Finding Opportunities for the Gospel - Monday

After a night in the hostel, and breakfast, we set up a clinic at the Dinner Church. Patients entered a waiting room at the building's main doors and sat on pews along the walls and partitions. Sheets hanging nearly the full width of the room formed partitions for two treatment rooms and the pharmacy (near the stage area). The pastor's study (at the back left side of the sanctuary) was used by the psychologist. The dentist and Pastor Pablo's eyeglasses clinic were each in Sunday School Rooms behind the pastor's study.

April looked at the crowd sitting around the waiting room and realized she had a captive audience. She called Jose over to translate and they presented the gospel. Then they started inviting people to make decisions individually and praying with them.

About the same time a car pulled up and three translators arrived. We got to know and love two of them closely. Elva is an elementary school teacher and Catherine is a university student studying Mechanical Engineering. They stayed with us the remainder of the mission trip. Elva was on mid-winter break from school, and Catherine was between semesters. I didn't get the name of the third person, she only worked with us that day, but she was needed.

Elva asked the Buddies and me if we wanted to share Christ with the people waiting. I figured the translation might get in the way of the message so I asked her to do the sharing. She spoke to each person, but there were two ladies near the door who had limited Spanish ability because they spoke Quechua. Elva told us she wasn't able to speak their language, but the other person who arrived with her was. She had that lady called so everyone could hear the gospel in their own language.

When she asked people if they were interested in knowing about Jesus, one lady was clearly not. Elva treated her graciously and went on sharing with the group that surrounded her. Elva asked if one of us wanted to share a testimony. Angie shared, and I believer her situation spoke to the people there. All six of those people prayed to receive Christ. Elva asked for paper and wrote down their names and addresses, along with the ones April and Jose had led to the Lord, and gave them to a church member for follow up.

The doctor who helped us on this day was rather methodical--he took a lot of time with patients. We ate lunch in the dental room (the dentist was done, and moved out), and left for our next assignment-clinic at the Breakfast Church-while he still had patients to see. By this time Ginger's illness had become more serious and kept her at the hostel. Juanita stayed with her. The doctor stopped by to check on her too, so by the time he arrived at the Breakfast Church the clinic was going strong. Pastor Pablo had a long line of people wanting glasses. The physical therapist joined us for this clinic.

The Breakfast Church had the largest building. Reception was in the foyer as people came in off the street. Waiting was in the pews facing the stage area. Pastor Pablo set up eyeglasses in the fellowship hall, and the psychologist, doctor, dentist and physical therapist each a a room off the fellowship hall.

People waiting in pews made a great audience. The kids sang songs, and Bruno translated as I explained the gospel using a large Wordless Ninja Star. Angie and Catherine (the Buddies) stood on the sidewalk outside the church offering tracts to people in the busy crowds. They people willingly took the tracts so the Buddies ran out.

Waiting Area Pastor David's Chruch

Pharmacy Pastor David's Church

Jose and April Praying with patients

Adrian sharing with the Patients waiting to be seen at the Breakfast Church