Camping in Guanajuato
with Sobre el Puente - ministering to the street children of Acapulco
I'm not sure why but for some reason I always get the urge to spill my guts at ungodly hours in the morning or all at the same time. Like for instance I just posted this huge long winded post which was only about the car ride to camp, and I already feel like talking about the rest of the week.
So obviously the trip there taught me alot about patience and my incapacity to do something without complaining. I used to think I was good at not complaining but now I've realized that just because I'm not complaining outloud, doesn't negate the complaining in my mind...I am actually not a patient person at all, I just like to pretend I am.
Sunday Morning;
Breakfast was served at 8. At this camp there was no water available before 9am, and after 5 pm. Worship began at nine, followed by the sermon, small group devotional time, games/craft time, and then lunch, game/group time and then dinner at 6....needless to say I did not take a shower for two days. This is how the shedule was for the week except on Monday and wednesday we watched movies and had discussions, and Tuesday and thursday we had field trips into the city of Guanajuato and to see the museums and the mines. And I did find a time to take a few showers once I got a schedule down. But let me explain more in depth. Sorry that this is so of scattered back and forth, my memory is a bit hazy and my typing is probably horrible due to the fact that its almost 2:30 in the morning but I will try to give a brief recount of the week anyway.
So I remember talking about being a lost sheep on Sunday. God doesnt care more about one person over another. God takes care of all his sheep, just like the shepard went after the one lost sheep. I do remember this being one of the on going themes throughout the week. I felt this is something we all need to be reminded of but I especially felt this was something these kids needed to hear. After having talked with a few of them I got the sense that many of them felt worthless in society because of their life style. The children told me themselves of times there were mistreated, looked down upon and called worthless because they were children of the street. My stomach churned and I felt angry at the fact that someone had told any of those kids that they were trash, that their lives weren't of any value, but I felt even sicker at the fact that this is something alot of them had believed and kept with them over time in their hearts. That week God was speaking to them and me, saying that God loves us and he will accept us, we are not seperated from his love, that they are his beloved children and he loves them, he does not want to punish us, he does not consider us worthless, because he loves us with his perfect unconditional love, and so often forget that we are saved by his grace. It is not dependent on our actions but on his Grace. So they don't have to feel worthless, and they don't have to feel guilty in recieving his love (as many of them do) but we can find Joy in him and his love. We can rejoice because the truth is none of us derserve and it we are all the same in Gods sight. I just felt like this was so important for them to hear, and I pray that God will speak to their hearts, and if not now they will remember those words later and find hope and strength and call on him.
Throughout the week various memebers of the Forth Worth team gave testimonies of their lives to the kids and their walks with God. I remember alot of them saying they group up in Christain homes and were well provided for, saying they had known about God their whole lives but never really understood him until they stopped living for themselves and really started trying to live for him. There was this one mans story inparticular that really stands out to me now. And think it stands out most to me because I was so suprised at all he had done because he seemed like one of those people who had always had it together with God. I had judged him and I know that was wrong, but also I was way off with regards to his walk with God. It had not been an easy path for him (as I had assumed). I was amazed that he had lost so much due to the way he choose to live before finally following the Lord. Also, the Lord never gave up on him, after so many years of wandering and making the wrong choices, the Lord still accepted him with open arms, in his mercy and grace. He lost so much and he suffered great sorrow and immense pain, yet in the end he found Joy in knowing God. I hope that one of the teams memebers testimonies stayed with these kids like this mans story stayed in my heart.
Another one of the main lessons I recall from this week, was the reasons that we run from God. Or the reasons why we don't trust him with our lives right off the bat. We think God is going to hurt us, so we run away. He don't know him and that he is a loving King and Father. And no matter what situation or circumstance we find ourselves in God can work that together for our Good, he does love us and want what is best for us. But an important thing to remember is we need to be actively seeking, and asking for his help. Although God is merciful and his grace is abounding, we need to recognize that we do need God in our lives, and with that recognization we see that we try harder to follow him...I do get kind of confused in this and I'm not a pastor but I do believe that we need to seek him but I think God grants us the grace to realize that we do need him and begin seeking him (so in that sense God is really seeking us; and he comes to us). But anyway the point is we need to stop running, and start trusting, knowing that God does love us and the best thing for us is to come to know and live for him. He promises us his love and eternal life with him. I think its hard for all of us to remember this when we are going through difficult times, we are so ready to forget Gods faithfulness, and as soon as trials come we assume God is out to get us. Also its hard for us to accept God's love because we know we don't deserve it. We don't remember that it is not dependent on how we behave that saves us (or we would all be doomed) but on his grace and his love. By his grace we are compelled by his love to live for him, but even when we do the wrong thing, God still loves us.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that niether death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present, nor the future nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to seperate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the scripture says, "anyway who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
Also we must to remember that God is not responsible for every little thing that happens to us. We are able to make choices in our own lives. And Choosing to trust him is scary but necessary. If I remember anymore of can be more clear then I will update this part again...I'm sure I wasn't making sense completely.
Just really quickly I will talk about the field trips. We went into the City and walked around. It was a beautiful antique little pueblo. Located on the moutains at 30,000 feet even walking slowly I was quickly out of breath. Narrow, cobblestone streets, and hidden walk ways, old brick and stone architectured buildings and homes that were painted different colors and stacked on top of one another, littered with beautiful terraces and backside balconies. It was like Rome in Mexico. Simply being in this city inspired me to travel around all of Mexico. The first day of touring we went to two Museums. One was filled with mummies and other instruments of torture used by the Catholic church centuries ago. Both were interesting, and both gave me the creeps. The second day of travel it was off to the ruins and view ancient mines. I was suprised by the lovely well kept floral landscape of the place. When I thought of mines I did not picture the lush green gardens and brightly colored roses. It was truly an amazing sight. We watched the two Chronicles of Narnia movies on two seperate nights. And the days following each movie we had discussions, parraleling Characters and themes with the Bible. These were also related back to themes I discused above (seeking God, and trusting him).
Ok I know now it probably appears I am rushing but I promise I will edit a bit later. I just wanted to add that during this entire week a family from the nearby village came and cooked for us. Every single meal was amazing...so delicious. Also, I didn't expect to get attached to the cook and her family while I was there but I did. I got attached to everyone at the camp.
Literally I fell in love with them all, the team from Forth Worth was a blessing, (each person was amazing) just constantly serving and sharing their lives and giving love to the kids. I'm very thankful for people like them who God sends to be a light in this world...people with a servants hearts and hearts for the sobre el puente ministry, and people who are a great example of Gods love for the kids. People who share Gods message so clearly and make it easy to understand. I appreciate the translators, the cook and her family...of course all the kids and the staff. Praise God that it was a fruitful week. One of the kids even returned to his family on our way back to Acapulco. I knew that hearts were being changed. And yet there is still so much work to be done, and so many prayers that can be said and so many more hearts God is still changing. And so much was learned not just from sermons, devotionals and lectures, but God worked through experiences, and conversations...he is good in everything.
I remember being a little discouraged because Santos didnt seem to be warming up to me. I worried he was angry with me. I decided maybe I should be the one to approach him and make the more effort, but as the week went on, the more I pushed the more he pulled away. It seemed that every kid wanted to spend time with me except Santos. My heart ached alittle. I tried talking to him but he could only say one thing, "where were you all this time?" I felt my heart break. Did he think I wanted to leave? That I didn't love him? I saw how it affects these kids when people who they care about just suddenlly diaspear from their lives. It made me realize that these kids need people who are going to be constant in their lives. It made me so grateful for the staff of sobre el puente. I found comfort in the fact that even though I dont want to leave them, and Im afriad to leave them they still always have these wonderful loving people who are there for them and whom they can trust. I know I have to keep praying for Santos and other kids like him who need people like that in their life. Someone to always be there, they can trust with an unconditional love. I know that God, our heavenly father is that for them, but alot of times we need that in the form of someone close to us to learn of his love first hand. I felt horrible for a while until I Beka helped me understand that I cant carry this guilt that I abandoned him around with me. It wasnt my fault and I couldnt stay with him forever. He has to learn to trust in God (the only one who will really never leave him) and he I have to trust that God is taking both of us to the places he wants me to be...like this week God wanted me to be in this camp with these kids, he gave me the gift of seeing santos again and being a part of his life again. Just because I am not with Santos, doesnt mean I stop loving him, and I should not forget the power of prayer and Gods faithfulness in answerng those prayers.
I realized that it might take the entire week of trying to get santos to notice me, of regaining his trust, but I didnt care, I was going to do it. I did back off a little bit, and when he was ready he finally came to me, he finally sought me out, and I still cherish those moments that we played, and laughed just like before. I know that the way Santos was with me is the way we are with God. Something sad will happen and we lose trust in God (even though it wasn't his fault). So we pull away for a little while. But God does not give up, he continues to seek us and love us and eventually we discover he does love us and we come back to him and he welcomes us with a warm love. I decided that even if Santos was going to be mad at me and ignore me for the whole week I was not going to give up on him (Because God never gave up on loving me)and I was not going to stop showing him love, and praying for him, and I would not cease to look for him and seek him out
But I also knew I had to appreciate the time and opportunities God was giving me to talk and spend time with the other kids too. I decided to embrace it all of it whatever God was putting in front of me. I decided to let go, and found peace in the fact that no matter what Santos was loved by many people, and even if he wasnt paying me any attention, he was getting what he needed and God would continue to bless him with his love, even if it wasnt coming from me. Going through the rest of the week with this attitude made things alot easier and I was joyful. I got to know Tony alot more than I had last summer, and also learned more about Valentins life and was able to share more about mine. Every morning we had breakfast at eight and singing and bible study from nine to noon. It was one of my favorite times just to sing and praise with the the team and the kids.
Friday night was a talent show and many people (kids, staff, team memebers and interns) took part and shared their talents with everyone else. It was a quite a emotional yet fun filled last night at camp. The next day we were loaded into the car by 12 noon and were making our way back to Acapulco.
I'm not sure why but for some reason I always get the urge to spill my guts at ungodly hours in the morning or all at the same time. Like for instance I just posted this huge long winded post which was only about the car ride to camp, and I already feel like talking about the rest of the week.
So obviously the trip there taught me alot about patience and my incapacity to do something without complaining. I used to think I was good at not complaining but now I've realized that just because I'm not complaining outloud, doesn't negate the complaining in my mind...I am actually not a patient person at all, I just like to pretend I am.
Sunday Morning;
Breakfast was served at 8. At this camp there was no water available before 9am, and after 5 pm. Worship began at nine, followed by the sermon, small group devotional time, games/craft time, and then lunch, game/group time and then dinner at 6....needless to say I did not take a shower for two days. This is how the shedule was for the week except on Monday and wednesday we watched movies and had discussions, and Tuesday and thursday we had field trips into the city of Guanajuato and to see the museums and the mines. And I did find a time to take a few showers once I got a schedule down. But let me explain more in depth. Sorry that this is so of scattered back and forth, my memory is a bit hazy and my typing is probably horrible due to the fact that its almost 2:30 in the morning but I will try to give a brief recount of the week anyway.
So I remember talking about being a lost sheep on Sunday. God doesnt care more about one person over another. God takes care of all his sheep, just like the shepard went after the one lost sheep. I do remember this being one of the on going themes throughout the week. I felt this is something we all need to be reminded of but I especially felt this was something these kids needed to hear. After having talked with a few of them I got the sense that many of them felt worthless in society because of their life style. The children told me themselves of times there were mistreated, looked down upon and called worthless because they were children of the street. My stomach churned and I felt angry at the fact that someone had told any of those kids that they were trash, that their lives weren't of any value, but I felt even sicker at the fact that this is something alot of them had believed and kept with them over time in their hearts. That week God was speaking to them and me, saying that God loves us and he will accept us, we are not seperated from his love, that they are his beloved children and he loves them, he does not want to punish us, he does not consider us worthless, because he loves us with his perfect unconditional love, and so often forget that we are saved by his grace. It is not dependent on our actions but on his Grace. So they don't have to feel worthless, and they don't have to feel guilty in recieving his love (as many of them do) but we can find Joy in him and his love. We can rejoice because the truth is none of us derserve and it we are all the same in Gods sight. I just felt like this was so important for them to hear, and I pray that God will speak to their hearts, and if not now they will remember those words later and find hope and strength and call on him.
Throughout the week various memebers of the Forth Worth team gave testimonies of their lives to the kids and their walks with God. I remember alot of them saying they group up in Christain homes and were well provided for, saying they had known about God their whole lives but never really understood him until they stopped living for themselves and really started trying to live for him. There was this one mans story inparticular that really stands out to me now. And think it stands out most to me because I was so suprised at all he had done because he seemed like one of those people who had always had it together with God. I had judged him and I know that was wrong, but also I was way off with regards to his walk with God. It had not been an easy path for him (as I had assumed). I was amazed that he had lost so much due to the way he choose to live before finally following the Lord. Also, the Lord never gave up on him, after so many years of wandering and making the wrong choices, the Lord still accepted him with open arms, in his mercy and grace. He lost so much and he suffered great sorrow and immense pain, yet in the end he found Joy in knowing God. I hope that one of the teams memebers testimonies stayed with these kids like this mans story stayed in my heart.
Another one of the main lessons I recall from this week, was the reasons that we run from God. Or the reasons why we don't trust him with our lives right off the bat. We think God is going to hurt us, so we run away. He don't know him and that he is a loving King and Father. And no matter what situation or circumstance we find ourselves in God can work that together for our Good, he does love us and want what is best for us. But an important thing to remember is we need to be actively seeking, and asking for his help. Although God is merciful and his grace is abounding, we need to recognize that we do need God in our lives, and with that recognization we see that we try harder to follow him...I do get kind of confused in this and I'm not a pastor but I do believe that we need to seek him but I think God grants us the grace to realize that we do need him and begin seeking him (so in that sense God is really seeking us; and he comes to us). But anyway the point is we need to stop running, and start trusting, knowing that God does love us and the best thing for us is to come to know and live for him. He promises us his love and eternal life with him. I think its hard for all of us to remember this when we are going through difficult times, we are so ready to forget Gods faithfulness, and as soon as trials come we assume God is out to get us. Also its hard for us to accept God's love because we know we don't deserve it. We don't remember that it is not dependent on how we behave that saves us (or we would all be doomed) but on his grace and his love. By his grace we are compelled by his love to live for him, but even when we do the wrong thing, God still loves us.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that niether death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present, nor the future nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to seperate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the scripture says, "anyway who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
Also we must to remember that God is not responsible for every little thing that happens to us. We are able to make choices in our own lives. And Choosing to trust him is scary but necessary. If I remember anymore of can be more clear then I will update this part again...I'm sure I wasn't making sense completely.
Just really quickly I will talk about the field trips. We went into the City and walked around. It was a beautiful antique little pueblo. Located on the moutains at 30,000 feet even walking slowly I was quickly out of breath. Narrow, cobblestone streets, and hidden walk ways, old brick and stone architectured buildings and homes that were painted different colors and stacked on top of one another, littered with beautiful terraces and backside balconies. It was like Rome in Mexico. Simply being in this city inspired me to travel around all of Mexico. The first day of touring we went to two Museums. One was filled with mummies and other instruments of torture used by the Catholic church centuries ago. Both were interesting, and both gave me the creeps. The second day of travel it was off to the ruins and view ancient mines. I was suprised by the lovely well kept floral landscape of the place. When I thought of mines I did not picture the lush green gardens and brightly colored roses. It was truly an amazing sight. We watched the two Chronicles of Narnia movies on two seperate nights. And the days following each movie we had discussions, parraleling Characters and themes with the Bible. These were also related back to themes I discused above (seeking God, and trusting him).
Ok I know now it probably appears I am rushing but I promise I will edit a bit later. I just wanted to add that during this entire week a family from the nearby village came and cooked for us. Every single meal was amazing...so delicious. Also, I didn't expect to get attached to the cook and her family while I was there but I did. I got attached to everyone at the camp.
Literally I fell in love with them all, the team from Forth Worth was a blessing, (each person was amazing) just constantly serving and sharing their lives and giving love to the kids. I'm very thankful for people like them who God sends to be a light in this world...people with a servants hearts and hearts for the sobre el puente ministry, and people who are a great example of Gods love for the kids. People who share Gods message so clearly and make it easy to understand. I appreciate the translators, the cook and her family...of course all the kids and the staff. Praise God that it was a fruitful week. One of the kids even returned to his family on our way back to Acapulco. I knew that hearts were being changed. And yet there is still so much work to be done, and so many prayers that can be said and so many more hearts God is still changing. And so much was learned not just from sermons, devotionals and lectures, but God worked through experiences, and conversations...he is good in everything.
I remember being a little discouraged because Santos didnt seem to be warming up to me. I worried he was angry with me. I decided maybe I should be the one to approach him and make the more effort, but as the week went on, the more I pushed the more he pulled away. It seemed that every kid wanted to spend time with me except Santos. My heart ached alittle. I tried talking to him but he could only say one thing, "where were you all this time?" I felt my heart break. Did he think I wanted to leave? That I didn't love him? I saw how it affects these kids when people who they care about just suddenlly diaspear from their lives. It made me realize that these kids need people who are going to be constant in their lives. It made me so grateful for the staff of sobre el puente. I found comfort in the fact that even though I dont want to leave them, and Im afriad to leave them they still always have these wonderful loving people who are there for them and whom they can trust. I know I have to keep praying for Santos and other kids like him who need people like that in their life. Someone to always be there, they can trust with an unconditional love. I know that God, our heavenly father is that for them, but alot of times we need that in the form of someone close to us to learn of his love first hand. I felt horrible for a while until I Beka helped me understand that I cant carry this guilt that I abandoned him around with me. It wasnt my fault and I couldnt stay with him forever. He has to learn to trust in God (the only one who will really never leave him) and he I have to trust that God is taking both of us to the places he wants me to be...like this week God wanted me to be in this camp with these kids, he gave me the gift of seeing santos again and being a part of his life again. Just because I am not with Santos, doesnt mean I stop loving him, and I should not forget the power of prayer and Gods faithfulness in answerng those prayers.
I realized that it might take the entire week of trying to get santos to notice me, of regaining his trust, but I didnt care, I was going to do it. I did back off a little bit, and when he was ready he finally came to me, he finally sought me out, and I still cherish those moments that we played, and laughed just like before. I know that the way Santos was with me is the way we are with God. Something sad will happen and we lose trust in God (even though it wasn't his fault). So we pull away for a little while. But God does not give up, he continues to seek us and love us and eventually we discover he does love us and we come back to him and he welcomes us with a warm love. I decided that even if Santos was going to be mad at me and ignore me for the whole week I was not going to give up on him (Because God never gave up on loving me)and I was not going to stop showing him love, and praying for him, and I would not cease to look for him and seek him out
But I also knew I had to appreciate the time and opportunities God was giving me to talk and spend time with the other kids too. I decided to embrace it all of it whatever God was putting in front of me. I decided to let go, and found peace in the fact that no matter what Santos was loved by many people, and even if he wasnt paying me any attention, he was getting what he needed and God would continue to bless him with his love, even if it wasnt coming from me. Going through the rest of the week with this attitude made things alot easier and I was joyful. I got to know Tony alot more than I had last summer, and also learned more about Valentins life and was able to share more about mine. Every morning we had breakfast at eight and singing and bible study from nine to noon. It was one of my favorite times just to sing and praise with the the team and the kids.
Friday night was a talent show and many people (kids, staff, team memebers and interns) took part and shared their talents with everyone else. It was a quite a emotional yet fun filled last night at camp. The next day we were loaded into the car by 12 noon and were making our way back to Acapulco.
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