When I signed up for the World Race, I didn’t know what ministries I would be doing. In fact, a lot of days on the Race I don’t know what ministry will look like until the day of. It’s just how things work here. Although I didn’t know what I would be doing, there were certain ministries I hoped that I would be able to do while on the World Race, ministries that lined up with my passions. One I hoped for was being able to use my artistic abilities. I knew that one of my friends who went on the World Race got to paint a mural and I hoped that I would be able to do something like this. Another ministry I hoped I would get to do was prison ministry. I’ve always been interested in doing prison ministry for as long as I can remember. I’m very passionate about sharing the hope that you can never do anything so wrong that you can’t be forgiven or loved and I guess I’ve always figured prison would be an awesome place to bring this hope. As it turns out, I got to do BOTH of these ministries here in Peru!
My teammate, Meagan, and I got to paint a mural at the school where we’ve been living this month. Our ministry contact asked that we put the school logo, his ministry logo, the Peru and American flag, and then whatever we felt like doing. So that’s what we did! I did the logos and the flags while Meagan did the all the words. We collaborated on the idea for the picture on the right. Meagan drew it and then we both painted it.
I don’t know who L. K. Wolter is, but our ministry contact said he sent him a picture of it and he loved it. It was a lot of fun and I’m so glad I got to use my talents in this way.
There was one day I got to minister to those visiting their loved ones in Prison and another day I actually got to go inside. For the ministry outside the prison, my squad performed a dance we learned, did some skits, and the pastor we work with preached to all those waiting in line to get inside to visit. We then handed out papers with John 3:16 on them and information about the church we were working with on them. That Sunday, there were actually people who came to church because of this. One woman who came on Sunday accepted Christ, went back to prison to tell her husband, he got saved, and she told us she’s going to bring two of her friends to church! After we handed all of these papers out, we prayed for the women waiting in line. From what I could tell, the majority of the people in line were mothers going to visit their sons in prison. I would walk up to one and ask them in Spanish if I could pray for them and then prayed for them in English. They all accepted the prayer and there were actually a couple people who flagged me down and asked me to pray for them. They all thanked me, my favorite thank you being, “Bendiciones, Gringita” which translated means, “Blessings, little white girl.” Although I could not have a conversation with them because of the language barrier, I could still feel the intense brokenness, hurt, and sadness they carried with them. It was overwhelming and, I’ll admit, brought me to tears. Praying for them and encouraging them in this way was a truly rewarding experience.
Then there was the day a bunch of girls from my squad and I got to go inside the women’s prison. We performed our dances for them and a couple girls did a funny skit that had the women laughing hysterically. One of my squadmates shared the salvation message and many raised their hands to accept Jesus that day. We sang amazing grace and then stood in a line so that if women wanted prayer, they could come up and ask us for it. I prayed for a woman who I saw had raised her hand to accept Christ. Another woman came to me who looked very sad and looked at the ground as she spoke very softly to me. As I started to pray for her God started to show me what she was feeling. It took me aback and I started to choke up as holding back the tears became difficult for me. This woman had absolutely no self worth. She truly believed that she was worth nothing and has gone her life unnoticed and unimportant to anyone. I believe she started to receive God’s love for her through our message and my prayer over her that day. The next woman spent a good 5 minutes crying in my arms. After this, a woman came to me with a piece of paper with a list of names on it. They were the names of her kids and her husband and she asked me to pray for them. Where she got the pen and paper, I have no idea, but I agreed to pray for them. Right before we left, two girls came up to me, their names written down on a piece of thin cardboard (again, where they got these things, I’ll never know, I’m just glad they did) and asked me to be praying for them. I prayed for them right there and told them I would continue to pray for them. I put the lists of names in my journal to remind me to pray for them. I definitely teared up and had a harder time keeping it together this time than the ministry outside the prison. This has been my favorite ministry I’ve done so far.
BUT WAIT! There’s more! There is one other ministry I’ve been really, really hoping for: Orphanage ministry. Guess what? For my next month in Ecuador, my team will be at an orphanage! I’m so excited! There will be kids ranging from newborn to 18 years old. There will also be some kids there with special needs. God has been spoiling me so much these days. I’m so grateful for the way He’s been showing up in my life and using me for the work I love to do. I’m learning more and more that when you just choose to live for God, love Him, let Him love you, and listen to Him, He will give you the desires of your heart. God has a spectacular plan for your life if you just choose to follow Him. Dreams do come true!
“But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
