SARAH PREACHING IN SPANISH!!!

This would be proof to my American friends that I can actually speak the Spanish language and even preach without a translator! AAAAAAAAAH!!!!  I still can't believe it!  It's far from perfect, but God's helping me with that (and a few patient friends)!!!

This wasn't exactly the happiest message I've had to give, but it went really well and the people received the Word.  I spoke from 3 different Bible passages:

1. Revelation 3:15-17  --  You think that you are alright, that your life is just grand... "but you do not realize that you are wretched, poor, blind and naked.  Your relationship with God is not what it seems.

2. Jonah 1 --  There are some people who are running away from their calling on their life, from the instructions God has given them.  Running away not only affects yourself, but also the lives of others.

3. Revelation 2:2-5  --  And finally, the hardest Word I had to share:   That there are some of us who have forsaken their first love... in other words, there are some who's relationship with God has disintegrated to practically nothing.

This video ends with a song called "Perfume A Tus Pies" (Fragrant Perfume).  Because I had been sick for a week, I really had no voice to sing... but the boys learned the song really fast that morning to help me out!!!

Youth group!

I was given the great honor to share a message at a youth meeting in Pastor Carlos' church, Fuente de Amor y Paz.  God gave me a message from the Bible passage: Revelation 3:15-17, and the question was how "hot", passionate, on fire, excited for God are we???

I shared several examples of what God can do with us.... even us "young people" when we are on fire for Him and have surrendered ourselves to His great plan.

And because I'm crazy and don't like to do anything "normal" (especially in the church), Miguel was stuck cleaning up the mess I made after one of my illustrations....  hehe!

This was so fun to watch!  Claudia (the pastor's daughter) made all of the kids get on stage and do a dance with her!  They did great for trying it for the first time!!!

An evening in La Pampa

On Friday, February 25, I was invited to speak that the new church in La Pampa.  La Pampa is a neighborhood of Palmira where many poor families live.  I had visited them the year before, and they instantly became very special to me.  In fact, this was the first place that people started calling me "Pastora Sara"!!!

(I'm still waiting on more photos from Pastor Daniel)

Pastora Lida opened the service with a time of prayer

First ones there!  :)

Julian lead the worship

Prayer and worship

Singing a song before I spoke

With the gang after service

 Pastora Lida, Sarita and Pastor Daniel Vergara

The next step in overcoming the fear...

So, my friend Christian decided he was going to give me motorcycle lessons in the garage of our apartment building...

I was very concentrated on understanding his instructions!

Test run...

Success!  I know how to work the brakes!  hahaha!

 This short video was narrated by Chrisian's wife Day Ana.

PRESENTS!!!

A couple churches from the United States had sent down gifts for the children.  The first "wave" of gifts was received on Christmas Day, and the others came down with my dad and me in January.

The sorting of gifts was quite the process considering everything was spread out among four suitcases.

A family chat before the gifts were revealed...

... it was a serious talk about good behavior, obedience, etc.  A basic family talk.

Juan Pablo wasn't too sure what to do with his gifts.

Angelica loved her new Barbie doll!

Carlitos.... always grateful for anything!

Mauricio LOVES his new iguana!

David got some Legos, among other goodies.

Claudia received her very first Barbie also, along with other great "girl" things!  :)

Daniel got Toy Story 3 memory game!!!!

And Cristian.... got his very own camera.... FINALLY!!!!

Rocky and Lala received a very special gift from a lady from Fort Dodge.... an afghan crocheted with love and prayers.

So happy!

Pastor Francisco's children also received gifts!!!  

(Note: this is NOT an ad for Walmart though it may appear to be.)

Mariana started folding and organizing her new clothes the moment she pulled them out of her bag.

Camilo and Dana searching through all their goodies.

A big THANK YOU to everyone from the States who sent gifts to the children.  It really made them feel special and happy!!!

A message from God...

On February 5, I was invited to speak at a house meeting in Palmira.  

We had a scavenger hunt to find different "messages" from God...

... and each one took a turn reading the message they found.

Each piece of paper also had a letter on it to build ANOTHER message from God.

Still reading the Bible verses they found...

... each one was about the love God has for us.

We have all the letters!  Now they have to figure out what they say....

"Te amo, mi hijo"   =   "I love you, my child"

Just preachin...

They were such good listeners and participants!

The group!

A glimpse into the Foundation...

Here are some great pics from different moments at the Foundation.  For those of you who know me well, you know that I don't go anywhere without one of my cameras... and well... I have probably about a million pictures of these children by now!  These are some of my favorites...

"Playing" with our new computers and trying to figure out how everything works.  So far they just want to play games.... HA!  Wait till they hear that they're going to be using these for HOMEWORK!!!  The computers were donated to El Camino by First Federal Savings Bank of Iowa (Fort Dodge, Iowa).

Lala & Abuela - Lala is the director of the Foundation along with her husband Rodrigo.  Abuela (Grandma) is Rodrigo's mom and she is also our new cook!

Pablo and Juan Pablo

This is how we get rid of the freshly cut grass in the finca (our property).  Nothing goes to waste... we get a clean finca and the cows get lunch!

Homework time!!!

Thank goodness MATH is a universal language!

Pepe.... This creature wandered into the Foundation about a year ago, and he has never left despite our attempts to throw him out! He and I are NOT friends!!!

Abuela making some sancocho for lunch!

Mauricio's day to wash dishes after lunch...

A quick family talk before school

CHAO!!!

Off to school

Saturdays are fun.... especially when we get visitors at the Foundation!

Just relaxing!  :)

Jenny and I made a giant pizza for the children using the bakery equipment that the Foundation owns.

Pablo and Cristian... poking through the center hole of the dining table