Okay, another CRAZY thing that happened in our country, and probably ONLY Paraguay. The other day, Christian (who works for the government) called Oscar and asked him if our Praise and Worship team could sing at a Prayer Meeting organized in the Congress building for the whole Congress, Representatives, President, etc. Several other pastors and people singing solos were going to be there, but he wanted us to lead the music. Oscar thought it was CRAZY. I thought it was an OPPORTUNITY. Ben had SECOND THOUGHTS. David said SURE. So anyway,…we said yes!We were given the program and practiced on Sunday. We had five songs to lead. Wow! This was getting exciting. Our practice sounded beautiful! We all imagined praising God in front of the whole law-making body of Paraguay…President Lugo included!
We dressed in our Sunday best (on Monday), and at 7.20 we left Adonai to get to the Congress building by 8.00 am to set up. The meeting was to start at 9 am.
At 9:15 am people were still running around here and there and only about 30 had occupied the beautiful, maroon-colored swivel chairs behind the sophisticated desks each with microphones, gadgets, and internet and telephone connections. Our schedule showed that we were to start singing How Great Thou Art at 9:00. I guess we were running on Paraguay time…LATE! I was saddened by the disorganization, but kept my eye on the door expecting President Lugo to come walking in any minute.
Three people finally tried to organize us or give us different instructions. We weren’t sure exactly WHO to follow. Oscar discreetly came over to tell us one thing, Pastor John told us something else, and then the lady-speaker announced something completely different. Okay, we’ll do it Paraguay way after all!
When it finally started, there were only about 5 of the “important” (Congress) people there. There were about 50 others who came to pray for the nation, but no President Lugo. (He was off to Chile to work out things with other Leftists involved in the civil disturbances of Bolivia.) Well, we prayed for him anyway. We prayed for the government leaders, the decisions they make, the people, the economy, the future, etc.
We felt important. We were sent there by God…to praise Him and lift up his name in the same place where our authorities sit making laws and decisions that affect the whole Republic of Paraguay. Things were a little disorganized, people who were invited didn’t show up…but God did...and that’s why we were there…to praise the Highest Authority of all! Amen!
5 comments:
You all look beautiful in your Sunday best- but you must have looked absolutely gorgeous from God's perspective since you came with willing and obedient hearts to sing His praise! What a wonderful opportunity! Thank you for sharing what GOD is doing in your lives so often! It is a real testimony to His goodness and it lifts my spirit to read about it!
What a neat opportunity!!
I'm sure you guys will have some blessed memories of this performance and the way it was handled and turned out. Did the other soloists sing? I think you should write to the President and tell him since he missed you (or you missed him), you are willing to come back to sing for him at another date. See if you'll get another invitaion. :)
Kar, we have students and other church folks who take a "prayer walk" through our church each week, praying for the people, for the church body, for all who enter church doors -- even though the prez and more "important" people weren't there, your group and the others left a spiritual impact on that building and all who will be there :)
Grandpa would have loved this!
Wow, Karen, that's neat! To think that you were invited! Gramschley has a great idea to President Lugo that you'll sing for him again, but I think you should invite him to church to hear you instead. And tell him to bring his friends! :)
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