Thursday

Thursday July 19th

        Well today was just another amazing day here in Bucerias. The morning began at 7 o clock with a walk to La Fuente Riveria. For breakfast we had "chiliquilies" which was a new dish for most of us! After thanking God for another beautiful day we piled into the van and made our way to San Pancho Hospital. From there we blessed people with sandwiches and cold glasses of lemon water! We went through every waiting room and prayed with the hospital's visitors and patients. Outside of the hospital, we prayed with people in the city square. It's amazing to see what God's doing in all of our lives by using the power of prayer. When you need something, you pray. When you want something, you pray. When you don't know what to do and your completely lost, you pray! The last week we have prayed for many people, ranging from minor requests to life and death circumstances.
        So then after praying, we went back to the church and was given a time to rest. After resting for 2 hours, we headed back to the church for lunch. We had refried beans, some what of a beef stew, and an array of veggies. Today was a day of rest for us so we were given another break until 6 o clock. At 6, we prepared sandwiches, to take to Puerto Vallarta Hospital, to handout as well as to perform our drama and to have Emily share her testimony. The plan for tonight was to pray for people surrounding the hospital and spread the good news! Pulling up to Puerto Vallarta's hospital, I was shocked to see how small it was, compared to the size of our hospital at home, despite their population. We then set up a few tables, offered water, and distributed the sandwiches we had prepared for their hungry belly's. Each student paired up with a translator and we walked around the hospital's perimeter and surrounding area's. We invited people to come see the drama and asked if they needed prayer. Outside of the emergency room, I walked up to Papa Mike (Wurmlinger) and Zach (Leader of La Fuente) praying the sinner's prayer with this man holding on for his life. I began to pray for the man. Praying that God would give him a sense of peace. We fed him and then gave him a shirt he could use to rest his head on. The man was laying on the concrete on his side without a T-shirt. After Mike and Zach continued to pray with the man, he accepted Jesus into his heart. I have never been so excited about something I had no control over. Immediately after that we went to another man named "Israel", just like the country. The man had tears coming down his face and we knew God put us there to pray over him. After talking with the man he told us his brand, new baby daughter was in intensive care because her lungs were not working properly. He then began to tell us he was crying because he had just witnessed what we had done with the other man laying on the cement that he had just accepted the Lord into his heart. He told us he was a Christian that puts all of his trust in God. Myself, Zach, and Mike laid hands on our brother and Vickey began to pray for his daughter's safety as she was being transported to Guadalajara Hospital. The man thanked us and we were on to the drama presentation. Many people gathered around and watched. After that, the team continued to pray over hospital visitors. Before the drama, Stephanie went inside and got to see all the new babies. She prayed with the new mothers and babies on their way. At our nightly meeting, Jordan shared that he had talked to a young man who had just became a new father an hour before we had arrived! Although it was his child that had been born,they would not let him in because he was only 15 years of age.
        For dinner we had hotdogs and potatoes. Tonight we finished up the book of James! The group is so excited for the interns to come snorkeling and shopping with us tomorrow in Puerto Vallarta. God has continued to bless us on our trip with new friends and examples of things we would never see at home. I hope we can come home and spread what the Lord has done in our lives with the same fire and passion we have here. What an honor it has been to serve with our team from home and the team from La Fuente. I can honestly say its been so exciting getting to know everyone of them better and better every day. Please continue to keep us in your prayers :)

Adios Amigos!
Jonah