Cocal Gracias, Ministerio La Voz

Cocal Gracias

 

Youth Group Drama Night

Last Saturday, San Isidro Nazareno Church and our church, La Inglesia Del Nazareno, had a youth group drama night. San Isidro’s performance was full of music and orchestrated dancing and ours consisted of a drama with eight sinners, Satan, and Jesus. For our play, each person’s personality was considered before his or her role was chosen, with me ending up as Jesus. There was nothing I could say about whether or not I would like to be Jesus since our group already made the decision. I think a lot of being picked out to be Jesus had to do with me being a minimum of 20 years older than all of them and have a beard, a grey beard. My personality was secondary.

The night before our drama night, we rehearsed our play over and over, at least ten times, with each trial a little different, except they all led us to laugh and go crazy. The good part about this drama too was that we did not need to speak. It was our ways of presenting ourselves, exaggerating our movements, and portraying our facial features was what spoke our words for us. Because of this, I tried to move as I imagined Jesus did, representing Him through my physical movements and expressions. I tried to walk slow, the pace I thought Jesus would walk in the case we are acting out, and wondered where his arms were, and how He held His head. Were His arm opened wide? Was he looking up into the sky, praying to God before saving those who lie on the ground waiting? I thought about what his heart felt like when he would walk up to people who really needed to learn of Him and how it felt to know He could love each one individually, regardless of their backgrounds and past lives. In my part in the play, I bent down to pick up the ones I saved, and while doing so, I thought to myself how real this actually was 2000 years ago and how much of an awesome experience it was for those whom Jesus physically touched. Then a few stories in the Bible came to mind of when Jesus rises others from the dead (John 10), heals the sick (Mark 9:25-27), casts off demons from bodies (Mathew 17:18), and for those who witnessed these miracles knew, without a doubt, Jesus is their savior.

So there I was, playing Jesus, but what I did not expect to happen from our first rehearsal did happen. I took on a whole new perspective to think of myself as Jesus, saving people for themselves, teaching them the truth of God, and to have faith and trust that He was there for them, and only them at that special moment in their lives. As I walked down the isle during our play, people were clapping, knowing that my role is Jesus and that everyone I touch on stage will receive a new gift of life. I knew right then I was truly blessed to be given a chance to praise Jesus and to walk in His footsteps.

David says in Psalm 150:6

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!”

Glenda, Maria, and Honny

Over the last couple weeks, Honey and I have stopped by Juan and Alba’s house on our hike to Las Flores and have spent time with Glenda, Maria, and Honny, the youngest of their eleven children. While I am there, we just laugh and play with Honey and throw little snacks at the chickens that are running circles around us. They aren’t afraid to sit on my lap and even rub my beard when I puff up my cheeks. It makes me feel like they are my little brother and sisters and I am a big brother to them. They open their door and welcome into their house and into their lives. One time, last week or the week before, Alba wrote, “Gracias para vengas aqi”, on a small piece of paper as Honey and I were leaving to walk home. She was thanking me for coming over to their house. What is funny though is I wanted to thank her for having me at their house.

So, on Saturday I made a plan, a plan set on showing up at Alba and Juan’s house and playing with Glenda, Maria, and Honny. I wanted to read some books together, write our names, and color pictures of flowers, the sun, animal cartoons, and anything else they wanted. Because of this, I looked through the ministerio for a few things I could take up to their house. I began shuffling through the library in our English class and found many children books, one that has Spanish and English and is about animals. Then I found another that teaches kids about mothers and fathers. I also found some paper, pencils, colored pencils, crayons, and a pencil sharpener. These were perfect and exactly what I was looking for. My plan was set; I was going there for them, for us, and I was excited to get there.

On Tuesday afternoon, Honey and I hiked up and over the mountain to Alba and Juan's house. It was when Glenda, Maria, Honny and I were sitting on the ground and reading about animals, one of their big sisters turned the corner and almost tripped over me. Everything worked out ok and then five minutes later, another big sister showed up. Now I was nervous. I had never met these two before and they were sitting only a few feet from us, but Glenda, Maria, and Honny didn’t seem to care. Coloring a big flower I drew was much more important. Then, an older bother walked up and sat in the hammock, which is only a few feet away too. So, there I was, playing with the little ones, trying to read names of animals in Spanish, and was slightly scared because I knew they could all hear me. But then there is more: another older brother showed up on his horse, and he decides to sit close to me as well. Lastly, Juan gets home. Now I was sweating, sitting on the ground, right in the middle of nine people who don’t speak one word in English. The little ones seemed not disturbed at all. They simply sat leaning against me using their crayons and fighting over who gets to use the color they all want.

I ended up spending two hours with the family. We were smiling, talking, and sharing ideas and other things about ourselves. It reminded of the verse in 1 John 3:18 “…let us not love in word or in tongue...” In the past, I would have come up with an excuse as to why I must leave right away, but this time I didn’t. Then they asked me if I was coming back to Honduras, and because I’m not good at saying, “Good bye”, I said, “Maybe.” Alba then asked me if they will see me again before I leave, and that question was easy and I told her I’d see them next week.

Las Flores - slideshows

A Student In God's Class

It dawned on me the other day, while I was on one of my long walks with Honey, I am in God’s class. This classroom happened to be above Agua Caliente on the road up to Las Flores. I started to think that I began His class in kindergarten and will not graduate from God’s University while I am still alive. To graduate means that I pass God’s tests here on earth and then awarded with a seat in God’s temple. I know it is vital that I’m an  “A” student to graduate. I know I must never assume that I can do so at a “C” level, which would prove that I only put a mediocre amount of effort into learning about God and living my life for Him. I know we can all celebrate our graduation with God in heaven, and be given our certificate of salvation by God our beloved Professor and Father in heaven.

So, I asked myself, as sweat was dripping off my forehead and Honey was panting, what can I study, or do, to keep learning about God? This a simple answer, I thought, but I must never quit doing it. I can do my Bible homework (Romans 1:4). I can read the Bible habitually and pray everyday without ceasing (1Thessions 5:16). And if I feel I reached a point where I need help to understand what I am reading, I can ask God for help through prayer. God answers prayers (Luke 11:10). Betty Berg once told me a story about how God answered her prayer and the impact it has had on her faith in God. So it’s true: He wants me to learn and He gives me the opportunity to ask Him for guidance through prayers. Then there are assistant professors, those who are pastors, and in my case, it’s Pastor Dee. He is on the same path I’m on, but he is way beyond me and has a lot more understanding of God’s will and can help me discover ways I can talk to Him and how I can listen to what He is telling me. There are also tutors, others who are in school with me as well, those I can become friends with and share my thoughts, concerns, dreams, fears, and questions I would like to learn from. Tutors and I can learn together, and right now, Brian is my tutor.

Another way to learn is to go out and share my testimony, as I am right now, through writing. This makes perfect sense. When I am outside of myself and sharing my beliefs with others out loud, I learn more about what is inside me and what God wants me to know in order to strengthen my relationship with Him and become aware of His guidance. This is exactly what happened when I gave my testimony, “That Was The, This Is Now” at Iglesia Del Nazareno for its youth group. I realized I have plenty of experiences that I can use to illustrate the main idea of how I have changed since I was a child to who I am today through my spiritual growth (1Corinthians 14:11). When I coherently heard words come out of my mouth, I could even test myself and learn as I go. Just like Joseph Joubert said, “To teach is to learn twice” (1754-1824).

So it is true, I told myself when Honey and I stopped and rested on top of the mountain, I know that I’ll never stop learning about God and what He wants me to know in order to meet Him in heaven and graduate from His university, God’s University. I am committed to pass the class we are all in today by living my life for God, and putting all my faith and trust into His words. Moses says, in Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all of your strength.”  There is no doubt that Moses graduated with honors. 

Student in God's Class - Video Maker

Pray-To-God-Walk

Earlier this week I felt spiritually and physically restless so I decided to get outside, stretch my legs and go on a Pray-To-God-Walk. Honey and I went up a new road after crossing the river and I immediately began to organize my prayer plans. I felt this was the best time to pray - I was alone, and since I was so, I believed I could pray for everything that is on my mind. So after I thought of that, I tried to put things in order: whom shall I pray for first? There are plenty of prayers I could pray about myself since I need help with my medical conditions, decisions I must make when I arrive home, and spiritual growth. Plus, I could pray and thank God for still having here, walking in the morning’s light. But as I walked, I thought that I needed to not be self-centered and pray for others first and then come back to myself later. So, I felt better with this decision except I didn’t know whom to pray for first. Honey and I had gone at least fifteen minutes and I had not even prayed once.

I told myself to begin by praying for those I know personally and for what I know they need God to help them with. Some need reassurance since they are asking for forgiveness. Others are lost and need God guide to them. There are even those who need to look behind themselves and see where they once were with God and where they are now. I felt better until I began to think which of the people should come first and why. Of course, that was nonsense, I thought. They all need to be prayed for. Now, we were at least a mile from the house, climbing the hill, with the goal to be alone and pray, yet I had only reached one part of the goal: to be alone.

To help myself, I thought, maybe I should begin by blessing those who have helped me, and not just me, but those who I know have helped others as well. I thought this wouldn’t take long since it seemed easier to praise someone instead trying to pray for help for others who are facing trying times and difficult situations. So, I quickly made a list of those I want to pray for. But soon, like before, the list was so long I didn’t know where to begin. So many have made it possible for me to be here today, and those, along with an uncountable amount of others from all over the world, pray for me everyday and for my well-being, spiritual growth, friendship, and forgiveness.

After at least an hour, my prayers were still inside me. I had not begun to pray for anyone in need of God, or anyone I wanted to pray for, or even just for me. In frustration, I threw my arms in the air, wondering what I was going to do next. What I wanted to do is do what the Apostle Paul tells us to do in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without ceasing…”, but I had not even started!

Finally, in desperation, I prayed. I prayed and followed more words from Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:6: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God.” I prayed for everything I wanted plus more and didn’t go by any lists or focus on the categories I thought needed to be prayed for separately. I realized that I didn’t need a plan with preconceived notions to pray to God but instead, simply pray. Every word I used, every thought I had, He understood. That is what He wanted all along, for me to just be with Him and for me to know He is always with me.

My Pray-To-God-Walk reminded me of the poster, Footprints, I haven’t seen for years, the one which tells of how Jesus was walking next to one walking on the beach, leaving his footprints. But when the one walking learned what God silently was teaching, the footprints disappeared. As I walked through the last river, I noticed that it were only my feet that made a splash. Without being surprised, I knew God was with me and I learned what He wanted me to.

Pray-To-God-Walk - Video Maker

Pray-To-God-Walk - Video Maker