After the first week of ministry it has become more clear what life will be like for the next seven weeks. Though we have gone to several different places such as the dump, a prison, the street corner (we were on the news) and an Alcoholics Anonymous center I have come to realize that my main focus will be on the boys that we are living with here at Zion’s Gate.
I start every morning by waking up Fernando and reading with him. He is usually still sleepy and there is not much room, so I sit in bed with him and I am forced to make my brain understand Spanish at eight in the morning. Though it is a struggle for him I have faith that he is improving and with daily practice he will get better. The boys here just need to be loved. For their sake I don’t want to share their life stories but they have had rough pasts to say the least. Their lack of being loved is apparent through their constant need for attention. Though we are going to be doing a lot of outreach elsewhere I know that my heart is going to be for these boys. By building relationships with them I hope to gain their trust and be able to pour into them and help disciple them. I am going to be very intentional in pursuing them and completely pouring myself out over them. I consider it a privilege to be able to live here and be accepted into their community. Every night they have family meetings where everyone gathers together to pray and someone different gives the message every night. They have graciously started to invite us to their meetings and even asked me to give the message the other night.
Every day I have to remind myself that I am not the one at work, but God is at work. The worst thing I can do is to try really hard; the best thing I can do is to surrender. I will continue to strive each day, whether it is ministering to the boys, holding disabled children, or playing soccer with gang members, to constantly be a completely broken and laid down vessel of our Father.
