I don't know how to start. Tonight felt like it was a turning point. It felt like a door flew open and everything that had held the door shut before was blown away. I guess you could say it was a breakthrough.
Jorge was on fire tonight. We met up with LG, the one with chipped off teeth on the mandibular. I have to make mental notes to myself as I see them because with all the Luis's around and how they all look the same (even Carmen was amazed when 2 of the Luis' stood side by side, they looked so similar, it was scary), it gets hard to recognize them every time one shows up and I'm like, "so, what's your name?" and they're like "Luis, hermana" and I have to struggle to figure out which one they are. So, we offered Luis Gustavo (LG) a sandwich and then Jorge just opened up his New Testament and asked LG if he knew who Jesus was and what it meant to be born again. He had LG read the verses out loud. From that point on, something broke. Guys we knew just suddenly showed up and listened. HN showed up, JL showed up, AX showed up, some other ones we didn't know showed up. LG told us he had stopped smoking terokal but his problem is alcohol. He listened intently to the Words of Life as Jorge shared the gospel with him and HN and AX. I shared with JL who was listening but also treating it like a joke. LG turned around and in all seriousness told JL off for not taking what I was saying seriously. When we asked who wanted Jesus in their lives as Lord and Saviour, we had LG, HN and JL saying they did. LG stayed on and I had a New Testament bible with me that was written on cheap newsprint so I gave it to him and told him to treasure it and not mistreat it like toilet paper and he said he wouldn't and couldn't. He said he will call because he wants us to teach him and help him understand the bible. Wow.
We don't generally give out bibles on the streets because most bibles are printed on fine paper and fine paper is perfect for rolling and smoking weed (marijuana) with. I had started giving out printed verses on cardboard paper sold in the Christian bookstores called Promises of God so that they had some form of the Word of God with them in their pockets even if they don't have the bible. But this time I had bought these pocket NTs in cheap print and when there is a sincere need like with LG tonight, I trust that God will make sure His word isn't used for other stuff other than to edify and to give life.
After leaving LG we took the bus about 5 blocks to where the women are. Carmen spoke to EM along with Jorge and I spoke to KA. God orchestrated it all. They basically stayed where we were the whole time listening. EM is ready to get out. She just thinks she can't because she feels worthless. KA is afraid that if she receives Jesus she has to give up everything and she needs the money but she also knows she needs to get out but is also scared that she will be alone all her life if she doesn't return to her ex-boyfriend who treated her really badly because she feels that since he knows what she does and accepts it, he is the only one she could be with as no one else would accept her. I shared the testimony of a pastor's wife I know who used to be a drug addict and work the streets. But she chose to get out and chose Jesus and now she is married to a pastor with 3 kids and they pastor a church here as well as travel the world preaching. But it is only Jesus who could clean her up and give her a new life and opportunity. There is something so innocent and good about KA that even though she is doing what she's doing, the innocence and goodness of her heart shines through. I don't know how to explain it. The others are hardened, resentful but she's like a kid who shares what she feels.
I don't know if this entry does justice to what we saw and felt tonight about how awesome God is. Please keep praying, please, please keep praying. I also post snippets of updates as they happen on the Siembra S.O.W. page on Facebook. We also need prayer in finding a place to rent out there as a drop in centre and later, a church. So far, we have found nothing suitable. The one place that was perfect in price and size was later retracted by the landlord as he was afraid of the street youth. We will keep looking and your prayers are hugely appreciated for all of the ones on the street, for us to be on fire with the Word of the Lord and for a place to rent.
Jorge was on fire tonight. We met up with LG, the one with chipped off teeth on the mandibular. I have to make mental notes to myself as I see them because with all the Luis's around and how they all look the same (even Carmen was amazed when 2 of the Luis' stood side by side, they looked so similar, it was scary), it gets hard to recognize them every time one shows up and I'm like, "so, what's your name?" and they're like "Luis, hermana" and I have to struggle to figure out which one they are. So, we offered Luis Gustavo (LG) a sandwich and then Jorge just opened up his New Testament and asked LG if he knew who Jesus was and what it meant to be born again. He had LG read the verses out loud. From that point on, something broke. Guys we knew just suddenly showed up and listened. HN showed up, JL showed up, AX showed up, some other ones we didn't know showed up. LG told us he had stopped smoking terokal but his problem is alcohol. He listened intently to the Words of Life as Jorge shared the gospel with him and HN and AX. I shared with JL who was listening but also treating it like a joke. LG turned around and in all seriousness told JL off for not taking what I was saying seriously. When we asked who wanted Jesus in their lives as Lord and Saviour, we had LG, HN and JL saying they did. LG stayed on and I had a New Testament bible with me that was written on cheap newsprint so I gave it to him and told him to treasure it and not mistreat it like toilet paper and he said he wouldn't and couldn't. He said he will call because he wants us to teach him and help him understand the bible. Wow.
We don't generally give out bibles on the streets because most bibles are printed on fine paper and fine paper is perfect for rolling and smoking weed (marijuana) with. I had started giving out printed verses on cardboard paper sold in the Christian bookstores called Promises of God so that they had some form of the Word of God with them in their pockets even if they don't have the bible. But this time I had bought these pocket NTs in cheap print and when there is a sincere need like with LG tonight, I trust that God will make sure His word isn't used for other stuff other than to edify and to give life.
After leaving LG we took the bus about 5 blocks to where the women are. Carmen spoke to EM along with Jorge and I spoke to KA. God orchestrated it all. They basically stayed where we were the whole time listening. EM is ready to get out. She just thinks she can't because she feels worthless. KA is afraid that if she receives Jesus she has to give up everything and she needs the money but she also knows she needs to get out but is also scared that she will be alone all her life if she doesn't return to her ex-boyfriend who treated her really badly because she feels that since he knows what she does and accepts it, he is the only one she could be with as no one else would accept her. I shared the testimony of a pastor's wife I know who used to be a drug addict and work the streets. But she chose to get out and chose Jesus and now she is married to a pastor with 3 kids and they pastor a church here as well as travel the world preaching. But it is only Jesus who could clean her up and give her a new life and opportunity. There is something so innocent and good about KA that even though she is doing what she's doing, the innocence and goodness of her heart shines through. I don't know how to explain it. The others are hardened, resentful but she's like a kid who shares what she feels.
I don't know if this entry does justice to what we saw and felt tonight about how awesome God is. Please keep praying, please, please keep praying. I also post snippets of updates as they happen on the Siembra S.O.W. page on Facebook. We also need prayer in finding a place to rent out there as a drop in centre and later, a church. So far, we have found nothing suitable. The one place that was perfect in price and size was later retracted by the landlord as he was afraid of the street youth. We will keep looking and your prayers are hugely appreciated for all of the ones on the street, for us to be on fire with the Word of the Lord and for a place to rent.
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