Zion’s Gate

 

        Walter, Christopher, Ariel, Henry, Luis, Carlos, Marcos, Fernando, Anderson, Christofer,  Genesis, Tanny, Jennifer, Dania, Sandra, Amalia, Rony,  Nohemy, and Christian; each one of these children used to live on the streets of the capitol city Tegucigalpa, Honduras.  Key word "used to". They "used to" live in the dump. They "used to" dig through the trash to find food and clothing.  They "used to" smoke pot and get high on paint thinners. They "used to" steal. They "used to" go to bed hungry. They "used to" get mentally and physically abused. They were "used to" gang violence. They were "used to" murders, suicides, homicides. They "used to" live this life. But their lives all radically changed thanks to a man named Tony. This man goes into the darkest areas of the city, places the police won't even enter and forms relationships with the families there. His ministry is called Zion's Gate and he is providing 20 children with a home, with a family. The thing I like about Tony and the ministry he runs is that it's real. He doesn't try to hide the dirty stuff he doesn't pretend everything is ok. He tells it like it is, that it is hard, and exhausting and sometimes scary. A couple of months ago he checked his bank account and had four dollars left. But he said that God never gives up on him, that He always provides, and every night as he falls asleep he knows it's worth it. Tony is providing these children with a future. They want to be teachers, doctors, and missionaries when they grow up. One of the older boys even wants to run Zion's Gate when Tony retires. 

I've been living at Zion's Gate for the past few weeks and when I found out we would be sleeping outside in our tents I was scared to death. All I have heard about Tegucigalpa was the horrible murder rate, the poverty and crime. I was scared. My first night there, I may have gotten just a little over an hours worth of sleep. I honestly  didn't know how I was going to make it through the entire month. But now after living here for just two weeks I love it and wouldn't change a thing. I've formed relationships with the family and even with some of the security guards who initially scared me to death. I feel safe and I love what Zion's Gate is and stands for. Everything about it is bringing glory to God's Kingdom and it's so inspiring to be apart of. I get to help the children with their homework, chores, and mentor them. One week we will be helping out in their school and this week we were working on the property. Tony's passion and drive to keep pursuing the Lord's work is something I will be bringing home with me. He doesn't sugar coat anything and I think that's exactly how it's suppose to be. This is Life, this is living. I'm not saying you have to move to Honduras and open up a ministry providing street kids with a home, food, education and a future.  But I am saying the possibilities are endless.

To help support Zion's Gate and the kids there go to  http://www.zionsgate.org/about/