After gathering for breakfast at a local restaurant we went to the beach for prayer and communion. The beach was lacking in tourists so the arrival of twenty people brought all the beach vendors to our meeting. Blankets, carvings, jewelry, and flowers were are displayed for our viewing pleasure. In return we offered them prayer. Two of them accepted the invitation, the others turned away once they understood we weren't buying.
After our beach service we packed up and caravaned our way to El Diamante. Our first stop was at the bible school where we would be spending the night. The bible school didn't offer chocolates on our pillows but they did have some foam mattresses that people spread out in the various cement block, cement floor, tin roof building. Jay and I opted to spend the night in the back of our pick up. Rather than emptying the multiple cases of bottled water to make room we put our foam mattress on top of the bottles and created a new version of the water bed. Although we had been told there were showers available it wasn't mentioned that there wasn't a water heater so most of us skipped the shower. After settling in we changed into regalia and packed in the vehicles again headed for a town park with a basketball court where the meeting was scheduled to start at 5PM.
Again, when we reached the meeting place there were already people gathered. Only this time, the majority of the people were small children. There must have been at least 200 of them. They were excited with anticipation and kept changing in a stampede when they thought there might be something to see.
We started with the blowing of the shofars and then the grand entry...inviting the kids to join in. They didn't need a second invitation and quickly formed a tight line of small bodies joining behind our team to complete a circle.
City officials and pastors were honored with protocol gifts including a one of a kind quilt made by Sheila.
Pastor Bill Easter, an evangelist from Tennessee gave a short message and invitation and many hands went up to accept Christ. Pastor Bill used two chairs, symbolizing a gate, and had everyone who wanted to accept Christ walk through the gate. After leading many to salvation a second call was made and others came forward for prayer for healing. We were blessed to see that many adults, including city officials, as well as children, asking for prayer.
In a typical Jewish service a talit is held up to form a huppah and the children gather under to receive a blessing. Because we had way more children than we could fit under the huppah we improvised and had the children walk under the huppah. They formed a circle and went round and round under the huppah multiple times. This worked so well we used it again in the following meetings, the team standing along the edge of the circle blessing the children as they passed.
Jay and I, neither having Native American blood, dressed to represent the Messianic Jew. In his priestly looking garb the children were drawn to him. He teamed up with Maria, a Spanish speaking believer who joined our team in Rocky Point. Two spontaneous lines of children formed and Maria turned first from one line and then to the other leading one child at a time to pray and ask Jesus in their heart. Jay laid hands on each child and prayed in the spirit. It was one of the highlight of the trip for Jay.
After dancing, praying, passing out maracas and cookies we started to wind things up for the evening. Jay challenged one of the Mexican pastors to reach out to the teenage boys that were watching from the outskirts. Pastor Adam spoke to the boys and eventually was able to pray for them.
By the end of our four days of ministry we estimated we had the opportunity to share with approximately 1200 people with an estimated 200 receiving salvation.
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