The slums of Los Guidos is one of the most dangerous slums in Central America, and my squad is located in the heart of it. Los Guidos, Costa Rica is laden with poverty, domestic violence, uneducated adults, underage prostitution, drug rings, and unparented kids. Sewage runs the streets during rainfall, knifepoint robberies happen in broad daylight, and sex trades are made daily. Girls are sold as young as 12 to men who are willing to pay. The past two nights, as my squad leaders are giving their testimonies, gunshots have rung and echoed in the church. A man with a machete walked passed us earlier today. My squad is experiencing this first hand.
This month, my team Anchored in Waves is the prayer team for our squad. Every day, for six hours a day, we intercede for our squad, Los Guidos, our ministry, restoration, and redemption, in various forms of worship and prayers. What we are experiencing is far from anything I’ve experienced before. Our squad has been plagued by spiritual warfare, and let me tell you, I never knew demons really existed until I arrived here. Exhaustion, headaches, doubts, fears, and inability to pray has been a problem for every person on my squad in some form. You walk down the streets or ride on the bus and there is a feeling in the pit of your stomach that is indescribable, the best way I can think of is just, evil. You look out the window and see all the houses with barbed wire, bars on the windows and doors, broken glass on top of walls as a make-shift defense against intruders, garbage lining the streets, and the people with empty looks in their eyes.
When we first arrived, our ministry host Mark told us we were sitting right in the middle of a battle, and to be on the front lines as we are, we are going to experience battle wounds, as any soldier on the front line will. I thought he was talking in expressions, but he was flat out telling the truth. He said that they have asked churches in San Jose to come to Los Guidos and help with their ministry, and the churches refuse to come because of the danger.
My heart has broken time and time again when children as young as two come to the feeding center for their only hot meal every day with bruises, the inability to smile, and a look of hopelessness. Mark told us that 90% of the children who come to the feeding center experience some form of abuse at home, whether it be physical, sexual, or emotional. It’s amazing to see the refuge they take in the center, and the amount of joy they get from some attention and playing games. It’s ministries like Christian Light Foundation that inspire me; this is what they do all day every day for the past 12 years.
My team joined Team Royal Covenant to their ministry site today, which is a school called “Sector 7”, where no missionary has ever been allowed in. Their ministry is to go and pray in front of the school and try to make their way in. We hiked to the school through the slums, and when we arrived, I saw a barred building with a gate and barbed wire on the top. I had no idea it was a school. We started praying and reading scripture aloud, and I looked up to see a drug deal happen on the corner across from where we are. This man has a pit bull on a chain, and when he isn’t making deals, him and his friend are training the dog to attack. I’ve never been so close to danger like that in my life, but I had a strange peace that God’s hand was protecting us.
A few kids came up to say hi and look at us “gringos”. We began to say hi, and two of my squad mates Cody and Nick tried to talk to them. Pretty soon, they were playing tag. About five minutes later, we had 25 kids hanging out on the street corner with us, playing tag, riding on our shoulders, spinning them around, and when I looked up again, the drug dealer was gone! It was just an affirmation that all evil has to flee in the name of Jesus. When you bring the light of Jesus into a dark place, it shines. After some playing we had to leave, and we turn the corner to see the drug dealer training his dog on the next street over. Just because of our presence here does not mean Los Guidos is going to change. Just because we play with kids there does not mean that drug dealer is going to stop selling on that corner. But our presence here covers this area in prayer, and I’m learning that prayer is the most effective weapon we have in places like Los Guidos.
Whether you’re in Los Guidos, China, Israel, or the United States, being on the front lines of the spiritual battle we’re in is going to be messy. It’s going to be difficult and it’s going to leave you with battle wounds. But our God is greater, our God is stronger; it is in Him that we find our strength and perseverance. So if you’re currently going through persecution, congratulations, you’re bringing the Kingdom. The enemy only attacks those he sees as a threat. You don’t need to go across the world to make the same impact my team is having in Los Guidos right where you are.
Please pray for Los Guidos, and the restoration and redemption of this city. Also, please pray for the safety of my squad and against the spiritual warfare that we’re experiencing. Thank you all for the support and prayers!
God bless,
Jenna
_________________________________________________________________________
If you feel led to support me financially, I still have $6,500 to raise. Please visit the “support me” tab on the lefthand side of the page to find out more information on how to do so. Any donation is greatly appreciated! Thank you!!
