The beginning of this week has been pretty hard. My heart has been breaking for so many friends around me. So many of us have been struggling with nightmares, sickness, stomach issues, deaths, and just what feels like bad luck(including a scorpion sting I got). We realized that all of what feels like “bad luck” is nothing short of the enemy attacking. He hates what we are doing here and how much the Lord is moving. And let me just say with boldness and confidence, the Lord is doing an abundance. I’m thankful we get to be apart of the good fight.
This week we had the ability to go prayer walking from house to house. So many welcomed us into their home. It was encouraging how so many shared their joy in the Lord despite their situations. We met in homes where one lady lad a broken arm, a little girl had another medical condition, and other homes with other conditions. This was hard to see, but their joy was so contagious. Their smiles lit up the room, and they had so much to offer. What they offered was not of the world, but they offered their heart of compassion and devotion to the Lord in the midst of their situation. Sometimes we complicate our walks with the Lord, when often it’s just so simplistic. Our Father deeply loves us, and to so many people here their relationship with God is their pride and joy. They love asking for testimonies of what the Lord is teaching us, and it gets me so excited to just hear and talk about all the things that the Lord is doing around us.
This week we went to a site called the “dump”. It is a place where trucks bring loads of trash and over time it has built up mountains of it. Many people work at the dump, call it home, sort through the trash hoping to make money, and go to find scraps of food to eat. At this dump, a girl on my squad was able to share of the Lords goodness in situations where they feel like His goodness is not present. After the message we were able to serve food to so many that do not receive three meals a day. This was a heavy day, but the community was so uplifting. The people in this community rally around eachother, and have such a deep love for things greater than what this world has to offer. They are hungry for the word of God, and can’t get enough of it. They see the most important thing in their life to be Jesus. Nothing more. Nothing less. And wow, that humbled me. I desire to be at the point where even if I never get anything again from the world, I still have more than I could ever ask for through Jesus. Through sitting at His feet, and resting in His love and devotion.
After the dump ministry we went to the hospital in Granada. As someone who works at a Children’s hospital back in the states, it was a very different setting to be in. I was there not as a medical worker, but as a prayer ambassador with REAP Granada. I deeply delighted walking room to room and having the blessing to pray with families. My squad would walk into a room, and without hesitation we would split to each individual bed and ask families if and how we can pray for the patient. It was absolutely beautiful. Families hearts were moved, patients hearts were moved, my heart was moved, and I truly believe God’s heart was moved. This was a setting where families where so quick to say yes to prayer, and say yes to Jesus. If was so beautiful. If doesn’t matter where you are with Jesus- following Him or not- He still desires to meet us in our darkest moments. He doesn’t stray away during what may feel like the most difficult moment in our lives. More than anything, He draws near. He draws close. He holds our hands, and walks with us in the valleys.
I’m thankful that we get to fight for the world to know Jesus. I might be in a different country as a missionary, but what I’ve been learning is how life is ministry, and ministry is life. Ministry could be sharing the Gospel back in the states at Kroger, praying for someone in line for fast food, or starting a conversation with someone on the side walk who’s had a hard day. Life is ministry, and ministry is life. Being missionary’s for God doesn’t have to be outside of the states. Being the hands and feet of Jesus is wherever your walk is. Lets not stop fighting for people to know how much God delights in them. People need to know of the great love He has for each of us. Let‘s never stop sharing, He changes lives.
He’s changed mine.
