The Earth Moves Under Our Feet

We experienced our first earthquake since coming here this week. The famous San Andreas Fault line that some say will cause California to fall off into the ocean someday continues throughout South America along the Andes Mountains range. We are now comfortably nestled in our new apartment in a city that sits on that same fault line. Friday morning Kevin was sitting in the office of Pastor Conrado Uribe, our good friend in Colombia, when the floor began to move. It felt as if his chair was being carried away by gentle rolling waves. Conrado looked at Kevin and smiling said, “Welcome to Colombia my friend.”

The last friday night of each month is a night of celebration at la Puerta de Salvacion (The Door of Salvation pastored by Conrado Uribe). The typical service runs about 5 1/2 hours, 1 hour of praise and worship, 1 1/2 hours of preaching and alter ministery and another 3 hours of praise, worship and dancing in the presence of the Lord. Dancing is deeply ingrained in Colombian culture and the church here is no exception. The people love to dance in worship. 

As we were ministering to people Friday night, Christine began praying for a young woman who, along with her husband, had been born-again at a Friday night service about three weeks earlier. This young couple came from Roman Catholic backgrounds and have no real idea of charismatic/pentecostal practices. As Christine was praying with the young lady she was baptized with the Holy Spirit and fell to the floor, her entire body shaking for about 15 minutes. Christine spoke with her about what she had experienced during that time. She related that she felt a freedom and peace like she had never felt before. Seeing her on the floor that night reminded Kevin that that very same floor that had moved by the power of nature earlier in the day was now being moved by a force even greater than nature. The power of the Holy Spirit. 

Now for the rest of the story … We told you of the Colombian love for dance. When the worship team began to minister songs of praise the church began to dance. There in the middle was the very same young lady, overflowing with freedom and peace, dancing with all her heart for Jesus. There is really only one way to accurately describe the way she was dancing … “a human earthquake”… We have never quite seen the human body move in so many completely different directions at the same time all in perfect harmony with the music. In fact, our almost fifty year old bodies hurt just watching her. Well, that and the fact that neither one of us have laughed so hard in years. Young and old danced right along with her. She had spent her youth dancing in rumba bars but now she was dancing for her Redeemer. 

And David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod. (2Sa 6:14) Then it happened as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. (2Sa 6:16) But when David returned to bless his household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel distinguished himself today! He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!” So David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel; therefore I will celebrate before the LORD. “I will be more lightly esteemed than this and will be humble in my own eyes, but with the maids of whom you have spoken, with them I will be distinguished.” (2Sa 6:20-22) 

We want to be worshippers like David. It was such a blessing to see this young lady celebrate freedom in Christ … therefore I will celebrate before the LORD … how does that song go … “I’ll become even more undignified than this”. Not suggesting “Christian Rumba Night”, just appreciating the sheer joy of a new Christian expressing from her heart. We think David would have been laughing along with us. 

We love you all and we are…