Tears stream down my face. My heart feels gut retching pain. All this as God gives me insight into the suffering that people foolishly put themselves and others through as they look for something better, something fulfilling, some purpose in their life. We are prepared to go where we believe God has called us to go and believe it is a cause worth dying for.
Fabiola’s birthday was this Sunday so we spent some good family time and then a bit of time together, just the two of us.
We decided to go see a movie as well. We don’t get out to see movies very often maybe 3 or 4 (End of the Spear, Ratatouille and Fireproof) in the 4.5 years we’ve been married so this was a bit of a treat. 
We saw the movie, Sin Nombre, which deals with some of the cruelties and terror of gang life in the MS-13 gang (Mara Salvatrucha) and the difficulties and desperation of immigrating from Guatemala and Mexico to the US. The movie is extremely graphic, but I felt God speaking to me throughout the movie.
Many parents wisely don’t share all of the deep, heavy issues of life with their young children. Later when their children are more mature and a relationship of trust has developed a father might share something with his son to give insight and depth to what is going on in his heart. I felt like God held me the entire movie and cried with me over the issues presented—showing me how hurt he was over the insane violence and thoughtless disorder—how he hated the confusion and obscurity that people walk through daily on Earth. He showed me part of His heart—I feel closer to Him and I know there is a responsibility in knowing how His heart feels.
Above: MS-13 is a criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles and spread to Central America (6 countries) and parts of the United States (33 states). The gangs' names are commonly abbreviated as MS, Mara, and MS-13 they are composed mostly of Salvadorans, Hondurans, Guatemalans, and Nicaraguans. The FBI has declared MS-13 the world’s most dangerous gang. One of the most common hand signals displayed is the "devil's head" (formed by extending the index and little fingers of the hand while tucking in the middle and ring fingers with the thumb), which forms an M when displayed upside down. Part 2 – Hope Extended…Our Part
The movie ends with one of the main characters making it to the US after losing everything. People she loves dearly have died along the way. The movie ends with her at a phone booth calling her only contact—dialing an unknown person’s phone number she was made to memorize along the way. That’s where we come in. Will we be there for her?
I stayed long after everyone else left, through the end of the credits until the cleaning lady came in and began to clean up. I just sat there and wept praying to God for these people who were represented in this movie. “Give us wisdom to do what we have no idea how to do. Teach us to be merciful, compassionate and a servant to the least. Give us your heart oh Lord, lead us to those who need you.”
The myriad of people represented by the few characters in this film are nameless, without names, unknown…lumped into a category and seen as part of the thousands like them—maybe never to be known as the individual that God knows them as. Do these many people without names have an identity? Of course they do in Christ and He calls them by name. We must help open their eyes and introduce them to their Creator so they might know their true identity and purpose.
Gang Members: They are willing to do crime, time and even die for their homies and their neighborhood for the seduction of belonging—in fact many think of themselves already dead. They are precious in God’s sight. He hurts with them and hates to see their hearts hardened at a young age.
“This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow….” Jeremiah 22:17
“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’” Zechariah 7:9-10
What Do We Throw?
There were two scenes that illustrated our choice in how to treat immigrants or any other people ‘passing through’ our lives. As the poor, dirty and hungry Guatemalan immigrants were traveling on the top of the train they passed through two very different towns. At the first town they were greeted by the people with kind words, friendly cheers and sweet, refreshing fruit thrown at them to enjoy as they passed through the town. The greeting from the people of the second town was much different. The immigrants had rocks, empty bottles and hurtful, vulgar and unkind words thrown at them.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
Earlier, the same day as viewing this movie, I had the opportunity to go into MacLaren Youth Correction Facility, where many of the guys I visit weekly at the Juvenile Detention Hall (JDH) are relocated to do the length of their sentence. I was able to participate in a church service and ended up with the opportunity to speak to the group of about 60 guys. God put 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 on my heart. We talked about the old being gone and how we are a new creation. As a new creation we have been deputized as ambassadors of this ministry of reconciliation and true justice (Zech. 7:9). Just as Jesus reconciled us to the Father we now must see that all know this Good News. We also must find and maintain reconciliation between one another. It grew very quiet when I challenged them to forgive one another and those ‘on the outs’ (outside of jail) that had hurt them. This is the beginning. The beginning of violent and hopeless cycles being broken. The beginning of restoration and healing. The beginning of kind, sweet words being exchanged and lived out—in true reconciliation.
I saw them laugh to each other as I mentioned we’d be going to South Central LA. To many of them that is the capital of their world—the center of gangs, lust, drugs, violence and the ‘free’ life. I spoke to them about how God calls us to do impossible things through Him. The pastor their then challenged this group of young Christians to be praying for us as we go to Los Angeles in these coming weeks. Many responded affirmatively to the call to pray for us. Isn’t that exciting news?! There are Christians scattered not only through the United States, but in different parts of the world and now even at lock-down correction facilities praying for us and praying for the “nameless”. Some of those young men have a perspective and insight that will enable them to pray with clarity and power for others like themselves and to help us be fruitful and safe.
So do you! We appreciate your unique perspective and insight. Please continue to pray with us as God leads you.
Prayer Needs:
-Discernment, Direction, Wisdom. We will be coming into Los Angeles as greenhorns. Please pray for protection and spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear how God would lead us.
-Captured Opportunity. Fruit. Transformed and Restored Lives. We will be arriving to Los Angeles in the summer months a time of year when street life may be more active—please pray that we would be able to take advantage of the youth being out of school, the people out on the street, please pray for contacts with key people who are in need and open to the gospel. That the nameless—the people passing by us would not remain anonymous, but would be known by us and they would come to know God.
Important Note: We don’t necessarily recommend the movie. It is rated R and due to the themes and content would definitely leave you depressed without the hope of Christ. It is not something everyone would be able to handle or ‘enjoy.’ It is also entirely in Spanish (with English subtitles).
Building a strog base is critical.
