A few of them get visitors, most don't.  So when they are expecting us to show up for our weekly time together and we don't, that's not cool.

This past Friday, I learned that the ministry group who has been letting me tag along with them had another commitment, so they wouldn't be going.  This was a double whammy because one of them had promised the boys we'd have a sort of early Christmas party with a movie on our next visit.  I found out the night before that this wouldn't take place, so Ken and I started scrambling to work it out.

The pastor who usually goes was still available, as was another missionary in town, so we made plans to pick up the missionary and meet the pastor there.  Ken and I loaded up the dvd player, an extension cord, a grocery bag full of already-popped popcorn, some lollipops, and a few empty cups.

There's a new sheriff in town--um, I mean, warden--and the rules are a little tighter.  I wasn't sure about the lollipop sticks or this change in our normal Bible-study-style Friday meetings, so we made our way up to the warden's office to give him a rundown. This guy is a real answer to prayer.  "Sure, whatever! I'm just so glad you want to work with these boys who need God," was his reply, and he reminded us again that he's also a Christian.

We figured out how to rig up the dvd player and got Facing the Giants loaded up.  I was once again thankful for my resourceful husband who can MacGyver his way through practically anything.  Four or five of the most faithful "attendees" gathered around the tiny tv and I started scooping popcorn.

At first, they weren't too interested in the movie, and several left to meander around the yard.  This is, after all, a football movie.  Some of the themes just don't translate well.  But once the teams took the field and the action got rolling, a crowd gathered around that little tv, including a few guards. 

We laughed at the funny parts, they snickered every time the star cried (not exactly what a Paraguayan man would do in the same situations), we moved around as the sun shifted, and we enjoyed Coke and popcorn.  

Ken handed out lollipops during a lull, and I warned them not to use the sticks for evil.  They assured me that only the adults use homemade knives.  I wish I could believe them. 

Surprisingly, when the movie was over and it was time for my talk, they all stuck around.  Quite a crowd had gathered by then, so the discussion on making God a real priority in our lives and how that plays out, fell on a lot of ears.  I reminded myself as we were leaving that His Word doesn't go out void.