invitation and to seek God with them in prayer. I followed what
God said and despite the language barrier meaningful connections and pastoral ministry took place!
One of the things that I have been pleasantly surprised with is the receptivity and excitement amoung the people to see a woman pastor. In this
country there are many women serving as elders and head elders. One of them shared with me that she was so happy to see me serving, because she
has prayed for the day women would be able to be pastors in our church, “and now here is the answer to my prayers,” she said. Men and women, young and
old, lay members and pastors all alike have been welcoming and supportive. They have invited me to minister here and embraced me with open arms.
I am encouraged that God is doing a work in our world-wide Seventh-day Adventist Church to draw us together around our mission and purpose in these
days before Jesus returns. As we unite together in God’s work – telling His precious children of His love and the truth in His Word – we will be
able to resist the arguments and “discussions” than can alienate us from each other and distract us from our calling.
It has been such a privilege to minister in El Salvador. Yesterday, one of the elders said to me, “We really like you and when you leave, a part of
our heart will go with you.” I can honestly echo the same in return – a part of my heart will remain here in El Salvador.
Know that all of you are on my heart and continue to be in my prayers!
Signing off from Santa Ana, El Salvador,
Pastor Tara
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