Monday, July 03, 2006

Neighborhood Outreach



Last Wednesday we had such a great time reaching out to some children from poor families in a neighborhood where we have been visiting street kids. A couple of weeks ago we were going about our normal routine, visiting some of our street kids and one of the families where they come from, when about 15 little kids from the neighborhood came out of nowhere, jumping up and down, so excited to see us! So we decided we should take the opportunity and reach out to this neightborhood.

Since we have a team serving with us from Norway we decided to make a special night of it. Wednesday morning we started off with a short prayer walk around the neighborhood, told the kids we'd be back later that evening for a kids program. The team organized the activities and by the end of the night we had had an amazing time, singing, watching dances and dramas about Zacheus and The Good Samaritan, playing soccer and basket ball, drawing with sidewalk chalk, face painting and loving on the most beautiful little kids! Man, it was one of the greatest nights of the past few months! Thank you Lord for working it all out!

This Wednesday we will go again to spend time with the kids, telling them about Jesus and his love for them and playing games. Most of the kids are from poor families and some of them don't go to school. It is a great opportunity to bring light and joy into their lives and to share with them the Father's love! These kids are so open and teachable, it is amazing. A little group of them came up to me that night and wanted to pray! I didn't even have to initiate a thing. So God is openning up some unexpected doors...very cool! Please pray for the Lord to lead us as we consider continuing reaching out there this summer. Multumesc! (Thank you!)
"All that is not the love of God has no meaning for me. I can truthfully say that I have no interest in anything but the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. If God wants it to, my life will be useful through my word and witness. If He wants it to, my life will bear fruit through my prayers and sacrifices. But the usefulness of my life is His concern, not mine. It would be indecent of me to worry about that."
- Dominique Voillaume
(From "The Signature of Jesus" by Brennan Manning)