A mariachi band participated that morning & in many of our activates. 

That first afternoon we had a "caravan" of 50+ vehicles, headed up by the town's big red fire truck and police cars, many trucks, cars, motorcycles & bicycles.  We drove about an hour throughout the streets and surrounding areas of the city of Somoto.  It was quite a spectacle and the people came out of their houses to hear the announcements and greet us.

The city of Somoto (pop. about 80,000) was sectioned into 5 different zones.  That same night we divided our team and began at churches in the outer area of each zone, then marched with torches, along with the Christians in each area, into the Central Park of Somoto.  It was very emotional to walk through the streets singing His praises, and as we approached the park we could see hundreds of torches approaching from each of the 5 directions.  Some of us waited 'til everyone was near and then ran into the park shouting with joy, proclaiming that "Jesus Christ is LORD over Somoto."  Every time I think of that night I get goose bumps again!  What a stunning visualization of the fire of God's Spirit at work from every corner of the city! 

 

There was a group of 50 pastors working with us from every denomination.  (Now that's a work of God!) They had been meeting and planning for months.  In the local churches there were days of fasting and prayer in preparation for our visit.  Our Guatemalan team had fasted for 40 days just before we left for this outreach.  The Spirit of the Lord had "tilled the soil" and prepared hearts!  HE is the one who brought in the harvest, in response to the heart cries of His people.  We are so grateful for all that occurred.  

More than 40,000 people personally heard the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, both in the City of Somoto and in 28 mountain communities surrounding the area.  There were "recorded" an estimated 2000 souls  who  either give their hearts to Jesus Christ or rededicated themselves to Him during our time in Nicaragua!!  Each name was recorded on a "decision card" and the cards were distributed among the participating pastors in each of the 5 zones.  They committed themselves to do personal follow-up on each one, encouraging them to become involved in a local church fellowship.  They have said that those local churches are filling up, and that more young people especially continue to come into the churches to receive Jesus. 

 
Here's Jeremy Ceferatti from Anapolis, in his glory during an evening meeting, surrounded by our Guatemalan beauties! 

In each of the 5 sections of the city there were rotating activates each evening: concerts (I sang in a different area each evening, as well as at each major gathering in Central Park), mini-evangelistic campaigns (preaching), evangelistic videos in individual homes, "The Jesus Movie" shown on big screens in the local parks, and dramas.  Our friends Erik & Linda Sampson came from Davie, FL, to present their drama "Hotel Heaven" over and over during our time in Nicaragua; it had a great impact.

                                                      

We estimate that there were several thousand who came out to the closing meeting in Central Park.  How I wish you could have been there to hear them shouting over and over:

    

We were thrilled to have 21 Americans come to work with us. We had a large group from Severn Covenant Church (Severn, MD) and New Covenant Church (Arnold,MD), four folks from Elfinwilde Church in Glenshaw, PA, Terry McLellan from Wylie, TX, and the Sampson from FL.  We couldn't have done it without each one working long and hard...including Aaron & Sarah and so many of our hard working staff members from the Home.   How I wish I could show you shots of each one....I have several hundred photos!!  It's been a real challenge trying to decide what to include here.  But below is a group shot with most of us (including our Guatemalan team):

 

Every day there was ministry outreach in various areas:  schools, hospitals, prisons, sharing with the members of the fire department and the police department, many radio broadcasts announcing our activities.  There were medical clinics every day.  It was my first experience "treating" the sick, but by the end of the trip they were calling me "Doctor"....it was an unforgettable experience for me.  There were several miraculous healings; a blind man received his sight and a couple who were carried in were able to walk away. 

        

Here I am at a clinic, translating (& training) under Dr. Jim & (nurse)
Donna Rae Thompson of Pittsburgh 

Here's Robert in one of his few restful moments.	Our Marisol  translated the whole time for nurse   Denis Bogaty-Smith from Pittsburgh

People were "ripe" and the response to the Gospel was awesome.  The response of the people during the door-to-door outreach was phenomenal; nearly every door was opened and people were open to hearing "THE Story." There were several occasions when people came up to team members on the street, asking how they could receive Jesus Christ....just like in the book of Acts!!

 Everywhere we looked there were people being prayed for...they were SO open!  
The Spirit of God was the one drawing men, women and children unto Jesus -- all we had to do was cooperate!    

Miguel prays at an evening meeting.	Rowena & Rosibel pray for a sick child during a medical clinic.

We had a meeting one afternoon for women:  pastors, pastors' wives and church leaders, as well as a few unsaved women who were invited.  There were 70 in attendance.  The American ladies had brought a whole collection of items and we were able to give "gift bags" of personal  items to each one.  Several of our team women shared, as well as Lastenia (Miguel's wife) and I.  We were able to encourage them in some very special ways.  The presence of the Lord was so sweet and the ladies were hugging and weeping together.  We found out later that these women had never gathered together -- even within their local church.  They had no concept of sharing their lives or ministering to each other....but promised us that they would see each other with different eyes from now on.  They were really overwhelmed with gratitude and we rejoiced in the joy of sharing our lives with these precious sisters. 

After the 5 days of outreach saturating the city of Somoto, teams went out into mountain villages -- some a couple of ours away and spent the day in door-to-door evangelism.  One night they traveled so far they stayed in the mountains overnight.  Many of the local pastors were very encouraged and there were hundreds of people who responded to the gospel.

 

Below are the 4 pastors we worked most closely with: Carlos, Donatilo, Fredy & Juan.	We received a beautiful plaque of appreciation from Brother Donatilo, who was the head of the pastoral committee.

We are so looking forward to having 150 brothers/sisters from Nicaragua here in our home for the Pastors' Conference at the end of this month.  It will be a joyful  reunion!! 

One of the pastors recently reported to Miguel that several weeks after we left, the group of young people we'd trained called together a meeting of all the pastors.  He said to Miguel that they were embarrassed as they realized that it should have beenTHEM calling together the youth, instead of the other way around.  They agreed that God had equipped them to evangelize and that they should continue in their mission of seeking the lost.  They have been going out traveling to other major cities all over their state (Madriz) doing evangelistic outreaches in new areas....again, seeing a continuing harvest of souls coming to the Lord.  It was all the work of the Holy Spirit in response to fasting and much prayer -- including YOURS!   Hallelujah.....and all of the Glory belongs to GOD!!  We send our love to you and thank each of you for your investment in this ministry to the nations.

Ever proclaiming HIS Faithfulness!

Carla