You Are Not Alone

“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