We arrived at the airport late at night and more than a full day behind schedule. Were they at all upset with us for keeping them waiting? No – we were greeted with smiles and hugs and kind words. I had never met these people before in my life, I looked different, didn’t even speak their language, and yet they took me in like family!

This attitude was steady thought the entire week. I joked that it was a big game of charades, but the care and concern of the believers we met in Venezuela made doing my work not only possible, it made it enjoyable! (And I did have work to do – everybody worked!)

The Word of God that was taught was passionate and accurate! The theme verse was

I Corinthians 4:1
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

A verse from Corinthians was appropriate considering that one of the first things addressed in Corinthians was the division between the believers and the Rock was hosting believers from a good number of different churches.

I learned so much last week! I completely filled my notebook on the front and I took a good chunk out of the back too. One of my favorite points was the word for “ministers” is also translated “servants” but it literally means “under-rowers” as in the guys in the bottom of a boat doing the work of rowing! This is how we’re supposed to be seen: under-rowers for Christ!

The scenery was stunningly gorgeous. In the morning, before we could see the sun, the whole area was already lit up. The sun was hidden behind a mountain, but the light bounced around through the valleys and got to us early. It was a beautiful sight.

The women down there were beautiful too, and Man can Latinos dance! I have this sneaking suspicion that youtube will have a video of some of them dancing, and more hilariously, me attempting to dance….

Oh, and I drank the water and it was great (of course, we were in the mountains, not in the cities.) I didn’t wear bug spray at all and I got maybe a couple of bites, and I didn’t wear sunscreen but twice.

The latin food, btw, was absolutely awesome! Especially all the juices – hand squeezed on site!

Anyways, I definately intend to go back next year, and probably every year after that. I made some friendships that I expect to last the rest of my life. And Francis and I have both started learning some Spanish :P

Love you all,
Dios te bendiga (God bless you!)
-n

P.S. Pictures!

Sarah and Saul

Two of previous Ambassadors:

The main point of The Rock of Ages is to welcome back the last years ambassadors and commission the next years bunch.

The ambassadors are folks who are sent out to a city somewhere with the sole purpose of moving Gods word. They’d start a home church just like the one I do (fellowship) and talk to everybody they come across about the word.

Some fire side music

We were divided up into “mini-churches” ( a lot like my home fellowship) and on the last day each church did a skit showcasing something that had been taught during the week. This was part of my church preforming in our skit.

This was my part in our skit (El diablo, comming to take away the mystery and generally tear the believers appart)

A couple of gangstas from a differnt skit

Our morning workout

Juan Cabrera, the man who organized and hosted the event.