Los Domingos

On Sundays we usually attend church at Iglesia Bautista Monte Abarim.  It isn't close enough for us to walk so we have to take two taxis.  We used to all try to get in one until we found out that this was illegal.  We decided it was probably best to stop asking our taxi drivers to break the law to take us to church. 

With each passing week we are beginning to understand more and more.  Last Sunday we had a guest pastor.  He spoke slower than our regular pastor so we were actually able to follow the basic ideas of most of the sermon.  I am quite certain we missed many details, but it was progress to get the main theme. 

Each Sunday they sing songs that are very familiar.  However they don't have hymnals in the church so we have not been able to sing along.  We noticed that people brought their own hymnals.  Last week we were able to ask, in Spanish, about getting hymnals and were able to buy two.  They had them right there at the church.  It was so nice to be able to join in this part of worship. 

One of our new hymnals

For those of you who grew up Southern Baptist or who currently attend a traditional Southern Baptist church, you might recognize a couple of songs we have sung.

"Victory in Jesus" 

"Faith is the Victory"

Last Sunday we arrived a bit early and were waiting outside.  We were invited to attend Escuela Dominical, otherwise known as Sunday School, the following week.   We told them we would try to attend next Sunday.  We were excited about going and having the opportunity to meet others and practice a bit more Spanish.

However....

It was not to be this week.  Sarah came down with a bit of a stomach bug on Saturday evening.  So we decided it was best not to try and catch two taxis, drive across town, and attend church with a stomach bug. 

Instead we had home church.  This was one of the kids favorite things when we lived in Zimbabwe.  On the Sundays that Vance was on call we would do home church.  Our Sunday School time was done by the children.  They had to take a story from the Bible and act it out.  Then, we would listen together to a sermon that we had. 

So this morning our Sunday School lesson was...

 The parable of the unmerciful servant

and then we listened to a sermon by Ravi Zacharias.

Hopefully next week we will be able to attend Sunday School and worship with other believers, but for this morning we enjoyed our intimate setting and service.