On Thursdays everyone from the YWAM base, regardless of their work duty or status as a student or leader, goes out to do ministry in the local community.
Ministries include :
*Rehabilitation at Stone island.
*ministry to the police force.
*skate park /surf ministry
*street evangelism
*ministry to kids in the local community known as racham.
*El recreo: in the village building relationship and teaching agricultural skills.
Last week I went out with Annie and the evangelism team.
I had been catching up with a friend from Australia on the phone so I met up with the team outside our house near the Malecon. They were praying for the people that live in the storm water drain.
I felt a bit like a hanger-on’er. As I joined the team late and I get frustrated because I can’t speak Spanish. “Yo hablo poquito Español.”
I know there is always a place to pray on the team but sometimes I want to do more than that. To hear peoples’ stories, to engage face to face. To learn of peoples’ struggles and to share the gospel directly with them. I was deliberating going back home but I felt God’s small still voice say, “just wait a bit longer.”
Soon we were on the move and I fell into step with a gorgeous young girl from Columbia who had a powerful story to share about how she had been waiting for a long time for God to bring her to YWAM Mazatlan. I could relate to that, as I had not been back here for 6 years and many times I thought I would never be coming back.
We walked along carefully avoiding walkers coming the other direction. Bikes, kids with balloon toys, people balancing their corn chip snacks in a bag. People out and about as the night was cooler than the day. We followed the team leaders down towards the food van area. All the time Mabel was telling me her story. She was so passionate about what God was doing in her life.
We stopped and waited for a moment. Scanning the crowd. “Reading the room”- waiting for the Holy Spirit to guide us to someone to talk to. I was hopeful now about sharing because Mabel could speak Spanish.
Then a woman pushing a broken wheelchair with her disabled daughter in it came up to us to ask us for money. I felt annoyed at myself for having not brought any. Earlier that day I had been fighting with the ATM at the bank and my PIN number. I apologised to her as did Mabel.
Then as she walked away I called out, “would you like us to pray for you? We can do that.” Mabel interpreted! She quickly rushed back to us and before you know it we had four of our team gathered around. She told us she was from a town far away. Her 17 year old daughter was disabled from her difficult birth. She could hear but not speak. She explained life was very hard. We were able to lay hands on both mother and daughter and pray. Afterwards she was crying and gave us all big hugs. She was wearing a lot of crosses she had been given by people who told her to believe in God. Mabel asked her what she believed and shared the gospel. Passionately and in very fast Spanish!!!
I understood some words, “Jesus”, “Holy Spirit”, “love”, “heart”! Mabel asked if she would like to ask Jesus into her heart. She was very keen to do so and we joined hands for her to pray. After that Mabel was able to get her phone number to follow her up.
My heart ached and yet felt joy at the same time. I wanted to buy them a new wheel chair. As they started walking away the wheel almost fell off and she had to shove it back into place. I thought about the story of Peter and John on the way to the temple. “Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.””
Acts 3:6 NIV
We had no money to share but the lady went way with eternal life. Her face was radiant. Her daughter didn’t rise up out of her wheel chair but she did go away with a huge smile plastered on her face. Jesus and his love for all people can change lives. While I felt helpless to change their circumstance Jesus came in and offered eternal hope that will not perish. Kate