Not knowing what to expect a group of 23 walks through the doors to the YWAM base we have been staying at for the past three weeks. We were told they were coming and we would be doing ministry with them but weren’t given any further information about the group. As they walked through the door my thoughts were, “Okay they seem around the same age. They seem like they could be a fun group.” Shortly after that I was greeted by smiling faces. Pastor Steve then approached me and two of my teammates and started talking to us. He began asking us questions and then shared his story with us and a little bit about his ministry.
We learned that this group was from Louisiana and they are a part of Face It! Ministries. This is a ministry Pastor Steve started back in 1998. His heart was to reach high school aged kids. What is Face It! Ministries? “It is a non-profit organization that facilitates student initiated clubs that meet weekly on public school campuses and provide pizza to students during lunch hours. The clubs focus on building character in young people by teaching them work ethic, honor, integrity, respect, courtesy, faithfulness, perseverance, and how to love one another by using and applying biblical principles.”
Within one day of being with Face It we had become friends. These people truly have a heart for the Lord. It was so inspiring to see so many young adults loving and serving the Lord the way that they do. They accepted us and made us feel so loved. We spent a week with them up in the Mountains living in a Ngäbe village ministering to the people there. While we were there we had no electricity or running water. I slept in my hammock on the porch while others tented and slept on the floor of an open-air school building.
While we were there my team had the opportunity to serve the Face It team by cooking for them. We made most of our meals over the fire. We were also given the chance to host VBS programs for the kids in the community. Each day around 45 kids would come out. We played games, did crafts, sang songs, did interactive dances, and shared Biblical truth with them. And lastly, we were able to build a house for a family. As Pastor Steve was sharing with the Family who we were presenting the house to about the Love of God the husband gave Pastor Steve a hug and began weeping and would not let go. This was such a sweet moment because the people in this community usually don’t express a lot of emotions. It was hard to even get a smile out of them but we could tell they were extremely thankful. It was such a humbling experience to be able to be a part of this.
Face It, it was such an honor to get to know each and every one of you. I feel like we truly did become friends. I always say at the end of each country as I’m packing up and getting ready to move on, saying goodbye to the people I met and built relationships with is one of the hardest things. As you guys drove off on the bus my heart was filled with so much thankfulness for the time we did have together but I was also feeling sad that it had to end so quickly. You guys are really amazing individuals with such huge hearts for the Kingdom. I saw Jesus shinning in each and every one of you. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your worship nights. Thank you for speaking truth into our lives. Thank you for the encouragement. Thank you for all the fun memories and laughs. I love you guys!
