2023 - Day 3, Part 1: Church

This morning we woke up and had breakfast at the hotel before heading to church at Portadores de su Gloria, the church where Senora Harrison's sister is a member. When we got there we were a little early, so we played a round of hot seat before heading into the building. 

There was an usher who walked our group to their seats that were reserved at the front of the room. Worship started pretty immediately afterward and the whole service was about 2.5 hours. The initial worship session lasted about an hour and was filled with singing, dancing, tambourines, and flags. We had prepared our students that people worship God different in different areas of the world, or even in different churches, but we are all worshipping the same God, so we should be able to participate in this. As chaperones we noticed Jose go to the front to join the worshippers first, then a group of 7 other students joined him (Abigail, Allie, Alena, Colby, Isaac, Jacob, and Scottie) and worshipped. This was one of our favorite parts, to see our students immerse themselves in this worship experience. 

When the worship portion was over the message started, but unlike at home, the worship team continued to play and sing throughout the message. There was a lot of participation from the congregation and worship would start and stop throughout the service. It ended with baby dedications! 

The message was about the first rain and the latter rain. The first rain is expected, it comes when it's supposed to come, it's like clockwork - in January it always comes. What God wants us to do is expect the latter rain, which does not come unless something provokes it. She equated this to our worship with God. He shows up even more when we provoke His presence, by praying, worshipping, fasting, and seeking Him. While our kids (and chaperones) could not understand most of it, they did get something out of it. 

Team Reflections on the church experience:

Scottie - people were joyful at church while they were praising

Alena.- She didn't even know Jose had gone up to worship, but she, Allie, and Sophia didn't want to just stand in the back, they wanted to be a part of worship, so they went up there. Then they saw Jose. She was suprised that no one looked at them weird, but just welcomed them into worship. 

Jose - "I usually don't go up when it's a time of worship because I'm scared of what people are going to think, but I didn't care. After I went up, the very next song was 'dance like no one is watching."

Abbi - I loved how everyone is unashamed. God died for you in public, so don't live for him in private. 

Emily - The congregation was so vocal, they were participating, praising during the service, not just the dedicated time. 

Señora Harrison - When you have so much to be grateful for, you praise differently. "I praise in my room because God deserves it. I'm not going to give God any less than I gave satan before I was saved. If I was going to cut up with satan before, I am now going to triple cut up with God - and that's why I worship the way I do."

Abbi - It was interesting to see worship go the entire sermon. The sermon is also worship. 

Allie - Loved seeing the little kid grinding on the piano. 

Clausen - As far as modesty in church, I think sometimes people these days get mad at the church about the modesty message, but part of the way people dress is out of respect for God AND worship! If people are worshipping that hard, like we saw today, of course they need to dress modestly! If not, there would be an accident! They are dancing like crazy! They dress modestly to respect EVERYONE in the worship experience. 

Kate - Loved how the worship leader came down into the group and worshiped with us. 

Colby - Watching the guy dancing the whole time was cool. Senora Harrison added that scripture talks about David dancing until his clothes fell off. 

More from this day coming tomorrow morning!