Sunday, February 15, 2009
Sunday was a day of “AGAPE” at First Baptist Church of Managua. Some of our women provided crafts for the children during Sunday School. Others went to the adult class, taught by a young student from the Baptist Seminary who also teaches English. The lesson was about healing on the Sabbath with the question, “What is the Sabbath for?” During the worship service we heard the magnificent church choir directed by Joan Parajon. There was a 52-voice choir with 19 men. We sang; we fellowshipped shaking hands; and we celebrated last week’s birthdays. Vi thought that people were going forward to give an offering and hurried up front. We all kidded her since we knew it wasn’t really her birthday. The pastor, Dr. Gustav Parajon, was at a Baptist Peace Conference and a seminary professor preached. During the month of February their emphasis has been on Baptist history. One other highlight in the service was a solo by a nineteen year-old girl. Joan later told us a bit of her history. She had been active in the church when she suddenly ran away. Everyone looked for her and prayed that she would return. She did and slowly began attending again. The night before she had sung at a Valentine’s party and Joan’s son-in-law heard her, and asked her to sing today. She reluctantly agreed. Before singing, she gave a beautiful testimony about God’s forgiveness and love for her, and sang “You Love Me.” We were all touched.
We went back to AMOS for a delicious lunch (grilled chicken and trimmings). Some went sightseeing with Claudia. Others were repacking for our trip to Blue Fields while two of us were left to write this blog.—Sarah Hicks and Dottie McCrossen
