A few weeks before we came here, I asked Dennis and Cathy if they’d do an introduction to Sozo ministry for anyone who wanted to attend: it’s not something I’ve been able to ‘offer’ on the part of a team before, and not something I’ve heard happening here in Cali. Bless them, William Castaño and Wilmar ran with it, organised one – for today – and then another church jumped in for tomorrow, in Yumbo, a city about an hour north of Cali. Sozo is about helping people hear from God for themselves for inner healing, freedom, release of pain from the past, and so much more.
Cathy was brilliant. We had no idea how many would be there for the first event of this type – but around 70 chairs were put out, and I’m told moe had to be put out. The reaction was tremendous, with a number of other pastors wanting Cathy to do the same thing in their area, so it looks like Dennis and Cathy will have to come back! The response from pastors and attendees was remarkable, bless you Cathy, what an impact!!
Thanney and Johnny had a really good day today at the kids’ foundation – doors on door furniture on, arrival of air conditioning (getting it much cheaper than we thought we were going to have to find for it! – thank you, Lord!!), more work on the suspended ceilings in the loos, and countless other jobs all heading towards a ‘finish’ well on schedule for the handover on 12 November. Thanney is doing amazingly with his broken hand, though pays for it a bit at the end of the day: and Johnny is doing fantastically, despite his prolapsed disc, trapped sciatic nerve, and general lower body pain.
For me, I spent the morning waiting to have a big needle stuck in both knees – though it turned out the doctor would only do one today, as I was on my own (stretching my Spanish beyond miracle level!!) and he said I needed someone with me, and a car home, if he was to do both… so another needle tomorrow! It really IS the most strange – and exceedingly painful – sensation having a needle stuck in your knee (I didn’t take any photographs!), but I’m planning, after tomorrow’s masochistic session, to try and take the day horizontal to give the medication a chance to work….
Wednesday, Cathy has her second session, in Yumbo, a church I’m very fond of – pastored by good friend Alex Betancurt – I’m sure her impact there will be every bit as great – if not more – than today (5-8 p.m.). In the morning, Dennis and Cathy are going to the foundation to see the kids currently there, and the miracle worked at the hands of Thanney and Johnny. I’m keeping Dennis and Cathy on the run for their last week, as, on Thursday, they head off high into the Andes, 2 hours drive from here, with great mate Francisco Riaños, a pastor in the north of the city, but who works at a secular drug rehabilitation centre – Centro Rehabilitacion, Dagua – where D & C will be able to speak/preach to the residents, pray for them, and see them set free…. an early start, a longish drive, a few hours there, drive back, and go to (with me, this time!) to Reconocer, the Christian drug rehab centre at 3 p.m….followed by a church meeting at 7 p.m.
Trying to fit in a visit for D & C, too, to Ana Beiba’s home for abandoned old people… might have to be Friday morning….
The team obviously have to keep body and soul together, while I’m staying home praying and fasting…. 😉
