South America - Villa Morra, Capiata and Vinas Cue

Sunday was a day of worship and fellowship.

The group broke in two smaller groups to visit and participate in worship at Capiata Corps and Villa Morra Corps in the morning and Vinas cue and San Lorenzo in the evening. 

Catherine and I were with Sue and Derek. Jones and David and Sylvia Hinton this morning for a fairly traditional holiness meeting with Catherine and David assisting the small group of musicians making up the band. The worship was simple but powerful - many prayers and testimonies of God healing and restoring individuals in the Corps and requests for prayer specifically for serious situations people are facing. There was a real openness in worship and, even though it was being translated, it was easy to sense God's Holy Spirit at work in the congregation of about thirty. David testified, Catherine sang and. Sue preached on 'bearing the marks of Christ'. There was a response to the mercy seat as the corps officer led prayers at the close of the Bible message.

For me the highlight was the children for El Redil Children's home dancing - in these girls whom have had horrible lives there is a hope because they were able to be accommodated at The Salvation Army. They sing freely about Jesus as they dance and encourage everyone looking to think about His hope as well.

The afternoon saw us in an officers meeting with the officers of the region - this was held in an officers quarters which is attached to their hall at Capiata. Willingly they rearranged their furniture and possessions to accommodate the group that gathered, there was a lovely time of sharing together hope for this journey and for our appointments. I am already getting the impression we have much to learn from these faithful people who are very content with the calling that is theirs and where it has placed them. They are warm with each other, there is no ego apparent - they have not a great amount but share what they have.

The evening meeting that we attended was at one of the Corps that is led by our hosts, Shirley and Cesar. A full on rock style worship band accompanied the singing of the congregation. The average age of this corps is in it's twenties - it is a vibrant, exciting place to be. Again simple approach to mission and ministry but testimonies and involvement by numerous people all talking of their live for Jesus. Testimony by Derek, preach by myself and a singing feature by Catherine were our contribution. Again the mercy seat was used.

Thinking through what we have seen so far I feel these are 'beatitude' people in the main - they know the applause of heaven because they know the hardness of life.