“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last.”
~John 15:16
This morning we (Beloved One + Molly and Jeanette) had the opportunity to go to a women’s clinic where our contact’s church goes regularly to ministry primarily to the prostitutes that come in weekly. Many prostitutes come from Columbia and live here for awhile and some leave their children in Columbia while they are gone. When we got to the women’s center, we prayed for the people there and the people God had planned for us to talk with and minister to. We split up into three different groups each with a leader or translator from the church. We were handed Bibles and told to give the gospel message, pray with them, give them a Bible if they didn’t have one, write a note in it for them, and then write their name and contact information down on a piece of paper.
(Jeanette and Christopher)
The first time we did it was a little awkward. Most of us are used to building a relationship first and getting to know someone before presenting the gospel so it was weird just walking up to someone, asking their name and just telling them the good news. But the second lady we talked to, Martha, was so sweet. We found out she was from Columbia and some of us could relate because we had friends there and I told her that all of us had been in an airport there for 12 hours. After talking to her for a bit and finding out she has two children, I got to share some things God has been teaching me this year. And then eventually explained what Christ had done for me and everyone else in the world and expressed God’s love for her. She didn’t have a Bible so we all wrote in it and gave it to her as we prayed and blessed her life.
(Kari and Martha)
As soon as we were done speaking with Martha, we knew we were supposed to talk to the lady behind her. Her name is Mary. We introduced ourselves and found out quickly that she is a Christian but started to back-slide when she married a non-Christian man. She is no longer with him but has two children; a little boy who is 9 years old and a little girl who is 6. As we were talking I felt like God was telling me to let her know that He wanted to use her to encourage other women who have been in the same position she is. She started to cry as I listened to God’s voice and prophesied. I also told her that no matter where she’s at now, it’s not too late and God is waiting for her with open arms, not with condemnation, but wanting to pour out His love on her. She cried even more. Mary told us that she felt God speaking to her at that moment, beckoning her to come back to Him. She asked about churches in the area and feels that she is supposed to go. Her name was called for her check-up but she asked us to stay until she was done. We all wrote a message in the Spanish Bible for her while she was gone and Denise translated our notes. We put hands on her and prayed for her before she left. She gave us each huge hugs and thanked us for coming and listening to God’s voice at that moment.
(Heather, Mary, and Kari)
While we were talking to Mary, the girl two rows up told us she wanted a Bible and asked if we could explain more of it. So while Heather and I were still talking to Mary, Denise, one of our contacts, talked with this other lady, wrote a note in her book, got her contact info, and prayed for her. And right after that there was another lady Liliana that we talked to. She also is from Columbia and has a daughter there with her grandmother. Jeanette had been in a different group but near the end we switched based on where we were sitting and she had a word for Liliana saying that she felt God was going to use her in the future to pour into kids. And then we found out years ago that’s what she did as a job. It’s neat how God works. And we got to pray for her as well. She seemed to be seeking and doing a lot of thinking about what people were saying. She thanked us as we left and was very appreciative.
(Mary and Kari)
I LOVE how God appointed these moments and knew I would talk to Martha, Mary, Liliana and all the women we prayed for. I am so thankful for this opportunity and that God chooses to use me…all I have is love for Him and a willing spirit and He uses it. I love that the Holy Spirit moves and works in people and God let me be a part of His working in someone else’s life! God never ceases to amaze me!
“…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”
~Romans 8:26
*This past weekend Jenn, Renee, and I joined team Less and headed 2 hours outside of the city with 180 high schoolers to a beach area for a weekend retreat. I will have to write more about that later and post pictures as well.
*This coming weekend (leaving tomorrow), Caitlin, Jenn, and I will be joining Team Ignite on an island with the indigenous group (the Kuna people). Please pray for safety and for effectiveness as we spend time with this tribe.
*Check Caitlin´s blog out for another perspective on our day at the prison
