REAP our ministry for the month of January has been such a honor and blessing. I’m going to give a summary of such a amazing thing that they have. REAP stands for Restore Educate Activiate Perpetuate. They Restore relations with God first then others. They Educate on applying Gods word everyday and every moment. They Activate faith through following Christ example through loving and serving others. They Perpetuate the ministry by raising up leaders to carry forward God’s work with and for neighbors in Granada. There vision is to create a community of believers who are living transformed lives in the presence of God through God and the Holy Spirit and they are doing just that. This place has such a beautiful staff. From the farm workers to the kitchen staff. They have over 70 acres of fruit trees lime, grapefruit, mandarin, papaya, mango, plantain, avocado, oranges, guayaba, tamarindo, and maringa trees. With employment rate down so low there goal is to employ locals to keep up the land, provide fruit to sell at the market, and create income to help the work of REAP Granada. Sports is also a big thing not only hear at REAP but all through Granada. Every sunday 100s of 100s of people come out to play soccer, kickball, volleyball, basketball and many more games. At all the practices they get the Word and get to know each of them. It’s a really big deal for relationship building. Mr.Scott (the ministry host) believes that the relationship is the important part of showing the love of Christ. On Saturdays they have church in the conference center. Currently there is boxers hear so they have a boxing ring but that doesn’t stop them from worshiping.
Each month I will bs picking a scripture to cover what God placed me here for such a time as this. As we draw near to our last days this AM God placed
Mark 10:13-16
“People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”
We where blessed to have been here while they where still out of school so there was alot of children through the day while we where at the ministry sight or prayer walking. It occured to me this morning that it’s one thing to welcome our own children or a child that attends our church. It’s another to welcome and protect a child who truly can do nothing for us. There was several loveable children in my life over the past month. Many times just sitting and holding a 10 year old girl is what God tells me to do or maybe it is pick on a 16 year old boy and using the only spanish words I know. I want my lap to be like Jesus all children are welcome. Watching these children play around run to my arms when they see me. I am reminded of how Jesus just wants us to sit in his lap and make us feel loved. Having a child-like faith and obedience as a child does for there parent.
This is just a few hearts that God placed in my life and I would like to share with you.
This is Marvin he is 16 years old. Marvin is a very hard worker and loves kids. He takes care of his mama because she can’t work. Due to the low employment he isn’t able to find a job. He helps out around REAP to eat. The very first day I met him he was out of the crowd. Didn’t really hangout with the adults but also didn’t hang with the children. God always draws me close to the outcast. As I got to know him and started to make him eat with us he came out of his shell laughing and cutting up. I already knew he had a sheaperd in him. That he was set apart for a season. The kids look up to him and obey him. He is a great role model. One day he is going to be a leader with children. The other day he told me thank you and I said for what he told me thank you for loving me like Jesus. Then afterwards called me Loco lol. But it reminded me why am I hear. Not to show my love for these kids but Jesus love through me.
This is Rosa. She is my lap baby forsurrrrrrreeeee. Everytime she sees me she wants me to sit down and her crawl in my lap and just want to be held for hours. So Eva does just that. Her heart is pure gold and has a smile that will light up the room. But one day she was throwing rocks and I told her to stop but she continued to do it so I told her to stop again. I had to get on her hard and she was upset. But that afternoon when I saw her again I showed her love just as Jesus would. We sin and He is not happy with our actions but still wants to hug us and hold us for hours. I pray for life and that the seed of unconditional love will grow into her heart. I also pray that when I leave she will have another lap to lay in and just hold her like Jesus would. But if it doesn’t happen I pray that she can just close her eyes and feel the hug from Jesus.
This is Andres. He is 10 years old. He calls me mama and gets very upset when I’m hugging on other kids. He has a little sister and is just so cute. But Andres really has a string of my heart. His mother and dad has raised him so well. He has a David spirit about him. Very humble but mighty when it comes time for battle. I pray he continues to have that spirit about him and will be there for his sister through tough times. As he gets older I pray that he never forget Gods love.
My heart breaks when I realize that in three days I will be saying by to these beautiful niñas and niños. I cannot physically get every child on my lap but as the days go by I will always have a seat in my heart at the table. As God takes those seeds of unconditional love He showed to them through me I pray that others come along and water them protect them and love on them. While my heart breaks it also is forming into this beautiful master peace of God saying well done. This was what I put you hear to do at REAP and you did just as I asked being obedient. I love that my lap is a safe haven for the unloved, the outcast, the tough boys to the sweet girls. That’s how our Fathers lap is in heaven. No matter the sin He is always there.
