February 22, 2011

     We were finally going to Juarez today. The team rose with excitement to the day ahead of venturing into the place that we have all been looking forward to going. To the slums of this place, the children of the streets and the work that was at hand. We spent the morning waiting for Tim to arrive as we prepared our hearts. We spend every morning going through a proverb with our small groups. This has helped to establish some much needed wisdom for our excited group.  We jumped into the van and headed to the border which is about 3 km from our base. Going into Mexico there was no trouble at all, they did not even check out passports.  As we got into Mexico the familiar City Harmonic was being played on the radio.

   As soon as we crossed the border it was as though we had stepped into a whole different world. There was poverty rampant as well as garbage everywhere. The roads were rough and mostly dirt and we saw carts being pulled by horses. As we came to a round about there were flowers laying in different place showing the place of remembrance for a victim of the violence that has gripped the city.  All the stories that we had heard and read about the city of Juarez begin to stir up. This was the real thing and although in El Paso is a great need as well; Juarez's need is urgent.

    We arrived at one compound where we were to spend most of the day. It was a church with a house adjacent to it where we were to do some work. We had to level out a piece of land which had a large pile of dirt on it so that water would drain to one side. We also worked to remove boulders and rocks from an area that they wanted to use for construction. We were welcomed by  3 dogs that the team enjoyed. But the kids were definitely the highlight as they have been everywhere we have gone. There is a joy in their hearts that nothing seems to rob. There is a spunkiness and a fighting personality that speaks of such strength. Just playing with them and singing songs was a wonderful thing. As we left the church to go work at a house we said goodbye to the children there. We would be back later that evening to eat our dinner at the church.

    We drove on deeper into the maze of dirt streets. Just mounds of garbage, tire walls and houses that littered the hill sides with cinder block houses. Many begin with cardboard houses and slowly as they find pieces add to it. The houses were built with care but were still very poor. We got to the house we would be working on. The boys that were there were so much fun. The younger boy "Evar" was amazing and loved to play with everyone. They were building the shower area of the house and on Thursday we would be returning to put a roof on the building. We got to jump on and ride the donkey. Had chickens thrown at us by Evar and got to play many games with them. It was a very different environment than what we are used to but it was an incredible experience. In the circumstances they find peace in Jesus and their stance is a place of peace. When the battle rages all around them they know the Prince of peace. Life is hard for these boys but they continue on and I don’t think the smile left their faces the entire time we were there.

 Before we quite got to the church we pulled into a street where there was  house built on a hill. The house was built by a team that had come last year and blessed the people there. There was one girl  had cerebral palsy but had continued to live her life in the difficult circumstances. Her name was Marta and as we entered the doorway you were just hit with a wall of Gods presence. It was in such an increase in that building  and we knew as a team what a blessing it would be to meet this girl and spend those preciouses moments with her and her mother. Marta was graduating from high school this year and she told Tim that she would not go to her graduation without Tim coming with her. Of course Tim would be going as he told here and held her in his arms. The love that was in this place as Marta a little shy as to 20 strangers surrounding here. The looks from the team said it all as we starred in awe at the strength the Lord had blessed her with. What a spur of faith for us to see such a clear example of the hope this city cries out for.  It was such a blessing

From there our team was ready for the authentic meal that was to come. We got to the church that we were at earlier and the two boys were on the drums and bass rocking away. Playing all the songs that we know. They played a lot of Hillsong united songs. We went downstairs to eat the food that was prepared for us. We got the quick introduction as we as their guests were told to go and eat first before any of the kids went up. There were 2 sauces for the tacos. One green and one red. We were told that to get the full Mexican experience we need to have tried both of the sauces. I don’t know what it is about locals loving people squirming at the extreme pain of hot sauces but it was a good time. We decided to go for it and they were not kidding. The food was amazing but our mouths were on fire while the little children around us drenched their tacos in the sauces and laughed at us. Luckily they provided us with refreshing lemonade which helped stop the smoke that was coming out of our mouths. We all laughed together and some of us cried :) We went on after the meal to have the band jump on the stage and jam while we all had a massive high energy party with the kids that were there. Having a team that was so willing to give all their attention, strength and effort to put a smile on the kids faces was very encouraging.  From dancing to being thrown up in the arms of team members. To riding on the shoulders and playing tag we gave it all to the kids. By the end of it the entire team was sweaty, stinky and we did not care. The smiles on the kids faces were priceless. We sang some worship songs at the front and Tim went on to speak a message to the kids in Spanish.  Somewhere in that the kids all turned to say something in Spanish to all the team members. We not knowing what they said some of us answered Ci (Yes) not knowing what we had said. Tim had a chuckle and said they had asked us to come back and visit them again. It was a wonderful time. At the end Amanda J. went up to pray a blessing over these kids and the presence of God just took over. We as a team Layed our hands on the kids all around us. I remember the highlight of that day as I placed my hand on the little boy next to me and he in a moment of love put his hand on mine as we prayed over each other. He would not let go of me and the Love of Jesus began to flow through that room

   This was what it was all about. To pray over the coming generation that would be rising up. That they were not to inherit the violence as the norm of the life and future. But that they were to be people of change and hope. As I prayed over the child next to me the Lord kept showing me the light that this child would carry in his life. I began to see the darkness being pushed away to the places this child would be walking. And that the danger would be great the Lord would protect him. My heart began to cry out for this young boy as there was a full room of young men and women who would be the change of this city. That the ones in the room can be used to change their city and bring peace into it. Isnt that what this was all about in restoring hope. The violence and warfare is a result of a people that does not have hope and acts out of that false identity. But a generation that would rise up in joy and  hope that spills forth to all around them. You see we read the stories and the violence and death but God is at work here. He is working through such faithful people here in this place. Where there is poverty and lack of material things there is such an increase in faith. People of change chasing after the good things the Lord has for them because there is nothing more important.

-Reubin- and the Team

  In the moment of glorious surrender

 Your were broken for all the world to see

Lifted out of the ashes I am found in the aftermath

 In that moment you opened up the heavens

To the broken, the beggar and the thief

Lifted out of the wreckage, I find hope in the aftermath

 And I know your with me, Yes I know your with me

And I know your love will light the way