Grandfather and Grandson in the barrio of Los Pomos
On Thursday I was able to get a glimpse of a real and incredible aspect of T.E.A.R.S.- to gain insight into what’s going on in the barrio of Los Pomos. Bautista and Fe are part of the T.E.A.R.S. Church Planting Team and- along with Danny, Sandy, and Tracy- are visiting six families who, after a recent evangelistic campaign, requested prayer and support. These disciples are going house to house and sharing the book of John with the people, leading enriching lessons about the truth of Jesus and, through God’s grace, impacting hearts.
Before my visit to this new community, Bau and I were hanging out at his place, discussing the ministry and future dreams. I noted that if every Christian were currently engaged with so many families, the world would look a lot different. He added that, even if every believer in the El Camino Church went so far, the community would be utterly transformed.
One concern of Bau’s has been providing for people in a full way, as Jesus did: spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. He mentioned that many people they see are suffering from hunger and often have not eaten all day. It is difficult to take the time to sit down and share because mere nourishment, for many, is a struggle. In Maria Auxiliadora as well, there are countless children who eat next-to-nothing all day- perhaps a small amount of food in the night. When Jesus shared he preached truth and fulfilled needs. This is Bau’s vision: an all-encompassing invasion of God’s Kingdom in this neighborhood.
Bau enlightened me to the realities of two particular friends who he really has a heart for: Diego and Airina. Diego is a young guy who is caught up in a cycle of drug use and robbery. He wants to change and is searching for the means to do so. Before he can overcome these problems, he needs to encounter something overwhelmingly more satisfying, someone transcendent: Jesus. It is the wonderful, existential fulfillment of the gospel that will turn him away from futile addictions and toward a true savior. Everyone knows him and jokes about how he will never change. This, Bau says, creates the potential for a powerful testimony. With Christ there is always hope- that’s the beauty of all this.
Airina and her son
Airina is an older woman with a story of profound troubles. She formerly practiced sorcery and is still desperate to break free of real spiritual barriers and torments- the remnants of a fearful past. Her sleep is constantly haunted by demons, she says, and she can’t overcome this on her own. She has given birth to sixteen sons, five of whom have died, and suffered an injury in one eye when a nail struck her. She now has only one eye, and also wrestles greatly with alcohol abuse. The greatest fight, however, is between her new desire to seek God and live for Christ, and the temptation to return to her old ways. It is Bau’s prayer- as Airina reads the first chapter of John this week- that a light would pierce the darkness within her: that Jesus’ overpowering grace and truth would give her life and set her free from the evils that keep her bound.
Be sure to remember these two in your prayers as well, along with the community of Los Pomos and our Church Planting Team, who are influencing many with the hope of Jesus and bringing glory to God, the source of all love and transformation.
This entry was posted on Sunday, October 28th, 2007 at 10:19 am and is filed under Missionary's View. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Leave a Reply