Two months ago I left the country I fell madly in love with. I fell in love with the people, I fell in love with Zion's Gate Ministries, but most importantly, I fell in Love with the way Our amazing God was pursing the people of Honduras. I made a family in that country. God allowed me to love the people there with His heart. He allowed me to see them with His eyes. To be completely honest with you, the most difficult thing on the race thus far was having to leave Honduras after having The Lord make it clear to me that this is the country I'm going to come back to and serve long term..
One of my amazing friends on the race said it so well, "If you love deeply, you will grieve deeply." (Shout out to Kent Cranford)
There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about the kids back in Honduras and the ministry of Zion's Gate (Zions's Gate is a ministry that takes kids of the streets of Los Pinos and La kennedy. They Share Christ with them, they show them what it looks like to have hope again, and they even get all the kids in school) Whenever I seem to pray for them tears always run down my face with just the fact of how much I miss them and miss walking through life with them.. But just the other day there was a situation brought to my attention, and to be completely honest, I need YOUR help.
I seemed to fall in love with all the kids there and everything that came with them, but there was one boy in specific who stole my heart. I was able to see him for who he really was and not who he acts like to be. I was able to see the hurt, pain, and fear in his life even though he hid it so well. His name is Marcos. Marcos is only 14 years old. I like to call him my little brother. As a matter of fact, one of the things he said to me before I left Honduras was, "I knew I was going to be friends with you, but I didn't know I was going to have a sister". When he said that it melted my heart. I knew that The Lord put him on my heart and in my life for a reason, not just for that month, but for the rest of my life. God called me to love him unconditionally, speak life into him, show grace and mercy to him, and most importantly, show what it looks like to have a God that loves you no matter what you have done, what you have said, or even what you have thought. That He makes it so our past mistakes don't have to dictate our future…
Marcos came from the neighborhood of Los Pinos which is considered one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It is so dangerous the police won't even enter it. If there is an issue they will send the military in. The amount of drugs and gang violence there is absolutely unheard of. And let me just say, the people of Los Pinos love people like Marcos. Someone who is intelligent, charming and who is so good with his words and being able to control a situation, Marcos is a perfect candidate for the type of lifestyle that the streets of Los Pinos has to offer.
So here it is, the news the brought tears to my eyes and a horrible feeling to my stomach, Marcos is no longer at the ministry site of Zion's Gate. He is back at Los Pinos. The life style he was choosing to live while at Zion's Gate was not good. He was choosing to go against the rules. He knew what he was doing and there are a lot of other kids to protect at the ministry site. The good news is that we serve a mighty God and he is always near to us even when we don't feel it. I'm thankful for his sovereignty and the face that no matter how much I love Marcos, God loves him so much more. I'm writing this blog because I need your help. It is time to lift Marcos up in prayer. I'm looking for a group of people that will be dedicated to daily prayer for Marcos. I'm asking for people who want to see God work in amazing ways through the power of prayer! I'm looking for people who want to lift up young men struggling and to pray that they can see the greatness of our God and live for him. This burden has been placed heavy on my heart, so heavy that I'm coming to ask everyone who is willing to read this. If you can just comment below and say that your willing to pray for Marcos, that would be amazing. I will also email you and give you weekly updates! And if The Lord gives you something to say to him, you could also share that with me because Tony, who runs Zion's Gate ministries is still going to meet with him weekly. I would love for Marcos to see the amount of people that believe in him, and most importantly, believe that our God changes people. Thank you for reading this and please consider being apart of this prayer team for Marcos!
If you would like to know anything else about Marcos, please feel free to write me and I'll answer and questions that you have!
