Sharing the Gospel under umbrellas
Visiting Gorgona
It was Sunday afternoon and the sky was growing darker over the mountains. I got a text asking if it was raining at the camp. It wasn’t yet, but it sure looked like it was coming.
We loaded up the vans with our team and the hot dogs and juice and got on our way. A short driver later, we pull down a dirt road and get out. We stood somewhat uncertainly near the vans waiting for direction.
Then, we saw a soccer ball and field and we walked over. We started playing soccer in a dirt field against a big group of kids from the neighborhood. We played for a while, subbing in and out, playing against really talented kids who were far better than us.
It was a lot of fun, and we were really enjoying ourselves! We held our own for awhile, but then they got two quick goals. Meanwhile, some rain started to fall. It wasn’t heavy at first, but eventually the heavens opened and the downpour came. We were drenched, the field was muddy, and the kids were happy.
The game ended with the rain still coming down. In the downpour, we shared the Gospel under umbrellas. Students shared their testimonies and we shared from the Word of God about daily surrender and obedience to Jesus. Following Him is a big decision followed by many daily decisions to keep following Him in obedience.
After we shared the Gospel, we served hot dogs and juice in the pouring rain. The kids slung mud and water, playing like only kids can.
The hot dogs eaten, we returned to soccer.
At some point you can only get so wet. When you’re drenched, is it even worth trying to stay out of the rain? We didn’t think so. Back to the field! In the mud and stream flowing through the field, we kept playing and laughing and building relationship with the kids.
The missionary team comes here once a week, but not as often with a big group. It was a blessing to these kids and to us and to the missionaries to be able to be here and serve with them, playing, feeding, and sharing the Gospel under umbrellas.
God’s plan.
It is often so different from ours. That’s been a regular lesson we have learned daily on this trip to Panamá. His plan was better every day than ours. And that’s true whether we’re here in Panamá or back home in Pennsylvania.
When we got back in the vans to head back to the camp, our driver said, “Solo ustedes!”
Meaning, “only you guys!”
Evidently it doesn’t rain like this often in Gorgona. But, God had other plans for us that day. Plans for us to share the Gospel under umbrellas in the pouring rain. Plans that were meant “solo ustedes.”