The ministry of Unsung Heroes month is to find new contacts, build relationships, and prepare for future World Race teams to have a ministry to work alongside of. A huge part of this is trusting God and giving God space to guide your steps in what can seem like a blind path, as you don’t know what is next.
I asked God for a word to help guide my team as we sought to follow what God had for us. He gave me the sense of white pillars. Right before we left, He also gave me the idea of music, or a street musician or someone playing an instrument, which I also shared with my team.
I thought it was good, but wasn’t sure what it meant or if it came from God or my own thoughts. When time for ministry came that day, we decided to walk around the streets of Chile, trusting God to guide our steps and guide us in what our ministry would be for the day. We would talk to people or pray for them, we didn’t know but we trusted God.
Someone mentioned wanting to see the white pillars, as it was an intriguing idea to them. We walked for a while, talking and stopping for coffee and then we came across a church. With white pillars. We crossed the street and stopped to pray over the church, touching the gates of the church and praying over the white pillars.
We walked along for awhile longer. We stopped to watch a few minutes of kids playing a soccer game. Then we kept walking until we started to hear music. It sounded like a festival or outdoor concert or someone playing an instrument.
A man who was sitting in a doorway on a few steps told us not to go into the festival, that we would all have to pay a cover charge to get in and it wasn’t worth it. He had light colored hair and was dressed as a woman, his nails were painted and he was wearing some makeup. He wasn’t completely dressed as a woman, and it was obvious he was a man because of his facial hair and you could tell from his face clearly what his gender was.
We stayed to talk with him and he engaged us in conversation for a few minutes, telling us a little about himself and how long he’d been in the area. He said it was not a very safe area and that we needed to be careful. He warned us of thieves and to be aware of our surroundings. He told us he played the guitar. The street musician- another part of what God had told me, we were now seeing.
The man said that he believed in God and knew Jesus. He showed us a bracelet with Catholic images. When we asked if we could pray with him, he said yes. We prayed over him. At the end of the prayer, he seemed a little angry and he asked one of our teammates why they hadn’t been praying with him. Taken aback, my teammate explained they had been watching out for us; we talked for another minute or two, then we said our goodbyes.
We don’t know what ultimate impact our interaction will have on this man. Perhaps he will learn a different way of praying. Or God could show him something else, we don’t know. It is in God’s hands and we can trust God to use it.
We walked on and shortly after prayed together as a team against any darkness. I walked back with my one teammate. I asked her how the experience had been for her. She described how she had sensed a darkness from the man that she couldn’t describe. I listened and when we arrived back at the church a few minutes later, prayed over her. I prayed for light and clarity, for God’s protection and thanked God that we have victory over any and all darkness through Christ. Christ shines light over all darkness and His light wins out. His light saves us, rescues us, covers us, cleanses us.
That day was where I got to see God’s light win out. Even though at the beginning, I had doubts of how much I could hear God and recognize His voice, I am learning more everyday that as God’s child, I can know my Shepherd. God, who guides me, helps me to recognize His voice. I can test His voice and trust that as His child, though I am learning, I can hear Him and trust He is good.
God confirmed that I can hear His voice. That prayer is powerful. That bringing things into the light, however small or big they seem, whether in the everyday or in doing ministry, it helps to share what is going on with others around you who can listen and help you. I learned how my team is also there for me to remind me of the light and the truth and that God is bigger. I learned about the power of prayer and being in the moment, following what God has for you each step of the way.
***Fundraising update- I am currently a little over $3000 away from being fully funded for the Race- that is huge- thank you for getting me here! Once you help me reach this final deadline, I will be fully funded for the entire Race!***
Please pray:
- For a restful and joy filled time of Debrief with our whole squad as we prepare for Month 5 of the Race and possible team changes
- For God to provide so I can be be fully funded!
- For God to provide an online paid writing position while I’m on the Race
- For an amazing month 5 in Bolivia, where I can minister to others beautifully and walk in the full, abundant life God has for me
- For continued victory and truth in my walk with God
