One day, a man who came to do ministry in the city of Medellín, Colombia walked out in the middle of the night to pray for the community. He stopped to pray for a homeless man and while praying, he heard many other men circle around him. He thought they were going to take his life. When he opened his eyes and looked around, he saw that the men who had encircled him were weeping: they all wanted prayer, too. This was the beginning of the foundation El Ciudad Refugio.
Now, aside from everything else the foundation does, every Wednesday night they go out to one of the more dangerous streets of Medellín to continue the ministry of the roots of the foundation. In my last blog I mentioned that the foundation enters into some dark places in order to bring the light of Christ. I was specifically referring to this Wednesday night ministry called Agua Panela and Pan (bread).
The foundation brings bread and Agua Panela, a popular South American sweet drink made from hardened sugar cane, to hand out to the people of the streets. They also hand out tracts that have the ministry’s information to those who want them. Part of the intention is to get people off the streets and bring them into a better community (i.e. the foundation).
I went for the first time a week ago and then again last night. The first time I went, I spent the day praying for the Lord to fill us with His light as we entered into this dark place. He answered that prayer. As we were driving to the community, we had so much light and were singing and declaring the power God has in the darkness.
However, as we came closer and closer to the community, a pit began to form in my stomach. The light was still there, but so was the pit. The darkness was near.
As we pulled up and got out of the van, I was in shock by what I saw and smelled. There were about 150-200 people all along this little street at about 9pm. They were all living amongst trash. As we walked down the street we saw people using every drug imaginable: marijuana, cocaine, heroine… People were rolling their own concoctions, sharing with others, using pipes, injecting with needles, and drinking alcohol.
While we walked through the street inviting people to go get auga panala and pan, I still felt the light of Jesus in me, but my heart was so broken over what I was seeing and it was broken for the people living there. All I could say the whole time we were there was “Light in the darkness”. I just kept declaring that as we walked through and talked to people. Light in the darkness.
As this Wednesday came around, I felt a strong tug on my heart to go back. So I asked my team leader if there were extra spots and praise the Lord that there were.
Going into it this week was a bit different than the last. First, I knew what to expect. Second, this week fell on Halloween so we were preparing for it to be more intense. Third, I had a joy and excitement about going back.
Just as we expected, this week was more intense. There were a lot more people this week. A lot of times we had to walk single file through the street because it was so crowded. I also encountered a lot more people who were either very high or intoxicated and even people who seemed to be emanating dark spirits.
However, I still felt like I was radiating such joy. I could not stop smiling the whole time we were there. The only thing I could think to explain this was that Jesus gave me this joy to bring such radiant Light into this darkness.
The thing that impacted me the most this week though was the man I was with as we walked throughout the street. His name is Marcos and he volunteers with the foundation. But what I found out recently was that he used to be one of the people on this street. He was living in that darkness every day and was engaging in it.
But through the ministry of the foundation in that place, he ended up coming to the foundation and going through the recovery program. And now here he is, going back to that place. But this time he is going as a Light in the darkness.
The Lord pulled Marcos out of that darkness, He gave Marcos the light of His son Jesus, and now He is sending Marcos back into that darkness with that light. Wow. What a privilege it is to get to watch the Lord work in that way. And what an honor it was to get to stand beside Marcos and support him through prayer as he told others there about the way out and a better life they could enter into.
During my time here, I have been deeply impacted by not just Marcos, but by all the people here at the foundation who have gone through the recovery program and who now are pouring back into the foundation in many different ways. This foundation gave them the opportunity to meet Jesus and be changed by him. And because of that, they want others to have the same opportunity.
What a picture of the mission we are called to as Christ followers. Because we have been saved, we are commissioned to go out and tell others the Good News so they have the opportunity to be saved as well. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to serve with this foundation. The people here have given me a new and fresh perspective on our mission as Christ followers and why it is so important.
Prayer Requests:
- We are closing out our time here in Medellín, and also our time here in South America. Next Thursday we head to Africa! This is both exciting and sad for me. I am sad to be leaving our time here in Medellín. It has deeply impacted me in so many ways. But I am excited to be going home. I left my heart in Kenya, Africa 3 years ago and I am ready to go back. Please pray for safe travels! We have a 3 day travel schedule including a 12 hour layover in Madrid, Spain.
- Please continue to pray for this foundation and all the ministries they are engaging in. The Lord is using them in mighty ways and the people here are so committed to it all, no matter how hard it is.
- Please pray for health for my squad. More than half of us are sick right now which is hindering our ability to do ministry. Please pray for healing so we can continue to engage in our mission and also as we have some long travel days coming up. Please also pray for my health specifically. I have been sick basically since the end of training camp in June. I am ready to feel 100% and not have my ministry hindered by all of this sickness.
I love you all and I am so thankful for all of your prayers and support!
In Christ,
Rachel
