Cool Story!

Here is a picture from the drama in Paraguari. This is the opening crucifixion scene. The lighting worked really well. But the story goes like this. Again, we had problems with the electricity. After I received several "shocking" moments, I realized that the surge protector was not "protecting" me. Man, it made my heart race faster each time I touched the metal case that holds the equipment that we plug the lights into. It was not fun! Thank the Lord that Sherry asked me if the surge protector was bad, or not. She is so smart. 
Here is the young man who played Jesus during the drama. He did well, but I thought maybe he was kind of young. He is only 16 years old. We had a lot more young people than adults at this church.
Here is the gentleman who played the devil for this drama. Sherry did another wonderful job putting his makeup on. This "devil" did really well. He was scary and convincing and had an "evil" laugh. Again, Sherry ran the microphone and changed his voice, very effectively I might add.
The next two pictures are what made all the "shocks", people quitting the drama the night before we did it, and the heat, all worth it. The first night, the altar was FULL of people coming to Christ. It was so fun giving the altar call that night. God is so good and faithful. He can take a midwestern U.S. missionary, send him to Paraguay, and still communicate His love through this crazy missionary. 
It is such a joy to be able to pray people into His kingdom. I love watching their faces as they pray the sinner's prayer and realize for the first time that Jesus is their Savior. The tears of joy, the smiles, and the looks of contentment make all the struggles, language barriers, frustrations with electricity, the heat, and sometimes illness all seem trivial and insignificant.

Before I end this blog, let me share a story with you about a young man who came forward to accept Christ the first night. You can see his back in the above picture. His shirt is either white or light blue with a strip across the middle of his back (running left to right). He is right in front of my right arm. Pastors, teachers, leaders, and mission's committees, please feel free to share this story with your church, youth, sunday school class, small group, or wherever you are. We all played a part in this story.

I wish I could remember his name. I believe it was Juan Carlos, but I can't remember for sure. Anyway, after the end of the altar call, his grandmother brought him to me. The reason she brought him to me was because he is blind. He has been blind from birth. When I looked at his face, I could tell he was blind. I asked him if he had prayed the prayer and meant it with all his heart. He said, "Yes!" I asked why he wanted to speak to me. He asked me if he goes to heaven, will he be able to SEE Jesus' face. I told him that if God did not heal him here on earth, the first thing he would see in heaven will be Jesus' face. I told him that he WILL be healed as soon as he enters heaven's gates. He started to cry and then the coolest thing happened. Without anyone telling him to, he began to thank and praise God for healing him. It was awesome! I started praising and thanking God for healing him, as well. He told God that he could live the rest of his life as a blind person if he knew that he would see Him when he got to heaven. I tell you what. I cryed like a baby after hearing that.

Amazing, isn't it? Some of the things I complain about are really insignificant to what this young man is going thru. I am praying that I can keep the same attitude as him. I want to tell God all the time that I can live with whatever problem there is, whatever illness I have, whatever shortcoming I have, or whatever financial issue I am facing, just so long as I can see Him when I get to heaven. 

Blessings to you all,

Charley