Lights in the dark

“Lord give
me more of your heart for those in Guachupita”

That was my prayer this morning before we went out to our
ministry site, Guachupita (gwa-choo-pee-ta).

As we walked the 6 blocks to the community we center our
focus on I could feel the sun burn the back of my neck and start the headache
that would come later. Our focuses for the morning hours were to find kids, and
then do something constructive with them.

The first part was easy as the kids run to you expecting to
be picked up or some game to play. None of us were very creative that morning
but eventually the 6 of us cam up with a plan- play “simon says” to buy us time
in planning a short skit.

“Simon dice que toca tu nariz! Bien. Ahorra toca tu
rodillas! NO! No dijo Simon” The kids got the hang of it and switched in and
out to give me a break from having to think up Spanish phrases. After many
nose, belly, head, and feet touches we had them sit down and watch as David and
I portrayed the story of David and Goliath as Ronni narrated everything we did.
The kids laughed as David insulted me and cheered as I swung my home made sling
(the plastic film off a Disani water bottle) and hit David in the head. After
praying with them about having faith that God is with them in their problems we
asked them to get brooms and help clean up the area we were in.

As we were doing this a guy came in and started talking to
Ronni. It was plain to see that this guy had hit the bottle a little hard for 10 am. More and more kids came into the area we
were trying to clean, this proved counter productive. So we decided that it
would be better for the kids who wanted to be with us to go to the hill behind
all the houses.

As we were all walking I turned around and saw Beth running
towards me “that guy just tried to kiss me” she didn’t stop because the guy
came out of the building a second after she ran past me. I stood in the his
direct path and looked at him in the eyes, waiting for him to come to me.

As soon as he was within arms reach Ronnie came up from
behind me and addressed him. The guy was complaining that we left him there to
work by himself and that we didn’t like him any more. Standing there listening
to this poor guy sob out a story that he was probably living I felt compassion
for him and anger at what people where living in.

We walked to where everyone else was with the decreased
group of kids (about 10 instead of 25)
where sitting. As we walked closer to them we noticed a group of young
boys fighting about 20yards down the path from where we were. My heart heated
again “Why do they think that being able to beat up another person is going to
mean so much? What kind of lies are embedded into these people?”

After our lunch break back at the office we had a prayer
hour for Guachupita, this is what the Lord showed me:

Habakkuk
1:2-4 O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry
to you “Violence!” and you will not save?

Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you
idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and
contention arise.

So the law is paralyzed, and justice never
goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth
perverted.

“Lord I ask for you to move in this area of Violence and
unrighteousness! We know that you can use the small and foolish things to shame
the wise and proud. I want to see your Spirit fall over Guachupita! This is a
Goliath. But you already have the victory!”

Please pray with us that hearts would be softened and seeds
would be watered here, He has done much already (new conversions and people who
are seeking more of a God they already know about but don’t know) but there is
much darkness here. Those who know Christ need to be bright lights in this
community.

Hab
2:14 For the earth will be filled with the
knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.