Sunday, February 24, 2013

"...Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel."

Parent's week has just ended and it was such a blessing to have some of the parents here including mine!  We did many different things, Monday we went to La Puerta de Diablo.  Tuesday we went to look at some Mayan ruins and Metamorphosis.  Wednesday we went to El Tunco which is the beach!  Thursday the parents attended our Bible Class and then we went to Exodo!  Friday was a free day so Leah's parents, my parents and I went to a volcano and got coffee at this beautiful place in the mountains.  Later that night we ate pupusas in the mountains for dinner!  During this week my parents were able to experience life here in El Salvador including the crazy micro rides, walking through the city, the pupusas, and some of our different ministries!


Beautiful place where we got coffee :)
My parents and I at Puerta de Diablo!
My dad at Exodo!
So about two or three weeks ago I decided that I wanted to be baptized again.  This is actually something that has been in the back of mind probably for the past 4 years or so.  (I now realize that that thought in the back of my mind was God)  I couldn't let my pride hold me any longer from doing what He wanted me to do.  So since my parents were coming in about 2 or 3 weeks they were able to see me be baptized in the ocean!

At El Tunco being baptized! :)
Brant led a Bible Study which was quite convicting.  I was only there for two of them because I stayed at the hotel with my parents two other nights. 
 
"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
-2 Corinthians 5:18-21

 (Reconciliation: the action of making one view or belief compatible with another) 
"...And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation."  God has reconciled the good news to us, His children, to go and share the salvation God has offered the world.  Our mission, our command is to go and share the gospel and make disciples. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Time seems to be flying by here, which makes me sad...it's almost March!  I have a feeling of urgency (which I need to have all the time) since we only have a short time left here.  An urgency to make a difference for the Kingdom of God, an urgency to learn as much as I can, including Spanish.  Like I said, I need to have to have this urgency at all times.  Actually, we as believers need to live with and urgency that Christ could come back at any moment.  (2 Timothy 4:2 and 2 Peter 3:10) 

"For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel." - 1 Corinthians 9:16