When Rafa and I were on the phone on the pre-planning sessions a couple times, Rafa was really really
excited to mention that there was someone in Colombia who offered a first-class jet
that would make it very very easy for all of our camera equipment, my wheelchair, our
whole team to go from city to city. We found out that the person who offered the jet couldn’t
supply it for us anymore, but there was a plan b. No, it wasn’t a G5, and no it wasn’t
a Gulf Stream, and no it wasn’t anything more than a propelling twinned plane, but
I gotta tell you, my heart was rejoicing!
I loved this plane. Over 33 days, 20 cities, 8 countries, to have the possibility of having a plane was just a blessing from the Lord.
It was just cool to go into Quito, there were
about 2000 people there, and it was just such a beautiful, beautiful night there in a very
pretty setting. They surprised me with some young woman singing the cover of Something
More, and that was pretty cool as well, and it was just so awesome how hope, whether it’s
packaged in a speech or a movie or a song, you know, hope is universal, so we’re just
so thankful that we’ve been able to communicate with these messages of hope and faith and
truth. When you have that hope that’s more than
death, bigger than death, that’s when you become un espíritu invencible.
>>Ecuador received Nick with arms wide open. Nick’s testimony of moving ahead, knowing
that you can’t do things on your own, but that you need God, and taking a day at a time,
Nick’s message came out loud and clear to the people in Ecuador that there is hope,
and each of us has a purpose as we move forward. So I don’t know what you’re going through,
but together we can make a difference. I’m dreaming big. How ‘bout you?
We’re here in Quito, Ecuador. We just spoke to 5000 police, it was national livefed on
TV. Now we’re going to a helicopter, we’re going to the president, and we’re going
to spend some time with him, and we pray that God touches his heart, and uh, we’re going
to pray for Ecuador together. We’re here at the government palace right
now with the president. About 15 people to my right. They just told us we’re not allowed
to bring cameras inside the palace. So we’re going to the changing of the guards right
now, which is something that is done every Monday, right next to me is a witch doctor,
and I said hello to him. So it’s pretty cool just to witness this. We’re going to
try to get a photo with the president, and we’ll come back to you guys soon. See you soon.
I was able to meet the president, pretty fast,
pretty quick, prayed for him, prayed for wisdom, prayed for protection, prayed that he would
lead this country to honor God, that God would honor this country. We believe that one day,
we’ll come back to Ecuador that we would preach from the steps of the government house
one day. I believe that with all my heart.
Those girls with the purple masks, they were shouting out for justice. And I never seen such a young group asking for abortions in
my life. I was in shock. These girls don’t know what fruit will come of their terrible
decision, and they don’t know the plans that God has for their children. Yes, we can
stand up against the violence, yes, we can pray for the violence to stop, yes we can
do all that we can, but killing children is not the solution.
>>Nick was able to meet with the president of Ecuador. Being able to talk to him at a
time when Ecuador is looking at some of their laws regarding abortion, and knowing that
Nick’s presence is able to have an impact in encouraging people that abortion is not
a good option, even if a child is maybe not looking as you’re expecting them to look
like, and knowing that for the president that that was an impact was something very very special.
[[Wordless singing]] Gracias. Gracias.
It was really cool to have met Maria, who’s just been an incredible woman who has brought
in wonderful awareness in that nation for people with disabilities.
>>I realize that I was asking for a miracle, but yesterday, I realized that I was that
miracle for many people. Amen.
>>Yes I’m very thankful with you for that. Thank you. Un abrazzo. You are beautiful.
It was just so cool to see her courage, and to see her boldness, to see her love; in fact
the differences that has happened within that nation was rippled across other bordering
countries. It was great to get her story as well.
>>When we arrived in one town called Chimbote, we went straight to a press conference, and
it was crazy. There were people thronging, we had to…hardly could get into the room,
the room was packed. People wanted to touch Nick, see Nick, it was just a sense of just
energy and heat, and people and excitement. There was a high expectation because it felt
like the whole time, it’s not a huge city, but it was a, there was so much energy and
excitement. As we drove along, we saw posters of Nick, and it just seemed like things were
going to be really special that night. When we drove into the stadium in the evening,
the stadium was way more empty than we would have wanted to be. And that sense of disappointment,
of all the energy and the time and the sacrifice, financial investment, time investment, prayers
the people had made, and then come in and there was not amount of people you were hoping
for. Nick, when he talks, he says that it’s all worth it if one person makes a difference,
and that is easy to say, but to live it, when I’m sure many many people were impacted,
many people were there, but not the number we wanted. And knowing that you don’t want
to focus on numbers, but at the same time you want to be able to wise about the use
of our resources. And I think that was a struggle in the city of Chimbote that we all felt.
We were supposed to actually have another translator for when we get back to Lima, because
the first couple times that he translated me, he had a lot of difficulties. But now
he’s five times better than the first time he translated me. I just had peace to use
him back in Lima, so that’s what’s going to happen. But what really touched my heart,
brought me actually to tears as I paused there on stage and put my head down, was knowing
that Fernando, our interpreter, gave his life to the Lord Jesus Christ tonight. It’s incredible.
Actually, it was a beautiful thing as I prayed yesterday that he wouldn’t have anxiety,
we just are so thankful, I just can’t wait to hear more of his story.
We had a really cool time going to the congress for the first time in Lima, Peru. The president
of the congress was there, and two other members of congress were there who represented people
with disabilities, and laws that had been instigated to bring more integration and awareness.
God is God. And he loves you. Us all. I love you and I want to pray for this nation.
To see all of the congress building packed with people on their knees, praying to God
for the forgiveness of their sins as a nation, individually, collectively, and asking God
to heal the land of Peru. To have that whole congress room filled with people on their
knees, praying out to God on national live TV, I mean, we heard that there were people
watching it in the airports and the lounges that were crying, and just everyone stopped
to watch what was going on and the government platform of their country, it was just absolutely
fantastic. Amen. Gloria a dios. To all the people in
Peru, I love you so much. Even though we have disabilities, we know that there is a wonderful
wonderful blessing when we come to God. And we will have our full bodies in heaven, but
right now we have our full spirits, and that’s all we need. Thank you so much.
So we’re here in Lima. We are waiting for…waiting for our flight. And so this guy, John, we
saw him four times. He walked from the stadium to the airport. He’s such a cool guy, we
met him first at our great show, and then he came to my hotel. I don’t know how he
knew where we were. And then we saw him at the stadium, without a ticket. And he came
inside. And now he walked here. So now we’re decompressing after 80% of Peru have now heard
the gospel, which is awesome.
We're not allowed to play soccer in the airport. No se puede. OK, OK. Un abrazzo. Gracias por todo. Mucho gusto. OK, that’s
yours. That’s yours. No, su. Para mi. Yeah, yeah. OK. OK, no problem. OK, we need…it’s
full time. Time for Argentina. Feel like an old man today.