The Church in the Dump

The Church in the Dump

Hi everyone! It has only been a week since we last connected, but I am so wowed by how much God has done just since Monday.

It has been surprisingly smooth settling into our new routine here at the Connections House, and I truly have to attribute that to the sovereignty of the Lord for bringing this specific group of students and leadership together. Every conversation and connection during meals, class time, and outreaches has been such a blessing.

We wasted no time jumping into the Word and fellowship this week. Between our class with Pastor Trent about the purpose of the church, good food, nights of worship and intercession, and engaging with the community through outreaches, our schedules have been practically bursting at the seams. Even half awake, staring at our Bibles and each other with tired eyes, I can truly say that every moment has been such an impactful blessing.

Class with Pastor Trent!

A fellow believer named Silvano we met at a park outreach

I want to share one specific encounter with you all from our first outreach last Tuesday. About a 20 minute drive from where we are staying in Rosarito, there is a dump heaped with garbage and scraps and a number of things I couldn’t name. A whole community of people live in this dump surviving off of what they find there and the generosity of people like Pastor Eddie from Calvary Chapel Homex, who we partnered with that day. Some living there were people trying to disappear for one reason or another, and because of this we were discouraged from taking pictures of the living situations and the people. The dump offers very low paying jobs that draw others in but ultimately leaves them trapped in their situation. There is a variety of people there, and regardless of their stories, it was a weary and broken spirited community.

A portion of the dump down the hillside. The community we spoke to is behind this picture but covered in structures made from trash as well
Listening to their story
Praying over Martha and her husband

Pastor Eddie has established a small church there that consists of a wooden structure to block the sun and a few benches he sets up every week. Our team joined his group for their weekly church service and stayed to pass out food and talk to the people.

I met an older woman named Martha and her husband (whose name I never pronounced right so I wont even try haha!) and listened as Martha told their story while one of the girls in our group translated it into English. She told us how they had come because of a work opportunity to sort through the trash and find metals like copper to use. After just 1-2 weeks there, most of her teeth had fallen out and she developed rashes on her arms from the conditons. She described the hardships of being hungry all the time and not knowing where their food would come from unless Pastor Eddie and his team came to feed them. She surprised me when she quoted Matthew 4:4 with us. It says, “…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” She told us that she holds onto that verse and she trusts that God is enough for her and He will provide. I got to pray for her and her husband afterwards. Even though we were there to share the Gospel and encourage the believers there, I walked away so convicted and encouraged by Martha’s faith and trust in the Lord and His Word. Her story is one of many in the dump, most filled with less hope, so please join me in praying for the community there because God is doing a work.

We have had several other outreaches this week that I have included pictures of and if you would like to hear more details about those specifically, I would love to share with you personally over text or email!

Once again I want to say I am so thankful for all of you who have supported me financially, in prayer, and by sending me messages and responding to my newsletters. It’s such a blessing to feel connected to you all as well as connect you to the work and experiences here that wouldn’t be possible without you. God is so good and so faithful and I pray that stories like these encourage you in what He is doing globally and what is possible for each one of us personally as we are obedient to Him.

God has been providing for my tuition steadily and I am so grateful to every person who gave. I still have about $1,230 left for the whole program. If you feel lead to support me financially please press the Give button below. Thank you!

Prayer requests:

Continued health for the whole team

Continued unity and team bonding

Encouragement and sustenance for Martha and her husband

Provision and salvation for the individuals living in the dump, as well as Pastor Eddie and his faithful ministry to that community

God’s continued work during our time here

Love you all,

Jadyn

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