“So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
So I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours”
This song has been my ANTHEM in this first week of ministry. God’s revealed to me the power of vulnerability. Sharing the grey areas of my life which I never thought I would come to the light. Being vulnerable with my team, truly giving everything over to God, has opened up a place in my heart and begun what I feel is a new beginning with the Lord. God has shown me so much more of who He is just in this first week of ministry. Through the power of Christ, I’ve seen a demon cast out, a lady on the street healed of back pain, and teammates who were complete strangers a week ago become family. God is teaching me how to let everything go, take His hand, and just follow Him.
We had the opportunity to work with so many different ministries this week. One of my favorites was the elderly home. Myself, along with three other girls, were able to go for a few hours and just spend quality time with the residents. There was a sense of sadness and depression just walking in the doors, but watching their faces light up seeing us arrive was probably the highlight of my week. I was reminded of the simple things of life, as an older man grabbed my hands and started dancing with me, as we all sang Jesus loves me in Spanish, and especially as one woman grabbed my hand and just held it for over an hour, speaking to me in Spanish. I don’t have a clue what she was saying, but I felt the Lord telling me just to be still and ‘listen’, which is something I so often forget.
Our team also helped with a lot of kids/youth ministry this week! I was especially struck by the youth group Sunday night. Seeing young adults in the same stage of life as myself on fire for Christ was incredible. We sang praises to Jesus with them in both Spanish/English, played games, and laughed well into the evening. This evening seemed like a little glimpse of heaven to me. Young adults of all different backgrounds, gathered together to praise Jesus and enjoy each others company. It was something really special.
One of my favorite opportunities of the week was called Agua Panela. This was where my team and I went to a drug influenced community and handed out bread and water. Ciudad Refujio started this ministry over 25 years ago, and have been doing it every Wednesday since. Walking into this neighborhood was so heavy. The smell, drugs, and crowd of broken people was so heavy on my heart. You could sense the darkness, spiritual warfare, and overall lack of Gods presence. The opportunity to be a small light to this community was incredible. This opportunity really put into reality how much this world needs Jesus. How broken and dark this world would be without his power. Its a common claim that following Jesus has too many rules, that it eliminates the freedom that comes with walking our own path, but that is 100% a lie from the enemy. Following Jesus comes with joy, peace, happiness, and so much more. I have witness firsthand this week the lies that the enemy tries to impart on us. He tried to make me believe I was not saved, that I didn’t really trust the Lord. But through the power of Jesus Christ and the prayers and cries of my team, Christ overcame! The enemy has no place where Christ dwells, and He CAN overcome the darkness.
Seeing all that Christ has done in just a week of ministry, I cannot even fathom all He is going to accomplish in six months! Thankful for a faithful God who brings peace even in the most uncomfortable of situations!
