Cresthill Mission Reports

Nicaragua Partnership Project

March 2002 - Day 2

From: Steve Wetherbee
To: Lynn Stephens
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 9:27 AM
Subject: Second Day Report

It's hard to believe this is only Tuesday, so much has happened.

We arrived in Somotillo at about noon on Monday. The team going to Cinco Pinos ate and departed for their village, because it is a three hour ride both ways. The rest of the team set to sorting materials and getting prepared.

Then we could wait no more and we took our first trip to the new school. What an event. It is simply beautiful. The design is extremely unique, with the roof over the large center courtyard unlike anything we have ever seen.

The most amazing thing was that we visited at the hottest part of the day (over 100 degrees), and the inside of the building felt so cool. The design is such that airflow travels through the rooms, into the center court, and then up through the louvers in the roof. The engineers here certainly understand their environment. 

So it was time to start the Crusade. Events were held in four different areas; Somotillo (Pastor Scott Hopson), Villa Nueva (Pastor Toby), Cinco Pinto (Dan Bennett and Paul Cooksey), and Santo Tomas (Pastor Jimmy). Each has its unique challenges:

1. Santo Tomas: This is a community with a heavy load of aggression towards the word of God. The last group that attempted to preach the word of God had mini bombs thrown at the gathering. There was no knowledge of any converts within the community. So Pastor and Silvia marched in with some trepidation. As the event started that could feel the oppressive influence of the evil one. But as the evening developed God had other plans. His word was brought forward and the great need for God and His salvation overcame. There were 69 converts to Christ on this night, and God has started His congregation in that community. Two more nights there will be an incredible experience for our team.

2. Cinco Pinos: This is a community three hours away that has not received a visit from a missionary team in four years and they were hungry. Dan preached and Paul worked the crowd. The outpouring for salvation, healing, and prayer for their lives was incredible. This morning I offered to switch Paul and Dan off so they would not have to take the trip three days in a row, and they accused me of trying to pull a fast one on them. So something big is going on there. Today Mike Callahan is going with the crew to Cinco Pinos. (Note to Cindy Callahan --- at last nights crusade event Mike adopted a daughter. I'm not sure how he plans to get her home, but we are watching him like a hawk!!).

3. Villa Nueva: This is the community where we built the new church last year, and they are praying to build the church. Pastor Toby and crew introduced Christ to the people and told of the church where they can grow at. The reason we are holding a regional crusade is because the group of Pastors have a vision of building up the churches. Each event has trained workers that will counsel with those making decisions and taking names and addresses for the churches to follow-up with.From this the building and training of the congregations is being prayed for each day.

4. Somotillo: The crusade was held in the town park. It was packed for Pastor Scotts message. Prior to that the First Baptist Praise team did a 5 song set, and then The Cresthill Praise Team performed for the first time on foreign soil. The crowd was alive as the message began. Pastor Scott laid the need for Christ out in clear terms and then turned the invitation over to Diomedes. Pastor Diomedes did not ask for people to come forward. He did not exhort the people to come forward. He called them out, telling them that they would come down NOW. And they poured forward. After this great event, Pastor came on the podium and announced our new brothers and sisters in Christ. How that man loves to see new brothers and sisters.

It was well after midnight before all were back and settled in bed, (except for Pastor Jimmy who sat and strummed the guitar as he pondered the day. The downstairs of Chico's house was laid out everywhere with men sleeping on pads. This looked like a scene from the twilight zone. I was tempted to pull some fast ones, but Silvia said I had to behave (darn!).

Today the computer team is working at the school, and the medical team is treating the sick and infirmed at the Assembly of God Church. A word of real concern, Aids has hit Somotillo. There are 1,500 confirmed cases, with over a hundred more each day being reported. The churches are fighting back. They have received materials from Doctor Dobson's ministry, and are training the Churches on how to reach the people. The evil one is at work, and only can be turned aside by the power of God.

There are fiestas being held in each of the four communities this morning. With this ministry to children, Greg Turner is in his glory, children children everywhere. We have made Bernie our official photographer and have set him loose with a new digital camera. He is our on the scene reporter now!

The devil is being chased and God is working through your team. PLEASE keep praying daily because the devil hates to lose!!!!