Dumps, Ice Cream & Acts 1:8
Hi friends and family,
I’m so excited to share what I have been experiencing at the Calvary School of Missions this week!
We turned the corner, and the van full of people fell silent. We took in the scene in front of us: dry, brown hills and, on one of them, a garbage dump. It wasn’t the dump that caught our attention; it was the people searching through it and the shacks built out of doors and pallets. We saw rats the size of cats running in and out of these people’s homes.
At one end of the dump, we saw a small roof- a Calvary Chapel! Pastor Eddie from Calvary Chapel Homex has faithfully been serving in the dump ministry for 7 years. It reminded me so much of Jesus in the Gospels- with tax collectors, prostitutes, and Samaritans- the most unlikely people Jesus chose to minister to. Likewise, Pastor Eddie faithfully leads a church service in this dump and brings them water every week.
We also had the opportunity to do our first park outreach. While handing out invitations in the park, we heard the ringing of an ice cream cart bell being pushed by an older man. Our leader suggested buying ice cream (definitely part of the mission, okay?) and we used it as an opportunity to start a conversation with him.
As we sat down to share with him, he began to share that he was actually a believer. He told us that he had previously been involved in taking people across the border. He was eventually caught and faced a 20-year prison sentence. While in jail, the Lord completely changed his life. He was released early and now serves with a rehab program.
So sweet, no pun intended, we came expecting to serve him. Instead, we were the ones encouraged by his strong testimony.
We were also able to meet a few missionaries from Southeast Asia. Many of these countries have anti-conversion laws. It is so inspiring to meet people who are fulfilling the Great Commission and reaching places where the name of Jesus has never been heard. My eyes were definitely opened when I learned that there are currently around 7,162 unreached people groups in the world still waiting to hear the name of Jesus for the very first time.
Please pray that God will raise up many to go into His harvest and share the hope of the gospel.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
Please pray for:
Continued health among our group.
God to prepare the hearts of the people we will share the Gospel with in the coming week.
Unity in our group as we live in close quarters and travel to different areas.
Pastor Eddie and his dump ministry.
Love you all,
Abigail
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