Juarez, Mexico

+ February 6, 2009

We crossed the border and now we're in Mexico.





























It's like another world.



















The orphanage we visited was precious though...



















It's a Christian school/orphanage that was founded by a Christian American... who visited Juarex and his heart broke for the children running around in the streets. The Lord gave him a vision to start this school and teach them about Jesus...and give them a place to live and eat.



















My heart can do nothing but relate to this man. I see these kids...



















..and my heart swells.


We are about to lead these children in creative worship...and I am so eager to witness the POWER of the Holy Spirit. O please come, Jesus. Meet these kids- satisfy their needs and emptiness. Heal them.


+


The creative worship was unlike any other than we have done before! We did a skit where we had a word on our shirt (in spanish) saying a sin that we have committed or a sin committed towards us - and we acted it out. Jonathan (being Jesus) removed our word and replaced it with HIS word! (the opposite! ie.. fear/peace)

I had ABUSE

At first, I wanted to pick 'insecurity' because that's definitely one that I can relate to...but somehow, I forgot to pick up the sheet (yeah, somehow...) and the last one to pick was 'Abuse'. I had no relation for this one. But, I taped it onto myself and began praying. Then once we start.....this terrible feeling came over me - my eyes started watering - and I felt mistreated in a way. It's like the Lord allowed me to just TASTE what abuse had felt like (ofcourse, I know, it will never compare to the harsh reaity of it) but it engulfed me. I began to realize that I wasn't really acting anymore...but that- just for that while - those feelings of abuse.....we more real to me than anything. I could barely handle it.

Then Jonathan took my word and replaced it with

VALUED

After the skit we had the kids go to the person with the word on them that they are thankful for from God....or one that He has done for them! And all of them went to words like

hope...love....peace....etc.

I was standing alone for awhile at first.. so I began to pray. But then I made eye contact with a girl......and she slowly walked over to me. I gave her a big hug - but I could feel that there wasn't one in return. The music began playing and each of us lead all the kids in some arm movements to a worship song in their language.

I did a lot of movements where I could hug myself and twist side to side... like I was hugging my dad or something. Then I heard sniffles. My heart broke. The Lord was moving and loving on her and it was so beautiful. I got to talk with her a little bit...between my little knowledge of spanish and charrades... and her little knowledge of english... we talked!

Our God is SO much bigger than a language barrier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She had been a Christian for 5 years...she came to the orphanage at 14 or 15... she's 17 going on 18 now. Her favorite Bible verse is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Its just her and her mom living at home - dad left 2 years ago. She loves to sing and dance. I really had a heart for

Anna..

God is so good to me to let me get to talk to her - pray for her!

After creative worsihp we hung out with the kids and played soccer with them :o)

I got to know a 9 year old boy,

Tia..


























He was so much fun! He played around with my camera a bit.. and took some pretty good shots!!!

And then I met..

Karen (ko-ren)


















She's deaf but you wouldn't know it.... she is the ULTIMATE sneaky tickle monster!



















She hung around me most of the time.. wanting to take pictures with me and sneaking up on me and surprising me with her amazing tickeling skills. ;o) It was so precious.

She even wrote her name on the inside of my arm before I left. I was overwhelmed. She didn't want me to forget her (I won't)






















"My people, I have put my praise on your lips, bring my praise into
every situation of your lives and I will show you the power of my
praise," says the Lord! "My people, turn away from evil, come to me.
Be in the world but not of it, honour my Son and I will give you
peace and contentment," says the Lord! "Even should a woman
forget the child she bore, I will not forget you. Your name is
written on the palm of my hand," says the Lord! "Give me your
sick and I will heal them, your worries, and I will dispel them, your
burdens and I will carry them, my people. I want to set you free,"
says the Lord.