God's Word, a Sound System and a Crusade - Part IV (Sat. afternoon/evening)

(Post by Bob)
God had a suprise for Bob when he went early to help set up for the Crusade on Saturday afternoon!  Providentialy, Bob took a Spanish/English Bible with him.  When he arrived with Pastor Aburto, it became clear that there were very little for Bob to do to help set up.  There were at least a dozen men busily putting out chairs, carrying out speakers, setting up the stage and watering the street to keep the dust down.  After a dozen embraces from "mi hermanos en Cristo" (my friends in Christ) and with everything going smoothly, Pastor Aburto suggested Bob sit down in the front chairs by the stage.  Bob sat down and began to read his Bible.  In about 30 seconds, a little girl sat down.  Bob asked her what her name was.  Within another minute a dozen (!) children from the neighborhood were gathered around.  They asked where he was from and whether he had any children or a wife.  They all sat down and giggled and laughed when Bob tried to read the Bible in spanish.  After Bob had read John 14:6 and John 3:16, the children started asking to read the Bible themselves.  Before he knew it, Bob had a bunch of "helpers" reading the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10) and the parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unrighteous Judge (Luke 18:1-8).  At about that time, Jana, AK and Elizabeth arrived to sing the song about Zaccheaus who was a "wee little man."  They were a big hit!  A number of these children stayed near the Daleys all night long!  Pastor Aburto told me that most of these children don't go to church.  They just run around the neighborhood.  I rest in the comfort, as Pastor William procliamed repeatedly at the crusade, that "God's Word never returns void."

The Crusade was another night filled with singing, preaching and a shorter altar call.  Interrestingly, a number of the songs were American praise and worship songs that had been translated into Spanish.  One of them was "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord."  More about this song later!

For good reason, we all went straight to bed when we got back to the Aburto's house.  Sunday was to be filled with worship in the morning, a big Sunday lunch and then the last day of the Crusade!