June 30, 2008

Barbara and I left Paraguay yesterday morning at 5:00 A.M. trying to get back to Porto Alegre so she could see her Dad.  Our prayer was that her Dad would be stable, for her to see him and share the Gospel.  When we finally got to Porto Alegre, Barbara called her mom from the airport to check on things and her mom was very upset.  She told Barbara that they had put her Dad on dialysis because his kidneys were shutting down.  While she was waiting to hear from us she had called Pastor Magioli and asked him to meet the family at the hospital once we arrived.  He told her he was already there and would wait for them.

When the family arrived at the hospital Barbara's Dad was sedated and not alert.  Pastor Magioli told Barbara that he had visited the hospital the daybefore.  On his own he went to visit her Dad and share Christ.  He said that Barbara's Dad was awake and completely alert.  Pastor shared Christ with him, and told him that if he believed and called on the name of the Lord he would be saved.  Barbara's Dad told him that he did believe.  Pastor reiterated that it wasn't a matter of just saying it but he had to believe in his heart that Christ was Lord.  Barbara's Dad responded "I believe" and tears began to run down his cheek!  Praise Jesus!  One hour later his condition worsened and he is currently in the ICU.

What an amazing story of the sovereignty of God.  Over four years ago Barbara and I surrendered to the call to begin a church planting ministry among the poor of Latin America.  Through our ministry the Lord did a work in the hearts of Barbara's parents and for the first time exposed them to good evangelical churches.  As we brought groups down and they met people and attended a few services at the church plants their view of evangelicals began to change.  They met our pastors and began to build friendships.  Through this process Pastor Magioli was used by God to lead Barbara's Dad to Christ.

In obedience we set out to plant churches among the poor and in the providence of God one of our pastors was used to lead Barbara's Dad to the Lord.  What a wonderful experience to see the Lord do such marvelous things.  It is truly more than we could have even hoped to ask for.  Praise be to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Please continue to pray for his recovery and for the family.