It was our last night in El Salvador. Our last time to preform the drama, our last opportunity to share the great gospel that had moved our hearts to come. My mind was torn between thoughts of traveling to the comforts of home and the deep sorrow of leaving the Pastor Mauricio and his sweet wife Nellie. Once a communist and atheist, now a father of many churches and schools, Pastor Mauricio is one of the most amazing, humble, loving men of God that I have ever known. He is now my father. He poured His heart out to my husband and me during this trip. He was a sweet reflection of my Father God. His words from our very first day rang in my mind, “we love because He first loved us.”
(Pastor praying over our last night of ministry)
We were tired, but the last night was as fun all our other times of ministry. We walked around the rough neighborhoods with a security guard keeping watch. And in broken spanish, invited the neighborhood families to come see our drama. We preformed our short skit, our way of explaining the gospel across the barriers of language.
I was amazed each night by the beauty of the gospel. I felt so blessed to share such good news of great love. I felt so blessed to be a part of Pastor Mauricio’s ministry to El Salvador.
Hundreds crammed into the village church after our last night of ministry. Pastor Mauricio had fathered this church many years ago. As the guests of honor in the village, our last task in El Salvador would be to pray over the young pastor Alex and his wife who now pastored the church that Pastor Maurico had started. It was the young couples 15th wedding anniversary.
The church presented the pastors with flowers and a cake. Then they asked us to come and pray a blessing over Pastor Alex and his wife. They knelt down before us, and I couldn’t help but think they should be praying for us. As I rest my hands on their shoulders and began to pray, I heard them weeping softly. I looked down and the ground at our feet was wet with their tears.
As the prayers ended, I fell back to observe and not intrude on the celebration. The church brought the couple forward and demanded a speech. The wife shyly began to speak. She spoke of the Jesus she loved so much. She thanked God for the great mission of the gospel and the task of pastoring their beloved church. She thanked God for the precious gift of salvation. She told the congregation that after the love of Jesus Christ, her husband has been the best gift that God had ever given her. Tears were falling down her face. They were falling down mine too.
Cake was cut and hugs were given. Our team gathered in a small room to eat pupusas that the church women made us. I sat overwhelmed by the honor and love we had received from the people. I couldn’t help but remember every flaw I have. How unworthy I am.
I was awakened from my thoughts as I realized that I was being passed another plate of food. It was the last slices of anniversary cake. I looked up to thank the person who was handing me the plate. It was Pastor Alex’s wife. She was serving me her anniversary cake.
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The love of Christ is beautiful. “We love because He first loved us.”
When we experience the true love of Jesus, faults are not hidden, in fact, they flood to the surface. We are utterly exposed, utterly vulnerable, and utterly humbled. We see ourselves for what we truly are: weak and imperfect.
And instead of being rejected and turned away, we are taken up into His loving arms. The ultimate sacrifice is made the death of Jesus Christ, He covered our imperfections, washed away our shame, and healed our tears. Oh great is the love of Christ!
When we experience that kind of love, how can we love any other way. 1 John 4:7-20
“She was serving me her anniversary cake.” Such a little action, but packed with a powerful messege: love. That’s definitely one of those “God is amazing” moments.
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