The last three nights have been spent out at the land with the 24-7 team. We've played soccer, jump rope, the hokey pokey, and any other crazy game we could think of with the precious kids and families of my new neighborhood. We've grilled food to feed the whole street, given cookies and juice to every child within a two-mile radius, and generally made a party any way we could. Then, after spending our nights with the neighborhood crew, we've gone back to the prayer room to take turns praying through the night.
On Wednesday night, several girls from Boys Town joined us. Emily and Jo went to pick up the girls while I waited at the land with the team and neighborhood kids. I felt such a deep joy as I looked down the street to see Emily and Jo leading a band of my friends from BT toward us. It felt like the most normal thing in the world to see them walking down the street. I long for the day that it's a daily occurence. When they arrived, they were so excited to be there, to see the land. They all wanted to know what we were going to build where, etc. So, I stood with them as we looked over the wall of the land and poured out the vision for what will soon be. Two of them insisted that they be there for the ground breaking: "We want to be here to break the first rock, Kelly. And we want to cut ribbon, too. You know this already, but we support you and what you want to do here."
How crazy is God? Just to make sure we never have it figured out, he sends two prostitutes to join in His work and bringing His Kingdom to earth.
The team has been amazing. They have loved tirelessly, and given themselves in prayer for this little corner of the world. And we believe that it matters, that God hears us, and that we'll see His heart poured out in unprecedented ways in a little place many have forgotten or given up on.
Keep praying for us!
Today (Monday) was our first official day with the 24-7 Mission team here. We have a really fantastic group of 9 girls and one guy (poor fella!). They've come from Northern Ireland, England, South Africa, and the United States all the way to Reynosa. A lot of the local people here are acustomed to meeting Americans, but the rest of the team are a bit of a novelty to my Mexican friends here!
We spent time today doing some orientation and getting to know the city. After we ate dinner tonight, we went prayer walking in Aquiles Serdan (the neighborhood that is home to Boys Town and soon to be home to me). We started at the land and went in groups around the area. It was such a peaceful night, and I even got to see some of my friends who had been "kicked out" of BT in the recent arrests. We met up again at the land, and it was so great to see a glimpse into the future of life in that place- hanging out with the neighbors, loving on the local kids, just living life and sharing the joy and kindness of Jesus. Tomorrow night we're headed back to the land to play soccer with some of the kids, do some face painting, and more hanging out and loving on the neighbors.
While in the prayer room tonight, our lone guy (Scot) said he woke up this morning with a strange phrase in his head: ¿cuanto cuesta reynosa? He couldn't remember what this phrase meant in Spanish, and decided to find out. It literally means, "What is the cost for Reynosa?" He felt that the Lord was asking us what we are willing to pay for this city. We're going for it in prayer over the next 10 days - if it costs sleep, comfort, tears - whatever. We want to be the ones that God chooses to cry out on behalf of the hurting, forgotten, lonely.
More to come...
We spent time today doing some orientation and getting to know the city. After we ate dinner tonight, we went prayer walking in Aquiles Serdan (the neighborhood that is home to Boys Town and soon to be home to me). We started at the land and went in groups around the area. It was such a peaceful night, and I even got to see some of my friends who had been "kicked out" of BT in the recent arrests. We met up again at the land, and it was so great to see a glimpse into the future of life in that place- hanging out with the neighbors, loving on the local kids, just living life and sharing the joy and kindness of Jesus. Tomorrow night we're headed back to the land to play soccer with some of the kids, do some face painting, and more hanging out and loving on the neighbors.
While in the prayer room tonight, our lone guy (Scot) said he woke up this morning with a strange phrase in his head: ¿cuanto cuesta reynosa? He couldn't remember what this phrase meant in Spanish, and decided to find out. It literally means, "What is the cost for Reynosa?" He felt that the Lord was asking us what we are willing to pay for this city. We're going for it in prayer over the next 10 days - if it costs sleep, comfort, tears - whatever. We want to be the ones that God chooses to cry out on behalf of the hurting, forgotten, lonely.
More to come...
In just a few short hours, the 24-7 Prayer and Mission team will arrive! For 10 days we'll be praying, serving in Boys Town and loving people wherever we find them. :)
Please pray for us over the next week and a half - we'll keep you posted here.
Please pray for us over the next week and a half - we'll keep you posted here.
I went yesterday to see Cristal. Unfortunately, the man who told me he'd take me to her (she's staying at his house) pulled a tricky move and snuck away from me. It was very intentional, and it made me feel all sorts of things: anger, frustration, dissapointment, sadness.... There aren't a lot of reasons why this guy wouldn't want me to see Cristal, especially when I'm bringing gifts to her and the baby he's allegedly caring for. It left me to wonder what's really going on, and if I'll ever see the baby at all. There is a lot of shady business that happens in this neck of the woods; it's my prayer that Cristal and her baby are far from any of it.
I sat with a woman named Delila the other day. This woman is absolutely beautiful - she's in her 50's, and I dream of having skin like hers. She has children that are grown and even grandchildren, and it's clear that everything she does is for them. She has tears in her eyes every time we talk about them. When we talked on Saturday, she told me about some other "Christian" women who come into BT sometimes. She said one of them tells her, "You're fat! You're so fat. And do you know why? Because the devil is with you!" As my jaw sat on the ground from shock, she said, "that's why I don't like to go to church with them."
"Well, Delila," I said, "you know that's not true. God thinks you're beautiful and He loves you..." I continued to try and counter all those awful things that had been said to Delila.
"Oh, I know He loves me and I'm beautiful. The devil is with her!" Delila said very confidently. I was relieved that no damage was done to Delila's psyche. But then she asked me, "Kelly, what religion are you? You're different from them." It made me feel glad that she saw a difference, but sad that that was the Christian she had known. I told her no religion, that I just try to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. We talked about how a lot of people say that, but if they're not filled with His love, then it doesn't really count.
The Gospel is really simple, isn't it? "The kindness of the Lord draws us to repentance" the Bible tells us. And we are simply called to share the same kind of life-changing kindness wherever we are - listening to our neighbors, sharing life with them, telling them what we know God says about them, how He dances and sings over them. Sometimes we see the "results," and sometimes we don't. But when we really follow Jesus in His revolution of kindness, we find ourselves changed and different.
!viva la revolucion!
At least, that's what I'm told. Cristal had her baby on Saturday, and both are doing fine. The doctor at one point asked her friend if Cristal or the baby should live. The umbilical cord had wrapped around the baby's neck, and there were other complications as well. So, Cristal's friends took her - mid-labor! -to a different doctor who performed a c-section! I can only imagine what this scene must have been like...
Thank you to all of you who prayed for a safe delivery for the baby and for Cristal. God has certainly heard your prayers! I'm going on Sunday morning to (hopefully!) see the two little patients and bring peace-offering gifts. (This will be our first conversation since "the scene" in the bar last week.)
The land price has been re-established, and now we're just waiting on a few more bits of paperwork...never-ending paperwork! I hope to tell you very soon that it's all been sorted out...keep praying!
Thank you to all of you who leave encouraging comments and send emails to tell me to keep going. I'm grateful for friends like you!
Why I (of all people) shouldn't be a missionary...
12 Comments Published by Boys Town on Friday, June 8, 2007 at 8:26 AM.
So, just about one hour after I wrote the last post ("Dreaming of Tomorrow..."), I went to pick up Cristal for her next doctor's appointment. I found her, along with one of the other pregnant girls, just outside of BT with her crack pipe in hand, just about to smoke. She informed me that she didn't want to go to the doctor, and would I please leave her alone. I told her it was way too late for all of that, and that we should just go to the doctor because it would only take a couple of hours. This was clearly not what she wanted to do, so I reminded her that she is the only one her baby has, so she should take of herself and her baby. Well, that really set her off and she stormed her way back to her bar.
So, there I was, standing outside of BT having been rebuked by a pregnant prostitute, unsure of what I should do next. I got in the car and decided to go in after her. Was this inspired by the Holy Spirit? I have absolutely no idea because I didn't even stop to pray about it (reason #1 why I shouldn't be a missionary).
I drove in past the police/guard station, where they always smile & wave at me and undoubtedly wonder what in the world I'm doing there. I drove around the corner, heart slightly pounding, and parked in front of the crack bar where Cristal lives. I walked inside to find her and her pregnant buddy sitting at a table. I walked over and she began yelling at me. "I know I'm the only one my baby has, so stop telling me!" I, very calmly, tried to tell her that I wasn't there to tell her that again. But I was only calm the first time I said it because she kept putting her hands over her ears (like a toddler) and yelling at me.
And then it happened. I don't know what "it" was, but it happened. I got really upset. And I started crying right there in a crack bar! (reason #2 why I shouldn't be a missionary.)
Her pregnant friend said to me, "why do you only help the pregnant girls?"
And I started in, with a raised voice, with, "All I have ever tried to do is be your friend! Why won't you just let me be your friend? And whoever is telling you that I only help the pregnant girls is LYING to you! Go ask anyone in this place - All I want is to be your friend and help you so you can be a mom to your baby! You think I want to be a mom? Well, I don't! I just want to be your friend!"
And after I had yelled and cried at two pregnant prostitutes in a crack bar (reasons #3-5 why I shouldn't be a missionary), we all walked away.
As I stepped outside to get in my vehicle, I saw a girl we call "La Poli" (short for la politica, "the politician" because she is shakin' hands & kissin' babies, even when she is strung out on all sorts of drugs). La Poli was standing there in her grandma-ish house coat and slippers, just waiting to give me a big ol' hug with her skinny little arms. As she hugged me, I tried to act like I hadn't been crying. She whispered, "May God give you patience." And I started crying again. She had no idea what had just happened, but it didn't matter because God sent her to me in that moment. Then she began to sing, "God is here in this place. It is so beautiful that he's here. He promises to be wherever 2 or 3 are. God is here in this place." She blew me kisses while I cried, then walked away.
I drove straight to the land, and cried and prayed and wondered if I was in the right place and should I just pack up and go home now, etc, etc. I cried for a long time.
Later that afternoon, I went to the lawyer's office, hoping to sign papers and be an official land owner in Mexico. However, in accordance with the day's activities, that did not happen. In fact, when we got there, the owner decided to raise the price of the land a bit. And the attorney informed me that we still have to wait on a few things, so I'm not totally sure of how much longer it will all take. (I have to call today to re-negotiate the price on the land.) By the time that day was over, I was ready to go to sleep.
And it all boils down to this: I just know in my gut at the end of the day that I find Jesus in BT. I don't always like it, but He strangely draws me to Himself in those distressing disguises of His - in Cristal, Nora, La Poli, all of them. Where else could I go? I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, truthfully.
Something tells me that won't be the last time I cry and yell inside those walls. I have to hope that one day, I'll see the promise of God's word be fulfilled: those who sow in tears, will reap with shouts of joy.
Lots of love from the most unlikely missionary,
Kelly
So, there I was, standing outside of BT having been rebuked by a pregnant prostitute, unsure of what I should do next. I got in the car and decided to go in after her. Was this inspired by the Holy Spirit? I have absolutely no idea because I didn't even stop to pray about it (reason #1 why I shouldn't be a missionary).
I drove in past the police/guard station, where they always smile & wave at me and undoubtedly wonder what in the world I'm doing there. I drove around the corner, heart slightly pounding, and parked in front of the crack bar where Cristal lives. I walked inside to find her and her pregnant buddy sitting at a table. I walked over and she began yelling at me. "I know I'm the only one my baby has, so stop telling me!" I, very calmly, tried to tell her that I wasn't there to tell her that again. But I was only calm the first time I said it because she kept putting her hands over her ears (like a toddler) and yelling at me.
And then it happened. I don't know what "it" was, but it happened. I got really upset. And I started crying right there in a crack bar! (reason #2 why I shouldn't be a missionary.)
Her pregnant friend said to me, "why do you only help the pregnant girls?"
And I started in, with a raised voice, with, "All I have ever tried to do is be your friend! Why won't you just let me be your friend? And whoever is telling you that I only help the pregnant girls is LYING to you! Go ask anyone in this place - All I want is to be your friend and help you so you can be a mom to your baby! You think I want to be a mom? Well, I don't! I just want to be your friend!"
And after I had yelled and cried at two pregnant prostitutes in a crack bar (reasons #3-5 why I shouldn't be a missionary), we all walked away.
As I stepped outside to get in my vehicle, I saw a girl we call "La Poli" (short for la politica, "the politician" because she is shakin' hands & kissin' babies, even when she is strung out on all sorts of drugs). La Poli was standing there in her grandma-ish house coat and slippers, just waiting to give me a big ol' hug with her skinny little arms. As she hugged me, I tried to act like I hadn't been crying. She whispered, "May God give you patience." And I started crying again. She had no idea what had just happened, but it didn't matter because God sent her to me in that moment. Then she began to sing, "God is here in this place. It is so beautiful that he's here. He promises to be wherever 2 or 3 are. God is here in this place." She blew me kisses while I cried, then walked away.
I drove straight to the land, and cried and prayed and wondered if I was in the right place and should I just pack up and go home now, etc, etc. I cried for a long time.
Later that afternoon, I went to the lawyer's office, hoping to sign papers and be an official land owner in Mexico. However, in accordance with the day's activities, that did not happen. In fact, when we got there, the owner decided to raise the price of the land a bit. And the attorney informed me that we still have to wait on a few things, so I'm not totally sure of how much longer it will all take. (I have to call today to re-negotiate the price on the land.) By the time that day was over, I was ready to go to sleep.
And it all boils down to this: I just know in my gut at the end of the day that I find Jesus in BT. I don't always like it, but He strangely draws me to Himself in those distressing disguises of His - in Cristal, Nora, La Poli, all of them. Where else could I go? I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, truthfully.
Something tells me that won't be the last time I cry and yell inside those walls. I have to hope that one day, I'll see the promise of God's word be fulfilled: those who sow in tears, will reap with shouts of joy.
Lots of love from the most unlikely missionary,
Kelly
So tonight I have an appointment at the lawyer's office to finalize a lot of things for the property purchase. As of our meeting this evening, we'll officially be "24-7 Prayer on the Border" (should I have asked permission of someone to use that?). The owner of the land has had paperwork drawn up, and my lawyer will go over with us this evening as well. Then, it's just a matter of wiring the money and voila! I'm (almost) a landowner in Mexico!
I was looking over the building plans yesterday, talking with Jo and our friend Emily who is here for the summer. Then it hit me: this project is potentially a 2-year project (based on how many folks come to lend a helping hand). Two years seems so far away, but in two years, I'll mark the five year anniversary of being here! In just five short years, the list of things God has done will read like this: #1 - hijack Kelly's life completely (check); #2 - get Kelly to learn Spanish (sort of check); #3 - recruit long-term team (check); #4- build a monastery (check). I was so encouraged to think of all that God has done and is doing here, in just a short time. Some days it feels like an eternity, but it's all happening so fast when you think about it.
I began to dream about what life will look like on that property in just two years. As our little community spent time praying together yesterday, I read Psalm 126, and caught a glimpse into the not-so-distant future:
"When the Lord brought back his exiles, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, 'What amazing things the Lord has done for them!' Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What Joy!
Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest."
