This being our first month I have learned so much and have grown immensely in my faith and trust in my Heavenly Father. It is odd to think that a couple of months ago my faith and trust in God was challenged in a new way as I prayed to raise $14, 300. That was a big step of faith for me personally as I knew that is a lot of money. God is so faithful and a great provider as I am near reaching the support and His hand of provision has consistently surprising me. I am honored that God has not given up on me nor will He ever, and He is teaching me a new way to trust Him and showing me His faithfulness in different ways.
I praise God for the work He has done through us this month. Sometimes expectations can harm us and make us unable to see all the unseen work He is consistently present doing. This past month we did not see a person resurrected from the dead, I did not see lightning strike down anyone in the slums, and maybe to an observer no miracles happened. But I’d like to share a quote from a book I am reading (Irresistible Revolution)
“Today the church is tempted by the spectacular, to do big, miraculous things so people might believe, but Jesus has called us to littleness and compares our revolution to the little mustard seed, to yeast making its way through dough, slowly infecting this dark world with love.”
And this I know without a doubt this happened, love was shown, hugs were given, hands were touched, children who are never given any attention were given time and love. And this is a miracle, the miracle of the work God does in hearts.
I’d like to share a story of something that happened in the slums and God showed me the power of consistent prayer and the change He is at work in people’s hearts.
At the end of a church service Pastor Zelanda asked if anyone wanted to invite Jesus to be Lord of their lives. She then pointed to two girls who had stood through the whole service and who were near one of the doors. She asked if they today might want to receive Jesus and the gift of salvation. The two young ladies became embarrassed to have so much attention on them and seemed very uncomfortable. They quickly responded that later they would but not now. The pastor prayed and the young girls left church very quickly. I felt unsettled in my heart and I prayed for the young girls. I prayed God would continue to work in their hearts; I thanked God for allowing them to hear of His love for them. I was sad for the young girls because I knew if they were there standing through the whole service they came because they desired to hear of Jesus and they were right next to the door but they chose to stay through the whole service. A week or so passed and I had not seen the young girls come back. Then at the end of one service in which our translator Hector spoke at, he asked if anyone wanted to receive this gift of salvation. And one of the young girls from the service a week ago walked to the front of the church and said she wanted to receive this gift of salvation. I was shocked and excited as I told the women on my team that the lady had come back to church. It was humbling because I had given up praying for the young lady as I had not seen her for a while. God quickly reminded me through this instance that
HE is at WORK. He is at work in people’s hearts.
As we leave San Juan it is a bittersweet good-bye as we all have built relationships that are hard to say good-bye to. I trust that God, as He moved in the young ladies heart, will continue to move in the people of Hija Quieta (slums of San Juan). I ask for consistent prayer for the people of Hija Quieta, God is faithful, He is always on time.
Thank you so much for your prayers, encouraging emails, and financial support.
