My name is Beth Boram (Elizabeth K. Boram). Thank you, Quiet Hour, so very much for sending us to El Salvador! We appreciated it so much. We don't make much money, so your help makes it possible for us to go.
 I have a BS in Nursing from Loma Linda University. I would love to preach regularly. I work as a nurse part time and I home-school my daughter. My son attends Laurelwood Academy (I drive 3-4 hours a day to keep him a day student) and he preached one sermon at my church in El Salvador and would have done the last one, too, if the local pastor had not ended the meetings on Sabbath at noon.
We belong to the Cottage Grove SDA church in the Oregon Conference. I preached in Santa Ana, El Salvador, March 11-26, 2005. I had a small church and a 22 year-old pastor who I helped. This was the first time they had ever heard a woman preach. I felt I was well-received. I was alone in my duties except for the help of my 14 year-old son who set up my PowerPoint presentation, equipment, etc. He also preached one sermon.
 At my church I had help with the children's ministries. Sherri McDougal and two or more Laurelwood students (plus my children) assisted the local leaders in the children's department each evening. This drew some adults (much to the consternation of Sherri, who had neat crafts and puppet shows). Fifty to 100 children usually came, and in the cramped space provided, they did an exceptional job. My husband Jim, who preached elsewhere, did not have this kind of help at all.
 My young pastor had already met his baptismal goal for the year (their year goes from September to September). He did not know English. He wanted me to preach for only 30 minutes. He had not been to the orientation. I tried to explain that it wasn't possible to cover all my material in so short a period. I suggested that he cut some of the many items to precede the message but we continued to start late and I just had to roll with the punches!
This problem was never solved except that I covered the material as quickly as I could with a translator who was translating to English for the first time. I had to explain to her that she needed to look at the audience and put the same energy into it that I was doing. She improved and is now a dear, life-long friend.
I was feeling a little "down" while waiting to get up to preach. My husband had such rave reviews and I had to endure very loud pounding music, endless preliminaries, more disorder, and fewer visitors. As I thought on these things, Jesus came powerfully near and said, "You have Me! What more do you want?" A great peace and joy filled my soul because He is all I needed and I felt content to be "all things to all people." Jesus was wonderful in helping me know what to say. As I would preach, new understanding and comprehension would fill my mind. It was such a joy to be used by Jesus.
 This was my first evangelistic series. I have preached sermons before but not a series. I have always dreamed of doing it and I was not disappointed! It was all I had hoped it would be. I loved doing it! A Catholic priest was converted to Adventism five years ago and he was present at these meetings. He was thrilled with the message and obtained a copy of my sermon notes (in Spanish) so he can go out and preach these messages in his outreach.
The biggest miracle on our trip was that two students from Laurelwood Academy were baptized. Colby was 18. He decided to preach a sermon (at another church). Knowing the situation, this was a real miracle! At the end of his sermon, Colby made an altar call and then he requested baptism for himself! From the baptistery, he made another call and Logan, another Laurelwood student, came forward and was also baptized. Logan had also preached a sermon earlier on, and during his altar call a local teenager had come forward. Those boys had a real high. My son was telling me about the high he gets from jumping motorcycles and he said it was similar to preaching!
The Laurelwood students used a rented van to get around. I was dependent on this to get to my church, but it was a challenge because getting a group of students together on time is hard. My church members were warm and supportive. I felt loved and appreciated. Culturally, we were challenged by being in a different culture, but it was a very good experience.
 I wanted to preach because it is "in my bones." Jesus was so good to me and He is dearer yet after helping me through all those meetings. I love getting to know other cultures. I was raised in the mission field, so I love these experiences. I enjoyed the local food and markets. Washing clothes and cooking and the heat were challenges, but it all worked out for good. I would and will do this as often as I am financially and physically able! I will do this as often as the Lord opens the door and wills it! Thank you so much for your part in helping us to be able to do this. |
