THEY SANG IN THE NIGHT

Late one night during our recent travels in Mexico Lloyd heard music that sounded like praises to the Lord. He had stepped outside our motel into the balmy night air to walk around in the walled courtyard. Since we had been looking for small churches that needed Bibles, he was excited about visiting that particular church the next morning. Because the music was so clear, he was sure it would be very near the motel. How convenient it seemed for the Lord to lead us to a place for the night right next to a church.

The next morning we left the motel and searched for blocks but didn’t see a church of any kind. We asked a boy on a bike if there was a church nearby, but the only church he knew of was several blocks away. Not knowing what else to do and a little disappointed, we kept driving through that side of town until we found a pleasant little church called the Mount of Olives. A woman who turned out to be a member of the congregation came walking down the street and we asked her for information. She offered to send for the pastor; and meanwhile she and some others who happened by got the key and opened the church.

Soon the pastor and wife showed up, out of breath with excitement and curiousity. When we told them about the music in the night, they confirmed that they had held a meeting the night before and had been singing together. But could we have heard them in our motel so far away?

By this time several others had joined the group inside the church along with Pastor Benito Zamora and his wife Anita. It was a spontaneous time of celebration because it was evident that we had been led to that place by songs in the night. This was the perfect time and place for us to take communion together as we prayed, worshipped and sang in the little church called Monte de los Olivos (The Mount of Olives).

Before we left these great and unforgettable people, the pastor’s wife Anita and the other women shared an almost unbelievable and exciting bit of information. Two months ago Anita had dreamed that Americans would come to visit their church!

Pastor Benny told us that there are many who need healing in their congregation and in that town. He said that the state of Vera Cruz has more cancer victims than any other state in Mexico; and there are many other health problems. We promised to pray with them about these needs and then we encouraged them to keep on singing and praising in the night!