A Walk-a-thon?

When I received the information from the Baptist Church of Portola in San Francisco, CA about what they were planning through Mrs. Melgar and her daughter, I was really moved. They were celebrating the Olympics in London at this time. I asked how it would be possible since there are so few that know me. But God always surprises us!

Nora Melgar, the mother and her daughter, Nora and the granddaughters moved others in God’s name. The walkathon was held on August 25 on the outskirts of Lake Merced in San Francisco. It was really chilly, a little too much for me who is accustomed to the warmth of the Caribbean. Many persons from around the area and our group were waiting for the appointed time to walk 1.5 miles around the lake.

“Walking with Ingrid,” “Missionary Walk-a-thon.”

We arrived:  three children, three young persons, and three adults for a total of nine persons. We took pictures with a large towel bearing a map of Panama and we walked. The adults walked for one and a half miles, but the kids went for three. We returned to the church to have lunch. I was thinking with all my heart and soul about all the work that went into organizing the walkathon: flyers, telephone calls, personal conversations, and in the end so many details and only nine persons who had come to walk. But I repeat again. God always surprises us! When the afternoon was over, Mrs. Melgar and her daughter said we are going to count the money we received. Something that I did not realize was that many persons contributed to the walk even though they did not participate. The final count showed a little more than $1,400.00. Blessed be God’s name. They had surpassed the goal they had set of $1,000.00.

Baptist Church of Portola, a church with a vision and a missionary heart, walking with me, Ingrid!

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  ¿Una caminata?

Cuando recibí la información de lo que la Iglesia Bautista de Portola en San Francisco, California estaba planificando a través de las hermanas Melgar (madre e hija), me sentí conmovida. En esos días se estaban celebrando las Olimpiadas en Londres. Yo me preguntaba como lo harán posible, pocos me conocen. ¡Pero Dios siempre nos sorprende!

Las hermanas Nora Melgar (madre), Nora Melgar (hija) y sus nietas movieron a otros en el nombre de Dios. La caminata se celebró el pasado 25 de agosto en los alrededores de Lake Merced en San Francisco. ¡Hacía un frio terrible para mi piel caribeña! Muchas personas en los alrededores y nuestro grupito esperando la hora fijada para caminar 1.5 millas alrededor del lago.

            “Walking with Ingrid”, “Missionary Walk-a-thon.”

Llegamos: 3 niños, 3 jóvenes y 3 adultos 9 personas en total. Nos tomamos fotos con una gran toalla con el mapa de Panamá y caminamos. Los adultos hicimos la 1.5 milla, pero los jóvenes hicieron el doble. Regresamos a la Iglesia para almorzar juntos. Yo pensaba en mi mente y corazón en los esfuerzos realizados para que la caminata se efectuara: material impreso, llamadas telefónicas, conversaciones personales directas, en fin muchos detalles y solo 9 personas habíamos acudido a caminar. Pero vuelvo a repetir: ¡Dios siempre nos sorprende! Al finalizar la tarde las hermanas Melgar dicen: “Vamos a contar el dinero recibido.” Información que yo no sabía. ¡Muchas personas habían aportado lo que se les había solicitado para la caminata y no habían ido a caminar!  Conteo final, un poco mas de $1,400.00. ¡Bendito sea el nombre de Dios! Habían sobrepasado la meta que se habían propuesto de $1,000.00.

¡Iglesia Bautista de Portola, una iglesia con visión y una iglesia con un corazón misionero caminando conmigo, Ingrid!