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| Levis Hernandez the Missionary to Nicaragua |
It started with “d-Class”
discipleship class, early Sunday mornings. The purpose of the class is to learn
obedience, holiness, process, priorities and to prepare everyone for the trip. This is where iron sharpens iron. The study is rich. The commitment of the people is evident. We washed cars and
worked together to raise money and build camaraderie. Still there was not a
country on Pastor’s Heart. We prayed together and worked hard together. We
studied French. It was likely that the country we would go to in Africa would
be French speaking. I was hoping for Burkina Faso as my friend, Barkwende
Sawadogo, was from Burkina and I wanted to see where he grew-up. At the same
time visit his Father John-Baptiste Sawadogo and his mother Marie Rose. I had
not seen his parents for since his wedding, 2 years earlier. Lisa and Barkwende
have gotten pregnant, since the planning began. Naomi would be born a few weeks
before we leave for Nicaragua. The mission’s team stayed pretty much together
during this time with optimism as to where we would go. Pastor announced the
dates for the trip in December 2009. He told us about how much it would cost.
There was still no decision on the destination. Pastor is decisive and direct.
In this case God was just not speaking on the location he was speaking on
preparation. It takes discipline to go into an environment that is in deep
poverty and spiritually aggressive. We would prepare to conduct spiritual
warfare; there is no such thing as enough prayer, enough Bible Memorization and
enough dependence on God. Never enough!
January 12, 2010, 4:53 PM
sent us to Nicaragua. This is the date of possibly the most horrific earthquake
tragedy the world has every seen. On Sunday January 17th, Pastor said; "we
may not be going to Africa." His heart is for Africa. Everyone knew how
painful this revelation was for him. We knew we were not going to Africa. There
was somewhere God wanted us, but it would not be Africa.
Pastor thought for sure it was Haiti.
They needed us. We had 5 ministry teams prepared to go and minister. We had a
connection through Convoy of Hope. They had been on the ground in Haiti for 18
years. They were there, we were connected and this must be the country. Two
families in our church were from Haiti it seemed a natural.
Convoy did not need us in Haiti, they
needed us in Nicaragua.
The two weeks leading up to
the Nicaragua Trip were unbelievable. Starting with the Youth Convention and
Pat Shatzline. Lives changed every night. Sunday 7-18-2010, Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday. I was out of town and could only attend the Wednesday meeting. The
meeting had over 350 people in attendance, on a Wednesday night in the summer!
The Holy Spirit moved gently and mightily throughout the meeting changing
lives.
A number of things about the
trip challenged me. As Pastor would say “get over it." First is spiritual
preparation, which after my morning prayer on Monday July 26th, I had a break
through to the prayer preparation as to how to pray and what to pray. The
second challenge is the total lack of a schedule for the trip other than the
flight schedule. Obedience and following are essential. I had another break
through when I realized that being a servant requires blind obedience.
The Wednesday before we are
leaving, July 28th. I was getting ready to take a red eye to Boston for a one
day meeting. The flight would leave at 10:50 PM. Oasis is essential I did not
realize how powerful not only to me but to the Nicaragua Team, Glad Tidings and
San Francisco.
I was late getting to Glad
Tidings arriving about 7:20 PM. Worship was in full swing with 100's of people
in the service was a bit overwhelming in a good way. It seemed to be a healthy
mix of people. They were singing a new song. The presence of God was evident.
The mix of people men, women, youth ..there was a difference about the place
that was strongly evident as I entered. (I wrote this on the plane on the way
to Boston, United 180 seat 12E)
Pastor Tim talked of the
realness of the Holy Spirit. Pastor Beiser closed with simple stories of his
experience of multiple realizations of the Holy Spirit, for him, during the
meetings. He spoke of how he questioned Pat Shatzline's methods. He specially
questioned “The Alabama Door.” He questioned it until he saw the Holy Spirit in
action because of the expectations people had as they stepped over the
threshold and were “blasted” by the Holy Spirit.
During the Pat Shatzline
meetings, Pat said things to Pastor that were then immediately verified. One
was of a little girl, who was not little anymore, but when she was 8 God told
her would experience revival. The person was in the congregation. She had
recounted to Pastor this word from God prior to the meeting. She was 8 years,
when she received the word at the time of this meeting she is over 50. This was
a testimony that Pastor recounted on this night.
Pastor stopped as he walked
in the “pit” in front of the sanctuary as he often does when drawing the
audience close to a message, a mission or a testimony. He then called Tim away
from the electric keyboard replaced him with Pastor Isaiah, called Pastor
Nathan and Pastor Catherine, the 8 year old girl to the front with him and
simply asked people to come forward for prayer.
I knew I needed to be there
and went quickly because I had a plane to catch. I stood in Pastor’s line. I
was 4th in line. I do not know who was directly in front of me. Pastor prayed
for the first two people and while I believe the Holy Spirit had an impact it
was not visible, as a matter of fact the first person walked away and looked a
little disappointed. I began to pray, eyes closed to block distraction. I was
expecting God trying to block the mind distraction, praying for a new, fresh
filling of the Holy Spirit.
I could feel movement around
me. I prayed calling out in my spirit for a new, fresh filling. I was touched
in a different way it was like a bolt of energy blew me backwards off of my
feet. This was not after any audible prayer I just felt a touch. I was blown
backwards on to the floor. On the floor, I could feel people around me. I was
unwilling and unable to get up. Unwilling because I wanted more, unwilling
because I wanted what I experienced not to end, I was at peace with everything.
There is no other way to say it but peace came over me and continued.
A few minutes might have
passed. I got to my feet a little wobbly I was glowing in my spirit. I have
never experienced such a deliberate move of the Holy Spirit. It was fresh and
new. I sat on the plane waiting for it to take-off I was still experiencing the
Comforter. I am ready to go to Nicaragua! Holy Spirit, paraclete come you are
welcome here.
In the morning on the plane
as I arrive in Boston, last night is so real and still vibrant, still fresh and
new.
I am flying back from Boston
we have practice for the Puppet Ministry tonight I need to learn the songs.
Glad Tidings Men's Ministry International is a ministry of Glad Tidings Church, San Francisco.
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