(BOLIVIA) Easter Retreat Report from Santa Cruz 2

 
By Marcos Kim
 
The title of the retreat was: FOUND BY JESUS. The retreat took place during the days of Easter (April 2-5) in Jorochito, a place 1.5 hours from the city. There were 33 attendees, including 7 new Bible students. The opening message was from Luke 23:32- 46 and the messenger was Brother Moisés. On the second day, there were two messages; one was from Luke 15:11-24 about the prodigal son, delivered by Sister Juanita, and the other was from Luke 19:1-10 about Zacchaeus, delivered by Sister Davinia. On the third day, the message was from Luke 10:25-37 about the Good Samaritan, and the messenger was Sister Sara. The two testimonies, both on the first day, were from Sister Blanquita and Brother Luis. Each messenger had different preparations but with the same focus on the word. Sister Sara prepared with Brother Pablo, and since it was not her first time as a messenger, they focused on the meaning and presentation of the message. Sister Juanita presented a message for the second time, but it was the first time she prepared it from scratch, reading the Bible many times and having preparation meetings with Brother Moisés three times a week for a month to delve deeper into the Bible. That message allowed her to understand God's grace more profoundly: a voluntary grace, not superficial or obligatory. Additionally, she understood how each verse flows and reveals the message with greater depth. Sister Davinia presented a message for the first time in her third conference. Despite her youth and it being her first time, she prepared with Brother Moisés for a month, meeting twice a week. She struggled with nervousness and inexperience, and that struggle produced a clear message in her heart: to approach Jesus just as she is, without masks or pretenses, being authentic and whole before society, and allowing God to do His work in her. Sister Blanquita recognized in her testimony her problem of spiritual paralysis. Despite having her business, family, and being of advanced age, she does not want to justify herself or grow cold spiritually or focus only on the earthly things. She thanked God for the opportunity to take responsibility for different needs of the church. Finally, she left all the trials she faces in life in God's hands.
 
Brother Luis presented his testimony for the second time. After his first testimony, he distanced himself from the church. Although he continued attending, he did not show real commitment to God. About six months ago, he began to study the Bible seriously and restore his close relationship with God. In his testimony, he spoke of his "spiritual leprosy," repenting as he understood how much he was worth to God and the grace he had received. He understood that God wants him to be a blessing, not to live in spiritual sickness.
 
Personally, while delivering the message of the crucifixion, I received support from Brother Pablo. However, by helping with two other messages, I was given the opportunity to see the grace of the cross with greater depth, understanding that Jesus gave everything on the cross and that everything is by His grace. Additionally, in practicing the gift of Teaching the Bible, I received the joy of seeing the development of spiritual fruits in other people.
 
 
This conference started several months before the actual date. We held kermeses where we took the opportunity to socialize among brothers and invite new people, a two-day workshop at Espejillos during carnival days as preparation for the conference, where new people were invited to the Easter conference. These activities sparked collaboration and responsibility in the church, which helped many leaders rise up to take charge of different areas for the conference, each discerning according to the situation, but to serve in the best way. The burden of the conference felt lighter, and in every activity, the spiritual family was felt. Although it was improvised, the drama on the second day had much participation, even from many new Bible students, reflecting the grace they received in their lives, as well as in all the meditations presented. Like Brother Jorge, who thought he was good but was able to recognize his faults, being a wrongdoer who needs Jesus. Sister Yuliana was deeply touched by the message of the prodigal son because she also ran away from home, and her father is a pastor of a church. Her departure meant distancing herself from both her family and God. At the conference, she expressed her desire to return to have a relationship with God and return to the house of her heavenly Father. Brother Edgar recognized that he had distanced himself from God and that he was not really committed to Him. However, he affirmed that he has a Father who loves him and that he desires to draw closer to Him, grow spiritually, and not despise His love. Brother Andrés Elías confessed that he has a great internal struggle with the doubts he has about God. He does not question to renounce Him, but because he desires to understand Him fully and not have an ignorant faith. He expressed his desire to find the truth in God and acknowledged that he is struggling against his problem of lack of faith. It was a time of rejoicing in the word and a good time of God's grace.

 

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