restoration for families in the barrios

I have not kept up with my blogs.  I have let a week go.  A lot has been going on.  In my last blog I mentioned about a dark battle we are facing. we have hit the root of the darkness here.  There is so much darkness.  But despite it, we still are able to have fun here.  The darkness is not the focus but it is evident in many places.  We are in a country that has experienced war and is recovering from it.  There are not good spirits here.  But in it all, god is giving us His light and guiding us forward.  We have a group do prayer walks two days a week (tuesday and thursday) around the barrios (our surrounding neighborhood)  while the other group goes into the barrios to talk with people and pray for families if they ask us to pray for them.  We also invite them to church on wednesdays, fridays, and sundays.  Nueva vida has a youth service on wednesday evenings so a group volunteers to pick up the kids that afternoon.  I feel that our efforts for reaching out to the neighborhood have given us the ability to connect with families and children, but even more than that to build lasting friendships with them, like a family relationship. I feel that we are able to offer them love and support in many ways.  Despite the battle we are facing, the Lord has helped us to shine a light and restore relationships with them.  To the girls and women, we can offer encouragement and grace as they have faced abuse from some men.   To the young boys we can encourage them to be men and strong examples to those surrounding them at school and on the street.  My prayer is that we can bring more love and hope to them and help point them in the way of the Lord.  God said He holds their burden and He loves them and wants to restore relationship back.  He loves these people so much and He is using His own committed disciples to touch these lives, to make disciples and become part of His body.   It's beautiful to think that. Dear Lord, thank you for your desire to bring restoration.