The majority of our ministry we do on the field, is seed planting. We are planting seeds of truth of the gospel with the people we encounter. That can be done at the Foundation, through our Uber rides, at the park, on prayer walks, and even at a public school! When a seed gets planted sometimes we don’t get to see it bloom. However, over the course of this ministry weekend we got to see the seeds be planted, watered, and bloom!
This week we were given such an open door opportunity that has never been done before at a school in Medellin. Our ministry host went to speak the principal of one of the public schools here in the city. After some hesitation they were allowed in. The principal was open to us coming in and holding an assembly for the 8th-11th graders. What was even greater is she gave us full access to use Biblical content in our assembly AND to pray for all the students at the end!! We got to go into 8 classroom (that’s over 300 students) this past Friday and talk on topics like: the power of words, identity/purpose, the World Race, the foundation we are working with, a tool on vocational training, and prevention. God was present in each classroom! The students were so receptive to everything we had to share with them. We were able to tell them about how God sees them within their identity, that He has a plan and a purpose for their lives, and get to encourage them to stay focused on those over the roadblocks that will try to prevent them from getting to their destiny. SO many seeds were planted into the hearts of these students, and 19 kids gave their hearts to Jesus!!!
We got to invite them to join us for our Friday night cafe worship night, as well as our youth event on Saturday. Saturday was such a great day! We got to play soccer, hold a few rounds of Ninja, and get to have deeper conversations with students from the school. We then went back to the foundation for a night of worship, testimony, and a message. When asked who wanted to give the message, I immediately felt a stirring to say yes. This month I have been all about having a spirit of yes so I raised my hand.
When it came time to prepare the message, I just began to ask God to lead me to a message that would resonate with these youth students. I was flipping through some old devotional notes, and I stumbled across one about the truths of God. At first, I thought maybe this message would be too simple for this age group, but I felt peace and the yes in my spirit over this message. Of course God was already was stirring this message into these student’s hearts before we even knew them!
All afternoon we got to talk with these students. With each conversation a seed was watered. A girl, Sarah was one our students we got to talk to at the Friday assembly. Before the presentation even started on identity she was already in tears. A seed was planted that day. She came to hang out with us on Saturday, and she was so willing to talk about God with us. She had multiple conversations with people on my squad about the hard God questions and how she believes in God but wanted to know more about His truths. Little did she know the message that evening would be just for her! We got to speak little fountains of watering truth into her all day until the evening service.
She got to hear how God loves her and she is chosen (Ephesians 1 :4). That God doesn’t withhold good things from her (Romans 8:31-31). That God has a plan and purpose for her life and that she doesn’t need to worry or fear over her future (Jeremiah 29:11). And that her plan that God has for her can’t be taken away because of her mistakes or anyone else’s (Revelations 3:8). The night was such a powerful night to get students to accept these truths over themselves and to get the opportunity to share with others around them more truths God wants to speak into their lives. By the end of the night, we gave the opportunity for students to accept Jesus into their hearts. To not make a quick fix, but to choose an eternal decision. Sarah and one other student gave their hearts to Jesus that night. We got to firsthand experience being vessels for God. We got to see the seeds of truth be planted at the school, watered on a soccer field, and bloom as the service showered truth of who God is. God is so good, and He is moving beautifully and wonderfully in this city!
Fundraising Update:
I am still fundraising, and in need of $2,700 to reach my next deadline on February 28th. I need your help to get there and to keep me moving onto the next 10 countries. If you feel led to give, you give directly through my blog by clicking the ‘Donate’ button. Thank you so much for all who have already given and for those who have been praying for this trip!
Much Love,
McKenzie
