So many doors, so many opportunities

The Lord has been opening so many doors for the Gospel in the past few days. From Lestisia and Marcielo down the street to the ESL classes at night, we have had many opportunities to share with them the glory of the Gospel. After classes last night, we talked with some of the people that stayed about our sinful state and the work of Christ on the cross to redeem us from our sin. One lady said that she did not understand. How can grace be enough? She was struggling to understand salvation by grace ALONE based on nothing from ourselves. Yes, it complex yet so simple. Another lady, afterward admitted that she is terrified of death. Amy explained to her that she was too until she understood the Gospel. I was thinking this morning of Isaiah 55:1-2 that says,

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare."

This is the offer of the Gospel - it is free and completely satisfying. The Lord is softening the peoples' hearts and making them ready to hear. We sent them with a little book that explains a true Christian. They took it eagerly and promised to read it.

On a different note, we have also had several opportunities with Lestisia, Bianca's mother from down the street. Yesterday, when Mr. Donell was taking her to the hospital to see Bianca, he shared with her her spiritual need and the free offer of the Gospel. Later when the baby was doing so well, she came over to talk with Mrs. Donell. Grinning from ear to ear she asked, "Can you teach me how to pray and say thank you to God?" Mrs. Donell explained to her that there are no special words, God knows our thankfulness by our hearts and the way that we come before him like a child comes before a parent. She said that she was going to go home and pray with her children, thanking the Lord for all that he has done.

Then, she said that her daughter, Nahir, who faithful comes to church, has been telling her about a family in the church with lots of children. They all come every Sunday and bring all the children. Lestistia said, "I know what she's trying to tell me...She wants our whole family to go to church. Often its the mother duck that leads her ducklings, but for us the baby ducks are saying 'Come on, Mom, lets go!' If Bianca is out of the hospital, we will all be at church on Sunday." We could have never dreamed of an opportunity like this to reach the entire family, Mom, Dad, and all the children with the Gospel. Please pray that the Lord would continue to soften their hearts and give them seeds of faith. It amazes me to see how the Lord is orchestrating so many open doors and working in so many mysterious ways.

Last, here is a link to the Carlos Paz news of the ESL classes. They ended up getting all of us on it! Bear with the Spanish, but you can enjoy the pictures. http://youtube.com/watch?v=8lcPvJooSKU

Rejoicing and still walking by faith,
Kristen