Rob F: Worship and Other Random Thoughts

This morning we worshiped with the Pavon Church.  Honestly, other than not understanding much of what wasn't translated, it wasn't really any different than most other services that I have ever been to.  We sang, read scripture, listened to God's word being preached, shared in Communion, and collected offering.  However, even though I couldn't understand much of the language, it was clear that the Lord was being worshiped.  We talk a lot about how big God is and how He is the Lord of all the nations, but it puts it into a little better perspective when you get to be a part of church in another country.

After the morning service, the church served a lunch to celebrate their 17th anniversary.  The food was delicious and the fellowship good.  One of the things that has struck me most since we have been here is the hospitality of everyone we have encountered.  We came here to serve, but have been served in return.

This afternoon was our last day at Gorgorron.  It was bittersweet as yesterday and today I could really see our groups truly interacting and building relationships with the kids there.  The people there were very receptive to the teaching and appreciative of the time we spent with them.

So much of what we are doing here isn't anything that can be pointed to physically.  I have been struggling with some questions related to that.  What am I really doing here?  Is our presence here really doing any good?  Are we making any difference?  Since this is my first time here, these are hard questions to answer for me.  I know that being here helps with the VBS programs, just in having people to help out.  But what beyond that?  Amy and Brigido showed us a piece of land yesterday at Gorgorron that has been offered to the Mission for purchase.  The cost is approximately $7,000 US.  John shared with us that this empty piece of property is how the church at Pavon started out 12 years ago.  We have challenged the kids that we are here with to use this as an opportunity to make this the place where a church at Gorgorron can call home in the future.  This, could be our physical connection to God's work in this place.  Just as we challenged the kids, I would challenge anyone reading this blog to think about this as well.  The house church at Gorgorron is a direct result of the ministry at the Pavon church.  How exciting it would be to come back again in two, five, even ten years from now and see what God can do with that property.  $7,000 is a small sacrifice to see God's kingdom expanded.