Rebellious Guacamaya
Never turn your back on a rebellious guacamaya (giant multi-colored parrots)!
We traveled to the desert region of Colombia last week to participate in a three night crusade with our Pastor from the US, Steve Fatow. Steve’s team included pastors from Chapel Hill, NC, San Diego, Venezuela, Costa Rica and musicians from Panama and Colombia.
The city of Neiva is very poor and the needs of the people can be overwelming at times. Neiva is also in the heart of the southern terriotry held by FARC rebels, one of many armed communist groups. Each night the city square was filled with thousands of people, most hearing the gospel for the first time.
Kevin was traveling by car Saturday morning with a young pastor from North Carolina to the maximum security prison outside of town. The prison is built for men but it houses about 50 women with ties to the FARC that are considered too dangerous to be held in the local jails. This particular day was visiting day for the prisoners’ families and friends making it too dangerous for any women from our ministry party to accompany the team. We were going there to deliver Bibles to the women, many of whom had been saved during an outreach the previous day.
We had to stop on the way to the prison in the center of Neiva to pick up the policeman who would help us get into the prison with the Bibles. While we waited, Kevin told the young pastor to count ten people as they walked by. The next thing he told him was that 9 out of every 10 people he would pass this week have never heard the gospel and were on their way to hell. Neiva is a city of 450,000 people, 30 churches and less than 3000 members. Each night at the crusade thousands prayed for salvation. When people have lived in absolute darkness all their lives and the light of the gospel penetrates that darkness declaring there is another Way, they respond. Our Father in heaven meets them, lives are changed, and miracles happen.
On the lighter side, Sunday morning we were sitting in the open air restaruant of the hotel talking with Steve. Adjacent to the restaruant is the pool area that houses about 8 or 10 guacamayas (picture attached). As we watched them the previous evening, we learned that two of them were very rebellious and would not stay in their area. They would make their way over the small iron fence that seperated the pool from the restaruant. Inside the restaurant, they wandered around between the tables looking for food until someone would come from the kitchen with a broom handle, scoop them up and return them to their area. The process was repeated several times…rebellious guacamayas! As we sat there Sunday morning, they began their journey once again. Kevin threw a scrap of bread to them. Thinking they did not see it, Christine got up and went over to the bread and made sure the lead guacamaya got it. As Christine turned to go back to her seat, the rebellious guacamaya became enraged and chased her down and attacked her feet. Never turn your back on a rebellious guacamaya!!!
Paul wrote to the Ephesians:
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph 6:11-17)
The full armor of God equips the believer on the advance to meet the enemy face to face. Our enemies, like the rebellious guacamaya, are just waiting for us to turn our backs to them. Our victory was assured one weekend 2000 years ago when Jesus died on the cross in our place and rose again so we who believe in Him will live forever. If you ever meet a rebellious guacamaya, or when the enemy of your soul attacks, meet him face to face remebering this:
Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. (Rom 8:37) Amplified Bible
We love you all and we are…TOGETHER IN THE HARVEST!