Disarmed

"He took it [that standard of righteousness that we failed to keep and stood opposed to us], and he nailed it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." (Col. 3:14,15))

This has been part of the scripture I've formed my message around the last two days outside of our clinics. When you disarm someone you take their gun away. You take their gun and their ammo, and that is what God did to Satan when he died on the cross. Satan is an accuser, and when God nullified the law that stood against us, he took Satan's guns. God can say, "Yeah, maybe Craig screwed up there, but the price has been paid. He can come and be with me." What an opportunity that we as people have before us. The wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life in Jesus.

Today in San Andres in addition to 100 numbers, we saw several families suffering spiritually. One family in particular came in. They were a mother and father along with their daughter, Maria. Maria got married at 13, was abused by her husband who left her for (and sometimes brought home) other women. He ended up dying for some unknown reason, but not before paying a witchdoctor to put a curse on her. From age 15 to 25 Maria has not been able to talk, doesn't recognize her parents, and is prone to fits of lunacy. Whether you want to believe there are spiritual influences in there or not, the young girl has had a really emotionally/physically messed up life. Her parents are now in the church and have thrown away their Mayan idols, but were still pretty timid in praying for their daughter. Leslie encouraged them to fast on their daughters behalf and not to give up praying. We prayed today in clinic and promised a visit, but honestly the whole thing is so foreign to me I didn't know what else to do.

In other happenings...David and Joe are still in the States, but it looks like they'll be able to come back soon. Joe passed his private pilot written test, and they have both been helping out Ryan a lot. Also, I have a few new numbers for the corn project:

1. $68 a month will meet a family of 8's basic corn needs for a year, eating 2lbs of corn a day.
2. Buying the corn in country from a confessing Christian business owner on the coast looks like our cheapest option, at about $8 per 100lb bag. The corn actually comes from the US, but our friend can get it shipped cheaper than we are able to.
3. We are inviting pastors from Canilla and San Andres over this Friday to pray and talk about working together to combat the corn shortage.
4. I learned this week from another man that he "just doesn't feel like he's eaten without having a tortilla,''! So I know corn is something that will be meeting a physical and psychological needs in people!

Anyway, we are just kind of resting tonight. Leslie and Duane are listening to a church service in Kansas City, so I thought I'd write a post before I shower and read a little bit. Thanks for reading and for all the prayers.