Honduras has captured my heart!
This week our ministry has been in the colony of los Pinos(The Pines). Los Pinos is one of the most dangerous colonies here in Tegucigalpa where the gangs pretty much control the streets at night. It is one of the poorest colonies of Tegucigalpa and is where some of the boys come from that stay at Zion's Gate.
During the day, it appears as if los Pinos is a fairly safe place. But at night, the youth and gangs fill the streets, smoke pot, do drugs, thinner, and create trouble. Many of the kids that live on the street do so by choice simply because this is their life, this is where they grow up, and this is where they are comfortable. It's normal for these kids to be on thinner, pot, and drugs at ten years old. It's normal for these kids to rob the coke truck at knife point for several Limpiras…why not, everyone has to make their money.
But there is hope! And God is working through Tony's ministry to change one life at a time. If I look at the whole picture, It's depressing…there's to many of them, and not enough of us. But if I just focus on one life at a time…there is hope!
And that is exactly what Tony has done. He has been focusing on just seven guys. These seven guys have come with Tony to Zion's Gate on their own choice. At Zion's Gate they are fed three meals a day, given responsibilities and household chores, discipled, and loved. They learn that life is much more than growing up with absolutly no purpose. The transformation in these kids the last several months have been amazing. Are they perfect? No, of course not! They have their days where they get into fights and can be annoying! But these are kids that are used to the rough life of the streets of los Pinos. And one thing is for sure. They are living different lives today, because someone took time for them…someone showed them love. Someone gave them a chance.
This is Herman (17) and his mom. Herman is a walking testimony of a life transformed by grace! Currently one of our ministries in los Pinos is painting his house…thus the face paint!
God is really breaking my heart for this colony and the kids that roam its streets.. The first day when we entered the colony and Tony (The director of Zion's Gate) gave us an overview of what is going on there, there was just this stirring in my heart for the people there…especially the youth of los Pinos.
I really can't explain what was going on and still is going on in my spirit but maybe, just maybe…
-Maybe it's the endless opportunities there to establish relationships with the teens on the streets.
-Maybe it's the need for mentors.
-Maybe it's the young men that have just come off the streets that need discipleship.
-Maybe it's the down-syndrome girl that has captured my heart.
-Maybe it's the kids there who are starved for love.
-Maybe it's the need for God's light in this dark, dangerous colony.
-Maybe it's God calling me to this place.
-Maybe it's God saying, "This is what makes you come alive."
How can I remain the same person after I see the need. After I feel the stirrings that are going on in my heart. After I hear God speaking to me about the youth of los Pinos. After I start giving my heart to these love starved kids? Especially this little girl with downs syndrome that has stolen my heart!
There is no way a human can love on these kids, and than leave a few weeks later unchanged.
The race goes on. There are nine more countries that we will go to. Hundreds more kids that we will love. Other ministries that I will pour myself into. But there is a huge question that remains inside of me at the moment.
"WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS AND TEENS OF LOS PINOS?"
