Really cool stories!

Sunday Night (2/11)
It has been a few long weeks since I’ve blogged. I’m sorry for my inconsistency. I think I waited too long, and then got overwhelmed by how much there is to share.
Tonight is perfect weather. It is dim outside, the sky is pretty, there’s a gentle breeze, and I’m alone with God and with my thoughts. Alone time is something I haven’t found a lot of while being here. Usually we’re with people of the program, our squad, or on the busy streets. It’s hard to be still, and it’s hard to seek out quiet spaces because when I do, I feel restless.
Last Tuesday, I made a video describing the ministry here, but it was too long and didn’t upload, so I’ll do a quick recap of it, or I’ll add it to a photo circle and share that link 🙂

I’ve found that this place has become like home in a lot of ways. I guess that would make sense, considering that we are living here for a month and a half. We have begun to swing into routine, and I think everyone is out of the initial culture shock.
I like being here. It’s fun to experience another culture, and although it’s been hard in a lot of ways, it’s also been sweet to be part of such a cool ministry.
Ciudad Refugio is a foundation that primarily works on restoring the brokenness of the city one step at a time. The foundation is built on faith and obedience in God, and there is so much fruit that has come out of that obedience.
This video is only a glimpse of the work they do here, but in this video, pastor Douglas shares a bit about the Bronx, and what they do there. Pastor Douglas started this ministry 30 years ago, and he has been going back every Wednesday night to hand out warm Aguapanela y pan (sugar water and bread) to the people who line the streets. We went for the first time a few weeks ago (1/31), and it was overwhelming to say the least. The German team, a few volunteers, ministry partners, and our squad drove in a truck to the Bronx, and when we got there, it was not at all as I expected. The streets were lined with people who find shelter in drugs, alcohol, violence, prostitution, and darkness. They are packed with the bodies of humans who are lost not only in this world, but also lost spiritually.
The first week we were there, I talked to a girl about my age who was alone, yet surrounded by unsafe men and conditions. She told me her name was Susan, and she said yes when I asked if I could pray for her. As I said that, others from my team, came behind me to talk to her, and she said “I don’t want prayer anymore, it’s just embarrassing”, and to see the shame in her eyes was so heartbreaking. I saw this shame, and I couldn’t understand the words she was saying to me because they were in Spanish. After telling her that I would continue to pray for her regaurdless, I walked away so sad and frustrated. I was frustrated that I’m not a man and that I can’t more easily approach people. And I was frustrated that I couldn’t understand Spanish better. I wanted to sit and talk with her, but I could hardly understand what she was saying. I could see the hurt in her eyes, and could see the shame she felt. Seeing her there, and feeling helpless to do anything or say anything beneficial, broke my heart.
As I tried to walk around, I realized I couldn’t handle the heartbreak and the frustration of it all, so I decided to intercede by the truck where they were passing out Aguapanela y pan, and pray individually for the men and women in line. Hannah, Amy, and I stood by the truck singing with Jacob (a guy from the German team) and his guitar. We prayed for each person, and remembering that Jesus would die for every single one of them was comforting. We were also comforted in the fact that it wasn’t through us that we were there, but that through us, God could do great things.

And he did.

The next morning (2/1), while we were eating breakfast in the kitchen, we saw in the corner, a woman who had come in early that Thursday morning after hearing about the foundation at the Bronx. How cool is that?! Within two days, we saw the light return to her eyes, and the past week or so since then, she’s grown to become one with the women in the program, and we all love her.

So fast forward to this past Wednesday (2/7)…
The whole week, I wanted to sit down and intentionally pray for understanding and peace when going back, and although I didn’t spend time doing that, God saw the desires of my heart, and blessed the night. (I’ll post a picture of the truck we usually go in, but it’s slightly scary..) They needed three people to ride in a van on the way here, so I did. It was really good to see how we got to the Bronx, and where we were in town.
I was planning on just sticking by the truck again with Jacob and his guitar, but the minute I got there, God gave me opportunities right off the bat to speak with people. I spoke to more than 15 women in line, and prayed with some men, other women, and children!
1. God opened my heart to see these people as people in need of love. His love.
2. He equipped me to understand and speak more Spanish than I’ve ever spoken or understood before! It was a miracle, and I’m so thankful.
3. Many people were interested in coming into the foundation, and one man is here this week!

There’s a small recap of one of the most exciting things we are a part of here.
There are so many more things that I want to share, but for now, I’ll post this, and then do a few more small blogs in the upcoming weeks!!

Thank you again for being patient!
I’ll be sharing more about the ministry, what our day to day schedule looks like for the week, and how things have been personally!

Links!!
Here is a link to a short video about the foundation

Here’s a link to our team’s Instagram

Here is a link to a photo sharing space where I’ll be posting lots of pictures from my time here!

Here is a Vimeo of the video I made explaining the foundation and ministry!

• May God bless you richly as you go into your week!