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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Melody (08/24/06)
We sit now in the blazing heat of the afternoon sun in springtime Guatemala. This is my missionary team’s first day back together after two days of separation that started when we split to send one group from our current village to do outreach farther up the valley.

The leader of the outreach team returned later that night with the news that they had been attacked by some sort of demonic force, and one of them had been – literally – pushed off a cliff and killed – then healed by the Power of God.

We split further, with one team going back to help our injured team mate, one team returning to town to find someone to get him to a hospital, and a third team – including myself – remaining in the village to continue our ministry there.

The immediate rescue team returned late the next afternoon – while the city team didn’t return until two days later. Those of us in the village waited anxiously for news of the injured man, praying, ministering, and surviving until we could be re-united again.

But now, we’re together once more. It is late afternoon and we must be ready to minister – yet again – in church tonight. We need to come together closer than we’ve ever been to prepare ourselves for the Power of God to work in us and through us.

We gather the chairs that have been provided for us by the natives of the village into a circle in the sand outside the front of the church. The oppressive heat bears down on us – almost like a palpable attack trying to lower our spirits. The enemy had tried many times to force us to give up, yet we press on – and this time will be no different.

One of the guys pulls a guitar out of the duct tape-covered case it had been hauled up in on the back of a donkey and strums a chord. The music reaches deep into our hearts, reviving something that had been hidden until this moment. A new song, a true song, rises from us in our uplifted voices; a melody rings out in praises to the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the One who has conquered death and the grave. This song of victory carries across the valley with the Power of His Holy Spirit, and we are revived.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Christine Dunn
09/01/06
I liked this missionary trip report. It gave a very good insight into your feelings at this difficult time, and the healing power of worshiping God through music.
Lynda Schultz 
09/02/06
For greater impact, shorten some of those extra-long sentences. Nice job.
david grant
09/07/06
I would make my last paragraph the first, since it is the most likely to draw me in to the story.
Edy T Johnson
09/08/06
This has a feel to it of "more" to tell. I would recommend using this as an outline and expanding it with additional detailed paragraphs. For instance, I'd love to hear one of your characters describing the incident with the injured man whose life was miraculously restored.

I appreciate your message, Kevin, and I appreciate your generosity in "finding" my entries and leaving welcome comments for me, as well. God bless you!
Suzanne R
09/14/06
Wow - what a lot of stories you must have after experiences like this!

Your title was really catchy - well done.

The description of the heat bearing down on you was good - it put me in the picture. I wonder if you could do even more with describing the sights, sounds, smells etc of the setting.

Thanks for your encouraging comments - you're a great comment-er. Be blessed and a blessing!
Linda Watson Owen
01/13/07
I agree with Suzanne! I know I'm late commenting on this one, but I know you must have MANY stories if this is from your own experience. I do love the title too!