"Everything was going wrong and we felt that Satan was trying to keep us from the task at hand!  The scripture that kept coming to mind was 'Trust in the Lord.'" As is sometimes the case, this was the thought coursing through the mind of the ACCTS South and Central America ministry leader and his US partners as they arrived at the Military Education Center in El Salvador to present the International Association of Evangelical Chaplains (IAEC) Basic Chaplaincy Course.  Here are some examples of how God works in and through and around circumstances to accomplish His purposes.

As the team checked on the classrooms, they discovered that the promised Wi-Fi wasn't working, the AC was on the fritz, and the classrooms were very hot.  They opened the windows for ventilation only to discover that the Mosquitos were unusually aggressive. (One member had 14 bites on just one arm.)  Their military lodging was adequate, but it offered only cold-water showers, and - reveille for the troops was at 0445. 

They had planned for about 80 students from the El Salvador Armed Forces, Police, Firemen, Prison Keepers, and a few civilian pastors. A week before the training, only 21 had signed up. When class started, however, God sent 57 students! The schedule called for overlapping classes, one from 0900-1700, and the other from 1300-2100. Unfortunately, during the first week, a student from the late class was ambushed on the way home.  Despite a knife wound, he was able to continue, but the incident required a schedule change so as to finish before dark.

On Wednesday of the second week, they learned that the buildings were to be fumigated the next day. The fumigation required yet another schedule change, and they had to repack their clothes because the fumigant contained diesel fuel. With the mess hall closed, they had to make other arrangements for dinner.  (The aroma of the diesel spray lingered well into the next day.)

Despite these distractions, the team was able to minister effectively both in and outside of the classroom. Over the weekend a retired US Chaplain on the team comforted a new mother who was being evicted, while others attended local churches and visited the Armed Forces recreation beach.  God had already paved the way for them to use military facilities at the Education Center, and for the first time, He provided 4 instructors from El Salvador and 1 from Guatemala in addition to the 3 US staff, The chaplain students were enthusiastic about their training, and nearly 70% signed up for the 6 month follow-on Practicum. At the graduation, the Commanding General of the Military Education Center addressed the group with a Bible-based exhortation to put their training into action.  Pray that they heed his counsel and will minster effectively to those they serve.