Returning to Holy Ground

Post for July 12, 2024

How is it already the end of day seven?! Although we didn’t have our regular programming today, we filled it up with so many fun things! We started our day with breakfast on the rooftop just like every other day! Today’s breakfast lineup was fry jacks, eggs, beans, chicken sausage, pineapple, mango, and orange juice. During breakfast, I went downstairs with Hez and saw three toucans sitting by the front desk of the hotel! They were so beautiful! After breakfast, we had some time to do our devo and get ready for our field trip! 

Miss Estellyn picked us up in her bus this morning to take us to Marie Sharp’s Factory and the Pomona Shopping Mall. Our first stop was Marie Sharp’s to get hot sauce, jam, and steak sauce. Everyone walked away with a bag full of goodies to take home! On our way out we got the surprise of a lifetime! Marie herself was right outside and agreed to take a photo with us! It was such a fun way to start off our field trip! Our next stop was the Pomona Shopping Mall! Everyone on the team was so excited to go in and find a few things for snack and to take home. Some favorites amongst the group were plantain chips with Tajin, canned coffee drinks, and ice cream! We also picked up a few ingredients for our surprise happy hour!

When we got back to the hotel, we all hung out and freshened up for lunch. Our lunch was rice and beans, stew beef, cole slaw, and apple juice. Along with lunch, we had happy hour! Bernie Mann sponsored happy hour for the team, so we all had frozen drinks with our lunch! We had the choice between a virgin strawberry daiquiri, a virgin piña colada, and a virgin Miami vice. They were delicious, so refreshing, and the perfect treat at the end of the week! Hez, Marvin, and Maggie made them all for us! 

After lunch, we had a few minutes to gather some things before heading back to the village to visit our friends. We walked back and saw the sweet faces of all of our little friends — Zanya, Brennon, Shanay, Zamrinn, Tarisha, Taren, Jayla, Abel, Annya, and so many others! We hung out by their houses, chatted, and met all the new puppies. Annya and Shanay were showing off their splits and cartwheels. Each one of the kids holds such a special place in our hearts, and spending time with them fills our cups until they’re overflowing. 

We started to move back towards the hotel with our friends so we could give them a few surprises! They each got to pick out two t-shirts that were so kindly donated by our partners at World Help in Lynchburg, VA. They also got to take home some biscuits (peanut butter crackers) and cookies. They walked back to their homes with arm loads of goodies! Afterwards, we went inside to start getting ready for the Night of Worship. We had some guests coming in to help, so we set up a hospitality area so they would feel comfortable and taken care of. We also gathered together to pray over the Night of Worship as a team. 

Then, it was time for dinner! We gathered around the table with our guests (Herman and his family / Pastor Lord and his family) and shared a delicious meal. We had stew chicken, white rice, and coconut tarts for dinner. It was so yummy and so fun to share conversation with one another!

After dinner, we rushed onto the bus to head to the field for the Night of Worship. As we were getting on the bus, we saw all of the little girls from the village running towards us. They were all wearing their brand new shirts! They looked so happy, and they were so proud to show them all off to us.

Tonight, we returned to holy ground. Last year’s Night of Worship brought fresh wind to Pomona. It sparked a shift, and the people of Pomona haven’t been the same since. We went into tonight with high expectancy, and God exceeded every expectation. As we were pulling in, we saw people setting up the sound system and spraying the field for bugs. It was such a beautiful sight – all hands were on deck so the atmosphere would be set to welcome the Holy Spirit. Before we knew it, the sun had set and people were arriving. Cars filled the parking lot and people poured off of the buses – around 150 people gathered on the football field tonight. All of the people who attend The Gathering each week wore their matching shirts, donated by World Help. 

Pastor Lord shared an incredible word about Mark 10. The story of Bartimaeus teaches us that our faith is what heals us, and when we experience a radical encounter with Jesus we should follow Him. We cannot return to our old ways. Eight people were saved tonight, twenty five people came up for prayer, and one person was physically healed! I overheard one lady say “God is at work!”. The people here are hungry for the presence of God. And…This. Is. Just. The. Beginning.