Pueblo Nuevo

Pueblo Nuevo is different, just like any of the communities I have been in.  The people there are not like most people.  They all care for one another.  They work hard and love hard.  Pueblo Nuevo literally means New Town...which is exactly what it was to me.  But they all opened their arms to me and made me feel like family.  Like I had simply just been gone for a while.  Some of them welcomed me into their home and took care of me while I was there.  As we came into town we went to the home we would be staying in.  Irma welcomed us in and we got to sit and talk with her for a while that afternoon.  After that we went to youth group where I got to meet the youth pastor (who is in his last semester of seminary) and some of the other leaders of the church.  Then we had practice for Sunday.. :)

My friend Enmanuel had invited us for the anniversary celebration.  He had asked me if I would like to be part of the children's music portion of the night.  I innocently believed that meant we would just be in the kids class....weeeeeell I was wrong.  I found out just two weeks before the celebration that this would be happening in front of the whole church.  We did two of the songs I have brought with me in the past few years and we did two songs from their music.  It was really fun getting to be part of the anniversary!  Getting to serve alongside some of the people of the church was a huge blessing and I am so thankful for all of the opportunities I get to do that while I am here. 
 

This church is full of passion.  One of the biggest areas I saw this was in the worship they had.  Just watching some of them worship was one of the most beautiful things I've seen.  It is so passionate and so genuine.  Not only those leading from the stage, but also those who dance and sing the kids songs, and those who are worshiping in the congregation.  If you know me at all you would know that worship is what my soul longs for.  Worship in music but also in life.  Being able to see others do that as well is so encouraging and so sweet to me!  I just love worshiping with someone who is abandoned for God.  Someone who is ready to give of themselves and to pour it out so that God may be blessed.   So many times in life I think we get caught up in the technical portion of it that the reason we do it and beauty behind it gets lost.  It gets overwhelmed by flashing lights and fancy guitars.  The best, most humbling moments of worship are the ones you forget about all that stuff.  Whether the piano is tuned correctly and if I am singing the right harmony.  These are some of the times I feel closest to God.  They are the times I truly love music and where it leads me. 

I am so thankful for the time I got to spend in Pueblo Nuevo and the people I met while I was there.  I pray it won't be too long until I get to go back and see what God has done since.  They truly touched my heart and blessed my life.  Praise God for people who surrender to Him with their whole lives.  Thank Him for the working He has done in Pueblo Nuevo and for what He is continuing to do.  Pray for the church family that they would continue to do what the church is called to do, love one another.  Thank you so much for your prayer and support!  I would really appreciate some extra prayers as my time here is coming to an end waaayyyy too fast.  Pray that God would give me at least one step to take next.  That is all I ask for, one step. 

My good friends Luz...

and Enmanuel

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing."                                                                                                                                  1 Corinthians 13:1-3