The FYMs have been here in Matamoros for about three weeks and are beginning to get involved in their ministry areas. Here are some stories of what God is doing in and through them.
Recently we starting doing our WOW’s (walking on water) this consisted of going out to different neighborhoods nearby and doing whatever the Lord tells us to do. Honestly it is a little scary! My group went to one neighborhood nearby then the one we live in. We did some prayer walking in asking God to lead us to people that we needed to talk with. In Libertad (where I live) we met a girl who was about 19 and she is AMAZING! We were actually just walking in front of her house and she came out to show us how to avoid a big puddle of mud on her street. (mud is a COMMON navigation situation) We began talking with her and spending time getting to know her. Her name is Karen and she watches her little brother Angel during the afternoons. She asked us to come back another time so that we could meet the rest of her family. This Sunday was our first chance to go back to meet them so we went about an hour before church (our church starts at 6:30) and we met the mom and dad! He actually spoke some English so it was fun to teach him and him teach us more Spanish. I was amazed by how welcoming they were. Their hospitality truly encouraged me! They immediately wanted to know if we wanted a coke and then the mom began to share her birthday cookies with us!!! The dad went on to say that “su casa, Mi Casa” and that His family is our family now! I was so blown away by the generosity of this family. The mom and sister and little Angel ended up attending church with us and it was so much fun! We introduced them to more people from their neighborhood that were church members and I believe they felt the Lord loving them! I am amazed by their service to my team! God truly provides encouragement and such provision! We thought we were going to serve them. How great our God is! – Laura
I spent Wednesday and Friday at Esther’s House hanging out with the kids. It was really fun, but it takes tons of energy. I’m working on getting different craft and game ideas together for the kids. These kids are beautiful. I’m already starting to fall in love with them. Pray for my internship at Esther’s. It requires lots of energy, and I want to do as many fun activities as possible with the kids. – Abby
If someone had told me that I would be going to Mexico to visit people in a hospital I would have said, ‘unlikely’. If they told me that I would be singing to these people, and even attempting some songs in Spanish I would have said, “Yeah Right. There is no way I would sing in a hospital.” I would have been wrong.
This past week, when we visited the hospital, God sent us to a woman that is very broken; physically she has a broken pelvis, broken and dislocated arm, and deep bruises up and down her body, emotionally she is the mother of a 12 year old and a 5 month old and is now unable to care for them. This is simply the beginning for her. We first met her on Wednesday. She had been in a car accident on Saturday. She is in need of an operation, but they will not treat her yet. She was not on medication, she didn’t even have a blanket or pillow.
When we went to her she welcomed us. She shared her story through heart felt tears. In the car accident the other victim was injured even more severely. The police were waiting at her door, because in Mexico you go to jail if you don’t have car insurance. She barely affords to live, let alone insurance. In her eyes and face it was clear the pain and fear that she was feeling. Her only hope of not going to jail is that her family will be able to find a lawyer that can petition on her behalf.
My heart went out to her. I was not able to understand all that she was saying, but words are not needed to see emotion. As we talked to here she told us that she has Jesus in her heart. We asked to pray for her and she loved the idea. I shyly explained that we did not know the words in Spanish and she told me that God speaks all languages, it did not matter what language we used. We prayed with her, and read to her, but she wanted to praise God as well! So she sang a song. She was in so much pain that it was barely audible. So, we sang to her. She lifted her hands and soaked it all in.
When I started this story I said God sent us to a woman. We were there for His purpose. Leaving the hospital that day my heart was very heavy. I even wished that I had been called to playing with children rather than visiting the hospital. When I thought about it a little more, I realized that Jesus feels her pain much more than I do. He made the choice for me to go there. I am only trying to obey. I would not have traded my pain, because of the joy that we brought to her.
We were able to see her again on Friday. She was feeling much better. She is now on medication, and has a blanket and pillow. She started to attempt walking again Friday morning and the doctors had taken x-rays of her broken bones. She still does not have a lawyer, and is not able to have the surgery yet. She was very happy to see us. We spent our time talking. She told me that she know God is the King of kings, the Doctor of doctors and she know He has the ability to provide all she needs.
She also told us that we were angles sent to her, because even though she trusts in the Lord she was very sad in her heart and we were there to remind her and reassure her of the hope she has in Him – Tamara
God bless!
