Saved for Salvation

At 1:30, Matt drove to Vaudreil and picked up a visiting team that wanted to go the service.  Then, he came back to Emmaus and packed in the students and a few staff members (all in our little truck :).  Then, they all "off-roaded" it to De Mangue (Of the Mangoes)..."The ride of my life," one of the visiting nurses said.

They arrived at the well right at 3:00, fully expected only two or three people ready for the service.  Instead, they pulled up to a screaming crowd of people, one man clutching a wheezing little girl, about Lily's age.  One group was shouting at the other, then back again, fingers pointing, emotions high, drama gathering more and more men, women and children.  Finally,  the man and little girl pulled away from the group and rapidly approached Matt and the Emmaus crowd.

"My daughter just drank a glass of gasoline!" he panted, angrily, fearfully.  And indeed she had, as each breath emitted pungent fumes of fuel.  "THAT child gave it to her!  What am I supposed to do?  NO one has a motorcycle.  NO one has a truck.  The nearest hospital is 6 miles from here.  HELP ME!"

Matt started translating, and immediately one of the visiting team members, a doctor, examined the child, and confirmed that she had to have her stomach pumped as soon as possible.

Quickly, Matt grabbed the tiny miserable child, the mom, dad and an aunt, and plowed through muddy back roads to the hospital, leaving the students a large group of anxious community members and a great opportunity.  As we have learned, EBS students don't let a lot of opportunities go by :)

They jumped into the service, the crowd growing as they sang, prayed and preached.   Belony preached from John 3:1-15,  the story of Nicodemus being born again.  Everyone hung onto every word, hearing the story for the first time.

While the students were really disappointed that no one converted Tuesday, we kept reminding them what a long-standing Voodoo village Of the Mangoes is, and about how it might take a long time for people's "veils" to truly be lifted so that they can understand the Bible.  It might take a LOT of persistent watering to make these seeds fall on ready soil.

However, the students were really excited by further leading of the Lord.  One student felt strongly that day, while looking around at all the children, that there needed to be a children's ministry put in place alongside of the Bible study.  We have about 10 students who specialize in children' ministry, and they are passionately putting together plans for this now.

Also, after the service, the staff and students confirmed Civil's calling to the the "church", noting that he has clearly been given a special "God-Heart" for the community.

Most, the students were excited about the way that God had gone before them.  Two weeks ago, God used them to grant the parched village water.

Now, God gathered the crowd for them, last-second brought a doctor with them, and used them to save a little girl's life, who honestly would have most certainly died if they had not arrived with transportation and money for the hospital in the very moment that they did.  Her death could have led to such great disunity, anger and blame among the community, and instead, it led many to hear what the mysterious pastors had to say.

Why did the students sacrifice their little money to get this community a well?
 Why are they sacrificing their time to come and preach the word?
Why would they be willing to put up the money, fuel and time to save a little girl they didn't know?
What is it that the Emmaus community believes that makes them SO different from from the Of the Mangoes community?
So different from the witchdoctor?
Hadn't they already heard all the stories of the witchdoctor?
Why had no one ever told them these new stories that were so different?

Matt and I are excited to KNOW the answers to all these questions De Mangue is asking, and even more excitied to know that the Answer is not just baffling, but also satisfying, life-giving, transforming, salvation!

The questions are being asked...We're praying that God will use Emmaus and Saccanville and us to provide the answers, just as He has so miraculously and powerfully provided the way.

We pray that the salvation of this little child will lead Of the Mangoes to true salvation.   That the experience of this little child shall lead them to Living Water.

Please keep praying for the zone, for the Saccanville church and Emmaus community as they pour themselves out, and that the Lord would continue to be powerfully working at the front!

Is there ever a dull day in His service?