I
magine the dirtiest and most rundown place you know. Got that picture in your head?? Now there’s a good chance that it does not compare to the barrio’s (slums) in which we have ministered in the last few days. This week we started out street ministry for “Mission 70”. Our street ministry is an amazing and humbling experience as we meet so many beautiful children and their families. They are so happy even though they own nothing. And I tell you that we are in a place with nothing. I’ve seen houses made of plastic bags and children with no shoes. It’s amazing what they make of what they have though.
On Sunday we went with the ministry team from the compound (which consists of the pastor and the young adults of the compound) to a barrio close by to do Sunday school with the children there. We played a couple of games and then did some action songs. They split us up into 4 groups and the ones from our team that knew the most Spanish had to teach the lesson!! It went fairly well and after the lesson we played with the kids in the street. The children just love to jump on us and run around…they don’t want much, just to be loved.
Wed through Fri we have been doing our street ministry in the barrios, again with the ministry group. On the first day we managed to squeeze 15 people into a small jeep with 2 guys riding on the top! This really is `real life`!! We have also been trekking through the “jungle” in our skirts, jumping over ditches, walking down the mountainside, crossing a stream filled with garbage and climbing up the other side! It’s an adventure every time. Our ministry actually consists of a few different things. We have choreographed dances to a few Spanish songs, a couple of funny skits, and also a few serious skits. We use these to make a different program as we move through the barrios. When we find a good spot to minister we then go in groups to tell people about what we are doing. We also get a good response and tons of children and their families come to see us. We pray over them and talk and play with them as well.
We have walked through slums which I cannot accurately describe with words. Most of the houses in the barrio’s are little more than shacks made of plastic and scrap metal. There is trash and waste on the ground and in the yards. Yet the children there steal our hearts every time, showing us nothing but love and maybe a shy smile. By the end they are hugging us and playing games. But I will write more on that later!
Still so much more to experience here and I’m ready for anything God will ask!!
