“You are not alone,” Fabiola said.
Pedro collapsed to the ground and began to weep right in the middle of
the big field where he and all the other children were playing soccer. Pedro, age 6, had already caught the eye of
every one of our coaches during the first two days of sports camp - not because
of his athletic ability (though he had that), but because of his extremely rebellious and rude behavior.
Prior to Fabiola’s conversation with Pedro he had socked a teammate in
the face and we were trying to find his parents, but learned from his neighbors
that his mother and some other close family had been deported and that he and
his siblings now lived with their grandparents who allow them to roam the park
all day unsupervised. More frequently
these days it seems we just do not know what to do. That is when we best see God intervene and
show us His heart for this community. Fabiola
prayed to God asking for wisdom and she caught His heart for Pedro. Once Pedro was on the ground weeping – she
was able to pray and speak the important truths the Holy Spirit wanted Pedro to
hear. The truth that Pedro needed to
know.
It is for the children like Pedro, and so many other adults that also
feel alone and abandoned, that we live and share God’s love and hope in the
city. All Pedro knows is a life of
roaming the street without his parents and the abusive yelling of his family inundated
by drugs and a survival mentality. God really loves Pedro. During sports camp Pedro was able to hear the
gospel, but more than that he was able to see the gospel acted out in front of
him. He broke and was brought into God’s
embrace by tenderness, love and the truth.
He does not want to be bad. He
wants to be loved. He needs to be
reminded that he is not alone.
We too are comforted that we are not alone. Ministry is hard. Seeing, feeling and living amongst brokenness
for a long time is difficult. But we
feel the strength in your prayers. We
feel lifted up by your encouragement.
Together we are investing in people like Pedro and together we celebrate
as we reap spiritual and emotional transformation. Through sports camp and other outreaches we
held this summer we were able to share the gospel with thousands of
people. We prayed for hundreds of people
and have shared the truth – something that will not return void.
Thank you for bringing the hope, love and truth of Christ to the city
to Pedro and many more to come through your prayers and financial gifts!
Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca, Justice and Beniah
