The second trip to El Buen Pastor

This trip has been so incredible! We've seen so many incredible things and have seen the Lord work in amazing ways

So anyways, one of the adventures we had this week was a trip to El Buen Pastora. This was the first trip that the Pattersons have taken with a car and we had to bring picks and shovels just in case the roads were too much for the Land Rover to handle. Mrs. Patterson and Caleb Patterson drove ahead on the ATV while Amber, Bryanna, Mr. Patterson, Quina (college age missionary from Florida), Sarah (nurse from Florida who is going to the same college as Quina), and Iris (the Patterson's soon to be adopted daughter) stayed in the car. On the drive, I got to know Quina and Sarah a little bit better as they shared their life stories and testimonies.

On one of the blind corners in that windy road, a car came around super fast and we hit the back of their truck bed with the front of our car. Luckily no one got hurt and the cars only had small dents, so we talked with the other guy for a sec and then drove off. we stopped in some town where we picked up another pastor and a teacher. Seating arrangements where mixed up so I got to transfer from the car to the ATV. It was kinda funny since I (the tallest person) sat on the right of the ATV while the other pastor (basically the shortest person in the group) sat on the left side. It probably looked pretty goofy. Caleb drove the ATV and everyone else went in the Land Rover. The road was really bumpy and we had to pile rocks into a crevice once so the car could make it over.

When we finally arrived, a bunch of the kids from the village showed up and we started introducing ourselves and Mrs. Patterson started sharing a story via flannel graph. A couple of the kids sat off to the side so I tried to learn more about the kids and then encouraged them to go listen. After the story and some songs, allot of the kids left for lunch while Bry had some kids drawing and coloring with crayons while Caleb and I played soccer and handball with a couple others. A little bit later, Bryanna, Amber, Quina, and Sarah talked with a household of some teenagers and an older woman. Through the Spanish of Quina, they got to share the gospel twice and all got to share their testimonies. They were all really interested and hopefully God will grow the seed planted in their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson got to talk with a woman whose husband became a Christian last week. I dropped in towards the end and got to see her convert to Christianity. It was so awesome! We prayed and talked with her and then left for lunch. We hiked up a hill and had lunch at an incredible little spot with rocks for sitting on. The view was absolutely incredible! It was really funny because all the kids had followed us up and sat around just simply watching us eat. As we were eating, a super drunk guy came up to us and sat behind me for a few moments and then went over and grabbed Quina's foot. It was really weird. So we all left to go talk with a specific household with a pregnant woman while Mr. Patterson shared the Gospel with the drunk guy. At the pregnant woman's house everyone except Caleb and I went in and talked with and prayed with the family inside. While that was happening, Caleb and I played some more soccer in the street.

After soccer and talking, we all headed up to a building at the very top of the hill where we were supposed to O.K. our preaching the gospel with the people of the town who didn't want us there. After a lot of waiting and playing with the kids (who were still quite shy but still playful), we started the meeting. Basically, Mr. Patterson shared the gospel and explained it specifically so that the people against our preaching here would have no confusion with what we were saying. After the presentation, he asked if anyone objected to our bringing the Gospel here. It turns out all those who opposed last time did not show for the meeting even though they had been clearly notified. So we got the O.K. to visit the schools and also to preach in the town, praise the Lord!

After the hilltop meeting, we piled back in the car and ATV and headed off. We dropped the pastors off at their towns and then I drove to a little Pulperia (petite store) to get drinks on the way back. Because Caleb ha gotten really sunburned Mrs. Patterson too me on the ATV while everyone else took the car. We all made it safely back and thanked the Pattersons for the incredible opportunity to serve the Lord in a really isolated area. God is so good! : )

Prayer requests:

-That God would grow the seeds in Buen Pastor and that he would continue to bring glory to His name through that incredible ministry.

-That everything will run smoothly as we prepare for departure and that as we return to the US we will continue to have our eyes open to how the Lord would have us serve Him.

-That the relationships we've built here would continue to grow and we would continue to help point all to Christ even after returning to the states.

-That our last days (day) here would be very productive and we would continue to fall on the Lord's strength for continual healing and strength. ( My cough has gotten slightly worse, but as of today, Seth and Andrew are doing much better (praise the Lord!).

You all have really been an incredible encouragement and I am looking forward to seeing you all soon! Thank you!

In His love,

Wade