We have spent the last three days cleaning an area behind my friend Nora's bar/home (inside Boys Town). Nora is one of our very special friends inside BT, and she has been asking since March if we would plant a garden for her. So, we cleaned up some serious trash and ash heaps (from where she burns trash), and planted a garden. The Mad City team, as well as my 4 friends known as "The Guapos," have been amazing over the last 3 days, working and laboring to make something that was previously a trash heap into something beautiful. They painted, planted, and had a great time of it in general. Here are a few more photos of the project...
We are back at the land, armed with cookies, juice, jump ropes, soccer balls, and LOTS of gringos! The kids are having a great time, especially since there are more guys to play soccer with this time. It took most of my neighbors about an hour to realize this was a whole new group of people from the last round of Gringo Block Parties. We had a good laugh as we realized that most white people look alike, according to my neighbors anyways. :)
Nearly every street corner in that neighborhood is full of memories for me - mostly memories of walking alone, praying that God would do something extraordinary. Or at least just do something. Tonight, and this whole summer, has been a fulfillment in many ways of some of those prayers. Nearly three years ago I arrived, never imagining that I'd be spending my nights in this little corner of the world. God is doing something extraordinary, alright. I remember looking at many of those houses as I prayer walked alone, wondering if I'd ever know the people who lived inside. Tonight, I chatted with moms, played with children, and received invitations into those very homes. Some of the kids we played with tonight are actually products of Boys Town. Their stories are deeper than we know. I sense the invitation from the Lord to dream with Him over their lives, speaking destiny over them as we play silly games and jump rope.
The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to these little ones...
Thanks for your prayers! We are also praying through each night as we're here (10pm-10am). Keep praying for us, and we'll keep going!
The last week has been slightly insane, to say the least. My truck has been dying a slow, but very painful death. I made a trip up to Tulsa to buy a new(er) one, though I had a few troubles on my journey back. (No less than 3 severe rain storms, 2 major accidents, and 1 swarm of locusts - yes, you read that right - not to mention a few mechanical difficulties. It actually took me 3 days to make what is normally a 14-hour journey!) But I'm back now, and we have a team here from Mad City Church in Madison, Wisconsin. The training community from Joe and Angie Steinke's church has been here a prayin' since Saturday.
Lots more stories and pictures should be up soon. We appreciate your prayers!
Lots more stories and pictures should be up soon. We appreciate your prayers!
We went to Boys Town today and made our usual rounds. When we pulled up, I saw someone asleep on the sidewalk; it was a girl named La Peque (the little one). If you read a few posts back, you might remember a story about me yelling at two pregnant girls in a crack bar...Peque was one of these girls. She hasn't had a lot to say to me since "the incident," and I sort of wondered if we'd ever be friends again. I've decided to tread lightly on this ground, and I didn't want to push anything with her. When I left today, she asked me to come sit with her. Her belly is growing every day, and she looks sort of like a toothpick with an orange strapped to the front of her. She wanted me to know the rumor that's going around BT...one of the older ladies is telling people that I bought Cristal's baby. I've heard this in the last few days from a few people, and it really breaks my heart. I have no idea half of the rumors that go around in there about me...I think it's probably better that way. I assured Peque that I hadn't bought any babies and that I don't want to be a mom anytime soon. She said she knew it wasn't true; she had spoken with Cristal last night. We talked about how we can't control what other people say or think, but the three of us knew the truth, and that's what matters. I felt relieved because it seemed that Peque was simply wanting to tell me that she knew it was a lie; it was her way of telling me she trusts me again. She also told me that Cristal is living outside of BT with her baby, she only comes to BT once in a while, and she stopped smoking crack so she could nurse the baby. (Another girl chimed in at that moment to say, "I thought Cristal looked fatter." ) While I'm sad I haven't seen the baby yet, I'm glad to know that our prayers are seemingly being answered, little by little - Cristal is out of BT (most days), her motherly instincts are kicking in, and crack is done, if only for the time being.
"The Lord gives the word and a host of women brings the good news. Enemy kings and their armies flee..." Psalm 68:11-12a NLT
After our token male, Scot, left us mid-way through the trip (just kidding - we love you Scot!), we pushed through some tough times of prayer. Some of these girls were practically delirious from praying through the night and on into the afternoons. I felt so honored to host such an amazing group of women from around the world. They prayed tirelessly, loved fervently, and it was again a beautiful picture of the Kingdom of Heaven come to my little corner of Mexican earth.
There are so many incredible stories to tell - like the one about Karla who came to our day spa in Boys Town to get a haircut, manicure, pedicure, and A LOT of love from us. (She was our only customer for a few hours!) She suddenly realized it was her birthday, and we sang to her. I watched her eyes brim with tears; I'm not sure the last time Karla felt celebrated. Or the story about Angeles who is such a beautiful and talented woman, though enslaved by her drug addiction. After receiving her pedicure, she insisted on giving one as well. (She's trained in cosmetology.) Angeles, along with Karla and Blanca who suddenly appeared, asked us all to gather around them and pray. So we gathered around these precious women and all prayed at once whatever was in our hearts, just outside of a major crack bar. As we said our collective "amen," Angeles turned and excitedly asked, "who touched me? who was touching me?" A shy Emma West owned up to having her hand on Angeles' back. Angeles said, "It was like fire! Then someone touched my head. Who touched my head?" None of us there had touched her head, so we all concluded it must have been Jesus. "It was Jesus, Angeles," I told her. "He loves you!" She blew a kiss toward the sky, waved hello, and yelled, "I love you, too!" Beautiful.
Here are a few more photos from our time...
