Last Monday in Costa Rica we were witnessing to people on the streets of San Jose, and stayed out until about 3am. Our desire was to introduce people to Jesus, and then invite men, women, and moms into the teen challenge program for drug rehabilitation. We started off walking up the street from our hotel at 9 pm. We ran into a man who was walking up the street, and we were able to share how much Jesus loves him. He shared that he was an addict and didn’t want to live that life, but felt guilty. He felt like he wasn’t good enough for God, but we had the pleasure of telling him how much God loves him, and that Jesus died on his behalf. We got to tell him about teen challenge and invited him to the mens center, and we hoped to see him at the bus station two days later so we could pay for a bus to get him to the center!
Next we ran into another man that Diego sought out. Diego is a graduate from the mens center, and is now a leader. He use to do drugs, live in the streets, and Jesus completely turned his life around!! Now he is with us witnessing to others that are living similarly to his old life. Diego was able to pray for this man, and for him to know Jesus.
We, also, ran into a women who was intoxicated, yet she was willing to hear what we had to tell her. I was able to tell her the Gospel start to finish. I started off talking about how how we were meant with perfect union with God, but that changed when sin entered the world. I told her of Jesus and how he saved us and gave us a free gift. I lead her in a prayer of her accepting Jesus into her heart, and we gave her the number of the womens center.
Later in the night we took another route that the lord gave to Diego.
We came across two women. We walked up and immediately they said they were sad. One was pregnant, and the other was a close friend. They were both arguing with Diego not believing that he was once living on the streets. Then the conversation turned back over to us and we told them of how much Jesus loves them, and how the Lord sent them to us!! We told her about a center for pregnant women, and the older lady asked about it since she had once been in the center but left. She said she regretted leaving the place, and the pregnant women became curious. She was so excited, and wanting to know more about this center, about Jesus, and getting away from the life of drugs. She began crying a lot and each of us got to hug her and cry with her. We told her she was now our family with Jesus.
Next there was a man and three Hondurans . The man’s name was angel, and he was very curious about Jesus. When we were walking to him he began to cry and was overwhelmed with joy. Because asue he struggled with drugs he wanted to come to the mens center, and wanted to turn his life around, the Hondurans did not struggle with drugs but still wanted to know about Jesus. They were talking about God before we came up. We got to tell them more of Jesus, prayed with them, and they all accepted Jesus into their hearts. Then angel accepted Jesus and prayed out loud. He was overcome with the joy of the Lord.
Then from across the street the man wanted to know what we were talking about and then we told him or Jesus and he accepted Jesus into his heart. This was ONLY THE FIRST NIGHT.
THE NEXT NIGHT
As we were praying before going out, I felt put on my heart that we were to go witness to prostitutes, and I began to feel my heart break. I told Max, who is the leader of the centers. I began to feel discouraged if what I was hearing was from the Lord or not, but either way I knew the Lord would use us in any way He pleased.
We first got in the van, and we stopped where there were these two women. We tried to tell them about Jesus, and tell them that they can step out of the life they were living. They said they were not living in Gods will for their life. They knew that, but did not want to leave their life of sin. It was hard, but we planted seeds that Jesus will someday grow.
Next there was a prostitute that got out of a taxi with a man. We told her we wanted to share hope with her, and asked if she needed prayer. She told us she has a one year old son. She ended up going inside and said she would be back out, and did not come back out. Again, I began to feel discouraged.
Next there was a man and two women. When we approached, the one women had a hard heart. Max was trying to break down her walls, and she admitted her heart was broken. Kylie knelt down to get on her level, and this lady asked her to put her hand on her heart. Kylie then prayed over her and the women kept hugging her and began to weep. Kylie shared her story of brokenness and how the Lord rescuing her, and how Jesus can do the same for her. The lady was eager to know Jesus. Then the man that was with them was so kind and gentle. He knew Jesus, and stayed with these two women to protect and take care of them. I was able to encourage him in his desire of faithfulness to God. I got to tell him that God sees him, loves him, and he says in the Bible that he heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. That no matter how much the flesh may try to pull at him, and it will feel like a battle, God has already won the war. We prayed for strength as he continues to care for them, and we prayed for health over him. I am so thankful I got to meet this group.
Throughout the night we were able to pray and love so many homeless people on the streets, and even though there were moments of discouragement, the Lord continued to triumph.
Next we went to the district where transgender prostitutes sell themselves. We came across this one man and began to speak to him. We started off with small conversation, and then he told us that he was living in sin. He knew the life he was living brought emptiness. Then he stated that he wanted to receive prayer for God to make him a good person and for safety. We began to pray, and prayed for conviction to be with Jesus. While we were praying he began to cry, and was telling us that he didn’t want to live the life he has been living as a prostitute. We then got to tell him that he doesn’t!! That God has a more perfect will for his life and he has a choice to leave this life and be with Jesus. He told us his real name was Joseph and that he was not ashamed of his real name. We got so excited and told him that we love his name, and there is no shame in Jesus Christ. We got to encourage him that there is a life outside of the one he was living, and that God wants him to come home to Him. That night he was jumped by three men, and was living in fear, but we got to tell him that he doesn’t need to live in any more fear. He said that Jesus changed his life and he wants to always be Joseph, go to school, and change his life from living as a prostitute. He asked if there was a place he could go to pray and be with God, and we gave him a number to contact!! Before we even got to share of Jesus, he shared how he wanted to change his life and didn’t want to live the way he was. Praise God!!!
The following morning we went to the bus stop where we told everyone to meet if they began to follow Jesus and wanted to turn from drugs! We paid for their tickets to go to the teen challenge center in Lemón and begin their new life! There were 3 spots open at the center, and we were able to bring 9 men!! The Lord is so so good!! They began their new life that day, received food, and were able to feel safe in a new place! I’m so thankful I got to see what this ministry does, and how the Lord continually works.
