Let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation!

Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.

Isaiah 25:9

This week there are angels rejoicing in heaven and many rejoicing with them here on earth because two incredible campus students have decided to make Jesus Lord of their lives.

On Wednesday night the campus ministry piled in to our living room to share this special moment with María Paz. God has taken her through many intense times in her life up until this point in order to draw her to him. Over a year ago, María Paz started thinking about God as one of the brothers in the campus shared with her about his life. She began to study the bible with some of the sisters but very shortly after, decided to step away from the challenge of living her life for Christ. Almost six months later, God drew her back as her older brother was in a life-threatening accident. He survived and has recovered well, but her heart was changed completely through it. She decided to begin studying the bible again and didn't slow down for two months. On Wednesday she shared with intense gratitude and brokenness before God and the brothers and sisters. It was encouraging also to have her mother, her cousin and her best friend there with us on her special day.

Thursday night the fun continued as we piled in the campus students once again to be apart of Alejandra's baptism. God has worked similarly in her life as she first visited the church in 2006 and studied the bible last year but walked away not wanting to give up everything to follow God. A few months ago she came walking in to church alone, scared that no one would accept her. Her heart for God has been a light for the ministry. He has carried her through some rough times and left her convinced that there is nothing more worth living for than God. In the process of studying the bible this year her mother suddenly became very ill and has been in the hospital now for nearly a month. She has undergone multiple surgeries on her intestines and is recovering slowly. Alejandra has been forced to look to God and learn about faith, about believing in what she does not see. Thursday night was a time of great joy and rejoicing for her and for all of us who have fought alongside her.

God has brought two girls from opposite sides of Santiago to know the wonders of his love and the joy we find in his amazing grace. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation. Isaiah 25:9