SATURDAY, AUGUST 25
Feliz Sábado!
I know this is an unusual hour to be writing, but I have some time on my hands and decided to use it for another chapter in my Adventures in Peru.
I think I mentioned last night the problem with my faithful little camera. I thought it had given up the ghost, but no, it still works. The TQH videographer [Kristian Allen, Revelation Pictures] checked it out last night and then informed me he thought it was just low batteries. I thought I had put in new ones, as I always carry a spare with me, but they must have gotten mixed up with old ones. I happened to have four in a new cartridge, and when putting in a couple of new ones it worked like a charm. I hated to miss out on recording today’s activities. But now things appear to be all right.
[In e-mails from friends,] I have been asked about loss of church members in the earthquake. To my recollection, I believe I heard the figure of 38 of our Adventist members who lost their lives [in the August 15 quakes south of Lima]. That is tragic, as there is so much poverty in that area. I will confirm later on today as to the exact number.
I mentioned about having a stomach problem, but it seems to have disappeared. I think I will survive! Might go easy on dinner today, before going to the afternoon meeting at the Coliseum.
Sabbath school started at 8:30, as per usual. Ten classes, usually only two benches, and at most three, for each class. It is encouraging to see so many teachers working with their students. The pastor came in, and as usual, everything came to a stop when he arrived, because they don’t know what he has in mind.
He made an announcement about the afternoon meeting at the stadium, then invited Caroline Robinson and me to go forward and receive a gift from the church. He then departed for parts unknown. Probably one of the other eight churches he has in his district! This one is the largest one, I think, and is very well organized.
Between Sabbath school and church the director (directress) of Women’s Ministries had an announcement about tomorrow. From 9-12 she will be at the church receiving cartons of milk to be distributed to boat people along the river front. These are folk that live practically all of their lives in their boats, and poverty is extensive. They plan to distribute milk for the children of these boat people. Before I began my sermon, I mentioned I wanted to contribute to the milk fund. I asked for the lady who made the announcement to come forward, but she had departed to another church to make the similar appeal. I gave 100 “soles” (equivalent to about US$18) to the milk fund. I gave it to one of the elders on the platform, and told the audience, “You are witnesses—so make sure the milk fund gets the money!” They thought it was very humorous!
Between Sabbath school and church service all of the children came to the front of the church, wearing their crowns which they had made. It was beautiful. More than 65 children! Then they sang a couple of songs, and of course, I took some pictures. This was part of the work Caroline was doing with them. With the children in the church, it was a packed house.
I spoke on the equivalent of “911-Operation Rescue.” (They have a different emergency number here, but a similar system.) The sermon was based on Psalms 51 and 34:7. I told a contemporary rescue story, then referred to the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace, where Christ himself answered the 911 call! Then I finalized with the experience of Dr. Stump and many other of our missionaries who were freed from prison camp at the end of World War II in the Philippines.
The people were very responsive, and it builds up to tonight’s sermon on the New Earth and the final “Operation Rescue.”
Once again,
Feliz Sábado.Gracias por sus muchas oraciones.
Xavier Molinero (alias Harvey Miller)
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