All my hopes for church services in El Salvador came true on Sunday. Worship across different languages unified by joy, rooftop sanctuary, beaming church members excited to welcome us. It was a blessed experience. And that’s where we met Pastor Tony!
He has such a heart for the Lord, and passion in his sermons. We always felt encouraged by his words as he reminded us of God’s faithfulness to His people. My favorite sermon he gave was on the parable of the wheat. Pastor Tony came to preach at our SLAM camp, and left us full of purpose. He reminded us that we are wheat, that God created us to bear fruit. Most impactful to me, though, was reading that the wheat had to lay down in the ground and die in order to give life to something greater. It changed my perspective of serving. I think that generally we feel like ‘being a light’ and shining love on people is enough – and that is a really good thing, but it isn’t all of it.
Pastor Tony’s sermon made me think about how Jesus served. He didn’t just water plants, or prune branches, or scatter seed. When I reflect on His life, I’m amazed counting all the times He got down in the dirt. To love, heal, and protect. And not clean people – dirty people. I feel more appreciative of Jesus after giving up my shower for the SLAM girls who needed one more. We’re all lowly and unworthy, but that’s what makes Jesus’ love so awesome! He got down in the dirt with us and gave up His life and glory for us. He died so that we could live.
Now that we are His seed, it’s our job to keep planting! Pastor Tony’s sermon encouraged me to die to myself. I understand Jesus’s love more when I live it out more – now that I can see it, I want to show it! To lay my life down for my family, to keep my roommates first in college, to put other’s needs before my own. I pray for more awareness so that I can serve in this way. I see the people all around me doing it, and I want to learn. Pray for me!
I love you all so much! Can’t wait to see you again and share more stories about the awesome people I wish you could meet 🙂