Last month, the squad leaders allowed each of the teams on the squad pray into the various ministries available for this month. The point was to ask Father what He wanted for that team. It was a good practice. Most teams weren’t able to settle on one ministry and so they sent in their top three. Ultimately, the squad leaders still made the decision on ministry placements and we were given them last week during Debrief. We were given the “Fundacion Resplandecer” (The Glowing Foundation) ministry. We are told that the ministry focuses on at-risk teens and children in vulnerable conditions that need to be rehabilitated. Through the process of having the children at the foundation, the ministry pours into and invests in the kids so that they can be reincorporated into society with support and love. Teams build relationships with these kids and sow life-long investments into their lives that they haven’t received.
Unfortunately, the ministry hasn’t exactly started yet.
Julio, the young boy that lives on the farm, took a few of us on a walk yesterday morning. We saw the cows (may have succeeded in making one of ’em mad), a couple of Tucans, the goat, ginormous wasp nests and were told that there are wolves, coyotes and deadly snakes. We also heard gorillas. There is running water, but not a lot of it. So, we’ll be living by the “if it’s yellow, let it mellow; brown, flush it down” rule for the month as well as doing the whole “turn (cold) shower on, get wet, turn it off, lather, turn it back on, rinse…” mode of showering. The water is, apparently, clean enough for us to drink out of the tap, however. Purified water has not been purchased. We’re praying that we don’t get parasites.
Yeah, so…we’re not entirely certain what this month will hold, but suspect it will look more like ministering to a family who will – eventually – be ministering to at-risk teens by working their farm, rather than ministering to teens who’re in need of love, friendship and joy. The upside? It is beautiful & quiet here. And Tony & Rosa seem absolutely wonderful. Since we got here last night, I’m pretty sure it’s rained three times.
Internet will be scarce, if at all. There’s a town about an hour away that we can go to on Fridays, but transportation will be interesting because Tony & Rosa only have the Trooper. We are looking into renting a micro-bus for the month to transport all thirteen of us.
