Hello family and friends!
1Peter 5:8-9 (NLT) Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
I wanted to start off with this scripture because the first three days I got here, I wanted to go back home. Spiritual warfare was very intense. One of my teachers from CBI, who is a pastor and counselor, gave me tools to defeat the lies of the enemy and I was very encouraged. I was also encouraged by a family member who gave me this scripture. I was reminded that I’m not alone. There are numerous believers fighting spiritual battles. The enemy doesn’t want the body of Christ to win and be for God’s kingdom. I’m a threat to the enemy and that’s so awesome! I’m walking in God’s will, I want to bring the gospel to the unreached and the enemy will do anything to prevent me from doing so. But God and His mighty power makes me FIERCE for His gospel. I am getting equipped to do what God is calling me to do.
Last week, we went to a dump to do outreach. This was my first time ever doing an outreach so I had no idea what to expect. When we got there, to find people to come and hear God’s word in a tent that was set up with chairs, we split into two groups. I went with the director who runs this ministry and we went fully into the depths where the trash gets dumped. As we got there seeing the people, and smelling the place, gave me a picture of Jesus. Jesus traveled to places to meet the broken-hearted, the outcast, and the forgotten. He went to places where no one else would go. I am now I’m following His example. I can’t deny it’s hard, but His Holy Spirit gives me the strength to do it. When we got back to the tent there were a few people there and we worshiped, heard God’s word and I shared my testimony. I was blown away at the number of people who live in the dump and the lifestyle they’ve chosen to live. What’s awesome about coming to God’s people is that they have people like us, believers. Believers who have the love of Christ and want to love on them, serve them and bring them the gospel.
This upcoming week, we will be going to Calvary Playas. I will be serving. I will be translating the message to kids between the ages of 11-18. Please be praying for God to give me confidence because it will be my first time doing something like that. If there is any way I can be praying for you please reach out to me.
God bless you,
Araceli
