You Make Beautiful Things Out of the Dust

It doesn’t really matter so much that puerto barrios isn’t my favorite city in the world. Right now, in this season of life, there is honestly non place I’d rather be, because I know that I am home. I am here in His love, and it is here that I’m home. It’s a love that Gods only just begun opening my eyes to. I’m realizing for the first time that he loves me enough to truly want the best for me. And even if that means the future isn’t going to look like what I originally had planned, it’s going to be something so much greater than I could have ever imagined.

We spent this last Friday night barhopping. The last time we went into the bars to talk with the prostitutes, it was 10:00 on a Monday morning, so the atmosphere was completely different. Bouncers stood at the entrance of the bars, and we had to negotiate our way in (after all, we aren’t the first group of missionaries to come through trying to pull their biggest moneymakers from their jobs). Instead of music playing in the background with men scattered about with a beer or two, music was blaring, and most of the men were well on their way to being drunk, hanging onto the women who were trying to sell themselves for the night.

The first bar we went into looked as if more money was invested into it than the hospital. A huge stage was set up, lights were flashing, and a girl was dancing to the pulsing music on one of the many poles that were set up. A group of four of us went and sat down with one of the girls that was by herself. Through one of the girls on our team, Jamie, who speaks a lot of Spanish, we learned that she was the main dancer and had been in this occupation for six or so years. She had two kids, and even though she admitted to us that she hated her job, she said that it was the only way she had to provide income for her kids. While she was at work, both of her kids ages 2 and 8 were home by themselves. 

Beforehand, Jamie and I had gone to buy materials to make cards for the prostitutes we would talk to tonight and wrote down verses and things like ‘you are beautiful,’ or ‘you are a child of God.’ so we gave one to her and another girl that we ended up talking to, prayed for both of them, and then said goodbye after about twenty minutes. Neither girl wanted to be there, but both felt stuck. 

The next bar we had actually gone to visit the week before during the daytime and had met a lady named Carla,but we weren’t sure that she would still be there. We didn’t see her when we first got there, so we spent some time talking to another girl who was only twenty one years old. She had only been working at the bar for 8 days. As soon as we finished talking with her, a man came up to her and was all up over her. A couple minutes later, they disappeared. 

And then we saw Carla!! She was so excited to see us, and although talking with her was a little bit harder because she was a little drunk, she was so excited that we’d come back to see her again. We gave her one of the cards and began to pray for her, and while we were, she burst into tears. We sat there and held her and hugged her, and she asked Pastor Ronny for the address and times of church services. Be praying that she follows through and makes it sometime soon.

We wee outside about to leave for the next place when one of the girls comes outside after us, and drags us back inside to pray for her, it was kind of crazy, because most people seem more uncomfortable when we tell them that we are missionaries and want to pray for them, but this girl actually sought us out for prayer! As we were praying for her, she also started crying, and in our limited Spanish just started speaking truth over her, telling her that she was beautiful and that God has big plans for her. 

The last bar we went to was the California bar, and a it was another one we’d previously visited, but weren’t sure the same girl would be there because last time shed been about to give birth to a baby. But we walked in and there she was, with her 11 day old baby Angel! Funny story…I don’t have the best background with babies. They don’t seem to like me very much and they usually end up in tears, which makes me cry, and so for the most part I just avoid holding them in general. Even earlier that day at the orphanage I was refusing to hold the calm babies because I knew if I took them they’d start crying or spitting up or something. And every time i prayed for one at the hospital they started crying. But back to the bar…so I’m just oohing and awwing over this baby, because he really was precious, but then she just leans over the counter and hands him to me. Kathys laughing at me because she knows how I am with babies, but this little boy is just precious!! And he didn’t cry once while I was holding him. 

So we prayed for the baby and the mom, who was only 19, and gave her a bible because shed asked for one last time. Then we prayed over the other lady in the bar, and it was time to go.

A lot of people on our team have a hard time with bar ministry. It’s certainly a ministry that takes intentional spiritual, emotional, and mental preparation beforehand. But just like last time, the entire time I was there, it felt like I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing, and it’s amazing. it’s certainly not a ministry I would have ever in my wildest dreams imagined being involved in, nonetheless absolutely loving, but I guess that’s one of the reasons I know it’s from God. 

On Sunday, we went to a different church than e ones we’ve been going to. That morning, I woke up not feeling great physically or emotionally, and I wasn’t planning on going. Alone time sounded wonderful, but for whatever reason I didn’t feel good about staying back. All throughut our morning worship, I felt God telling me I needed to go. I really didnt want to, but I’ve been trying to listen and obey the voice of Godin the smaller situations, so I took an advil and headed out with everyone else. And I am so glad that I did! Not only was there air conditioning, but it actually took place in a beautiful hotel. Some of the songs we sang we knew in English and could sing along to, and afterwards a few of us sat around and talked to one of the guys in charge who spoke perfect English while eating cookies and drinking coffee. He encouraged us in our ministry, telling us that by being here, he is reminded that God has not forgotten about his country. Sundays are usually one of the hardest days here, so that was suprisingly refreshing.

Monday we visited the dump, and one of the girls, Katte, accepted Christ into her heart after Pastor Ronny gave a short sermon. She was one of about 3 or 4 people who did, so that was really neat to see. We went back to the special needs school today, and sadly it was one of the last times we will go there since they will be on break for the next couple of months. It’s sad that one of our favorite ministries is ending,but im thankful we had the chance to work with them while we did. 

Antigua next week for debrief…be prayingnfor safe travels!! Love and miss you all!