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...
what cost... it's worth it all, isn't it?
i love you.
It is worth everything... Kelly we are praying for you and all who are down there as we prepare to come our selves. God is redeeming Boys Town... He will make beauty from ashes. We will see you July 21.
Anna (Madison, WI, crew coming)