Mexico City: Our hearts go out. . .

Photo by Emily Brown: beautifully humble friend of mine.

I write this in the middle of the night when the city is the quietest.. but alas a am interrupted by the screeching fire siren that makes me wonder if it is going to rescue a face or name that I know, have prayed for, or stared into the eyes of. The 'still' small towners, that see a persons life behind the sound of a siren, are here in this Goliath of a lonely city.

“Are you ready to be less than a mere drop in the bucket - to be so totally insignificant that no one remembers you even if they think of those you served? Are you willing to give and be poured out until you are used up and exhausted - not seeking to be ministered to, but to minister?" -Oswald Chambers, recently quoted by Sidra, a very good friend of mine also on outreach but in a different region of the world. Rom 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Niki (Australia) who herself has
an amazing life story of redemption:
 Staffing the CRS at YWAM Perth.

While many of us were painting (previous posts)... a few of us have been going into the city. Its really interesting what God will do with you if you make yourself available. Even more interesting in what he limits you from doing.

LEFT and BELOW are some pictures of some youth around the ages 17-25, that our team met on the street over the last few days. Matt didnt get a chance to get to know them because he, being the gentleman-sweet-heart that he is, walked a someone in the team home that was sick. I on the other hand was back leading the painting crews for the last several days... I would have loved to meet them.

Meanwhile... our team shared and listened in this group of young people described as studded, pierced, and tattooed. (If you know me well you know I have a soft-creative spot in my heart for these attributes.) While they shared, the group passed around bottles of alcohol, and a working glove. Apparently there was nothing special about this glove but a tissue inside of it soaked in aerosol glue which when placed in front of the nose provides a "high". This is medically called 'huffing'. 

They called themselves "punks", but shelly and I
called them "artistas" (artists) because
they could make the most creative
flowers out of a coca-cola can. "Muy Bonita!"

Many people have a different opinion about drugs and the people that do them... Our heart is to see the person behind the ruff exterior and smell of turpentine. Our team just loved on them and they were positively responsive at all the attention... like someone actually cared that they were hurting themselves for a temporary 'fix', and telling them about a 'fix' that would never be temporary.

We have spent a great deal of time in prayer for these guys. Will you continue to pray with us that they would be able and willing to have an abundant life? Off the streets where they all claimed they lived, and away from the temporary highs that will never full-fill them. We are praying that until those changes happen that God would keep them safe and whole.

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Other Thoughts this week via our Facebook status:


AUG 21 worked with my team all day training young adults in Mexico City -- how to do an 'open air' all day(About 20 showed up), then painted on into the night... whoah... dude! -Tired!!


AUG 22 went to church this morning... even though I couldn't understand the words for most of the 3 hours, it was nice to reflect on the week ... More painting later, after meetings, writing up some testimonies...


AUG 25 Whoah... Broken... Im soo broken.. tired. the "day off" is just not long enough by the end of outreach... dang-it for being physically tired, emotionally tired, and spiritually tired... haha 2 1/2 weeks left.

This was posted after I had found out that the girl walking out of our gate carrying a stolen mat (our neighbors dogs),  was homeless and about 9 months pregnant. It broke my heart as we entered into intercession that evening. We dont have all the answers, or training for every single unexpected circumstance... but if I was to do nothing more than pray...yeah it still broke me in two.


Everyday we see a miracle or healed life in some minor way or another -a "drop in the bucket" compared to the gargantuan magnitude of need in this city... sometime we see one pass us by. We miss a chance, do-to  the lack of a translator (because they dont live with us), due to lack of facilities to refer people to, mostly for me though - due to shock.

AUG 26 Several of the people on our team today went scouting to find more contacts (Local Churches and Leaders) and ways to bring different communities together. Amazing time... while another team stayed back and painted some more... yeah! thats right mmmmmore painting -S.


AUG 27 Wal-mart trip for half the team (groceries- for 10), and more painting for the other half... YAY!! -S


AUG 28 Got to meet the fabulous kids/students at the 'School for the Deaf' today. Amazing! They were celebrating a year in progress/anniversary... lots of pictures taken, and lots of signing "thank you", and "gracias". Mexican signing is different then American.. crazy huh? And we're only 1/2 way through the day.


AUG 29 . . .then we find a young homeless girl 'high' on our doorstep. Whoah!!  

Christina, who showed up at our gate with a bottle of tequila in her blouse and huffing tissue in her hand, we led to a shelter where trained people could help her after we prayed for her and encouraged her about her value.

Pray that she would know that she is beautiful, not a failure, and her life is worth living. As we understood she was saying in our broken-understanding of Spanish.. words that she kept on saying over and over. We happened to have a friend that was nearby that spoke Portuguese which is close to Mexican Spanish.

Also pray for us- as many members on our team wanted to adopt her into our home because our hearts ached for her story. This is where the line is drawn, just as it is when a we are sick and we have to go to a doctor. We have to go to someone that is more equipped then ourselves to carry the responsibility. Pray that the people she is helped by not only help her find help out of her 'huffing' and alcohol addictions but the root of those addictions. 

 So all and all the last few weeks are coming to a close and we are growing very tired.. Thank you for all of your time, investment, and prayers. All much appreciated,.. because as we know that we are in this big city joining with local leaders and churches in the communities we have had a big task before us. We know we have not been alone.

Steph and Matt

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Featured Christian Artist:  Why not... I've decided that since this blog is mostly written by me (Steph) and semi-written by Matt, I need to have some of my featured artists be musicians! Oh yeah!
 
First official band to receive such an honor: Temper trap, a band that has unconventional roots to YWAM. And is actually REALLY good to listen to. (and the videos not so bad either)


 
 
 
 
We are currently listening to: John Piper "Adoption: The Heart of the Gospel."