When a closed heart opens up - salvation and off the streets

Backstory

We met Greta for the first time about 1.5 years ago. The first couple of times we met her she would usually be very angry and shout. Sometimes she would say very offensive things and not want anyone to talk to her. Every time we saw her, we would still say hi. From time to time, we would try to chat a little. Throughout time we were able to build up trust, and she started being more open and friendlier in her own way. 

Pain that led to unforgiveness

In our conversations, Greta often shared about her painful past experiences. It was very clear that Greta feels a strong anger towards some particular people in her life. Her painful experiences led her to hold grudges. She shared how she has strong unforgiveness towards a handful of people. The unforgiveness she was experiencing was affecting her in a very apparent way. 

Sowing seeds

In this past year, we saw her multiple times, and we were able to share about the love that Jesus has for her. We shared with her what it means to follow God and to give our lives to Him. Up until that point, she did not want to pray together. She said that she does not want to surrender her life to Jesus. The next couple of times we saw her, we often continued sowing seeds and sharing about the love of Jesus. 

When things began to change

A few months later we saw Greta again, and we went to greet her. She seemed excited and immediately began talking about life. We shared how great it is to see her again, and we asked how she was doing. She shared a little bit. From there, we asked if we can pray together. She said yes. We were very surprised since she doesn’t just say yes. We thought to ourselves thank you Jesus for opening her heart. 

We then shared the gospel with her again. We also shared again why Jesus came, what he did for us, and how she can receive the gift of salvation in Jesus. After praying, we asked her if she wants to put her trust in Jesus and make Him her Savior. 

When everything changes

Greta made the most important decision of her life. She said with confidence yes, I need a Savior. We then prayed together, and she called upon the name of the Lord to save her. God was moving in her heart and made her aware that she needs Jesus. It was so beautiful that after many times sharing about Jesus with her, she now wanted to make Him her Savior and follow Him. Sowing is always worth it for God draws hearts to Himself. She was always only one response away to find Salvation in Jesus. 

From lost to found

That day, Greta decided to make Jesus the King of her life, and her life will never be the same. A little bit later that day, we came back to her and brought her a Bible. We asked her to read out of Matthew 5 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” We shared with her that when we are poor in spirit and know our need for God, we can be a part of God’s kingdom. The only way we can get into the kingdom of heaven is by knowing that we need Jesus to save us. That is what she did that day. God also says that blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. When we mourn over our wickedness and sin, we can receive comfort through the blood and forgiveness of Jesus who comforts us. That day, Greta saw that she fell short of the glory of God, and she turned to Jesus knowing her need for him. 

From unforgiveness to forgiveness

After talking about the importance of forgiveness, Greta was willing to forgive all those that hurt her in her past. Since she herself received forgiveness from Christ, she was able to wholeheartedly forgive those that did her wrong. She was willing to forgive them because she also received forgiveness from our great God! What a beautiful day! We encouraged her in taking the next steps in her walk with God.

Off the streets

This month, we saw Greta again. This was about 1.5 months after Greta surrendered her life to Jesus. She was standing at the corner of a street. She looked so different in a positive way that we had to look twice to make sure it was her. We then hugged her and asked her how she is doing. She said how she often thinks about the last time when she prayed to Jesus and when we read the Bible together. Greta shared that after we met last time, she had the strength to take the step, and she got into a housing project. There she has a shared room and a ceiling over her head. We celebrated the work of the Holy Spirit inside of her. God does give us the strength and grace to take steps and move forward. 

While we were talking her phone began to ring. She picked it up, and she told the person on the line that she is right now with the people that prayed for her to get off the streets and find housing. After she hung up the phone, she explained to us that the person who called is responsible for her case, and they are about to meet. She said how thankful she is to not be on the streets anymore and that she can be in the housing project. Full of excitement she also said how she just got matched with a place in a neighboring city so that she can get her own apartment. She said how crazy it is that it literally happened and that she can’t wait. We were so excited about God’s work in her life. We kept on talking with her about how amazing it is what God is doing since she surrendered her life to Him. She said that she remembers so well when we prayed together on a street further back, and how thankful she is to have Jesus now. At that moment the case worker came to plan everything about her move to the apartment. We praise God for giving Greta a fresh start and for the work of the Holy Spirit inside of her!

Recap

Isn’t it so very encouraging to see the Lord’s work in her life throughout the months. What a patient and kind God we have! God also challenges us to grow and at the same time He is so very patient. May we all celebrate God’s goodness and His patience in this journey of life with Him. (March, 2023)

500 blankets with a message

The focus of our mission is on relationships, individuals encountering God, and individuals experiencing life transformation. At the same time though, for the beginning months of this year we wanted to include this 500 blankets project. Thanks to our mission partners, we are able to provide 500 blankets to individuals experiencing homelessness. 

The message that was on our hearts for this project is Psalm 91. When we talk with individuals, we get to know them, share the gospel, and pray with them. We ask them if they would also like to receive a gift and hear something about it. Whenever they say yes, we take a blanket out of our bag and hand it to them. We share that on this earth we can have only a little bit of comfort with earthly things but they all fade away like this blanket. But God promised us that those who believe in Him will be under the shadow of his wings which is so much larger and greater than a blanket around us. When we put our faith in Jesus and follow him, we say yes to a life with and for him. This doesn’t mean that everything is easier, but we have the promise to have eternal comfort in Jesus. This eternal comfort is that even when we go from this earth, we will be in communion with God. How great is the price Jesus paid for us. How great the love He has shown, so that we can be found in Him.

Giving the blankets out and the conversations through that is another relationship-building point. Many shared how helpful it is to wrap these blankets around them and give some warmth. Or to put them on the ground as they were sleeping on the cold pavement while the temperatures dropped at night. 

There have already been some really touching moments through giving out blankets that God used to open up and reach hearts. Isn’t it so beautiful that God can move through the simple things. We are so very thankful for each story and each seed that was sown this month. (January, 2023)

the tangible presence of god

We met a woman named Sandra. She was sitting on the ground cleaning some clothes. While we were a few sentences into our conversation, Sandra said that when we came to her, she felt such a good good good energy. We said that what she sensed regarding good energy was actually the presence of God. We also shared that we believe God wants to reveal Himself to her, and we shared that we believe that is why she felt that. 

At this point, Sandra started sharing about a near-death experience she had in the past. She said that she heard of multiple people seeing a light, but what she saw during her out-of-body near-death experience was something completely different. Sandra recalled that she saw pitch black, and what she saw was terrible. Sandra clarified that she believes that she saw hell. She said that it was a place with no god, and it was the most terrifying place.

We then shared the gospel with her. We also shared that the Bible says that the only way to heaven is through Jesus, as He is the only way to the Father. We shared about the Holy Spirit that fills us when we receive Jesus as our Savior and He marks us as sons and daughters of God. What we were sharing connected with Sandra. She said that it felt so good to talk about it, and our conversation helped her process her past near-death experience. She said that she will spend some time thinking about what we shared regarding the gospel and how to come into fellowship with God. She said it was so crazy how she felt such good energy when we came and that this led to this very personal conversation. 

Some Thoughts

Isn’t it amazing how God revealed his presence to Sandra so that He could reveal Himself to her? Sandra then shared her very vulnerable near-death experience that she has only talked about a few times in her life. On top of that, God made sure that Sandra could hear about the most amazing story in history, which is the gospel. Jesus came to give life and life abundantly, and through Him, we can have eternal life in Him. We are excited about what God has in store for Sandra. He is the Shepherd that goes after each of His sheep. (September, 2022)

Baptism of the Holy Spirit & Partial healing

We met a man named Russell. He shared with us that he has been living on the streets for multiple years. Soon after, he shared that he has strong pain in his leg. He said it hurts so much that sometimes it’s hard to bear. Also, he shared that he has limited mobility in his leg. For example, he is not able to bend it. We asked if we could pray together for Jesus to heal it, and he said yes. After the prayer, Russell tried moving his leg. He was shocked that now he was supernaturally able to bend his leg. He kept on testing it out, and he said it is more than 50% better. Russell was so excited that he experienced his first partial healing. 

At this point, he shared with us that he gave his life to the Lord as a child. Russel said that he remembers hearing that God heals people’s bodies, but he never saw it happen until today. He was so excited to witness his first healing (in his case partial) on his own leg. He was also so thankful that the pain decreased as well. He said it went down a whole lot. One could have thought his leg was fully healed by how excited and how much emotion he showed. We explained to him how as we thank the Lord for what He has already done, it encourages us to believe and receive the 100%. 

While we prayed a prayer of thanksgiving to God, something amazing happened. Russell received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Russell later said that he felt a fire go through his entire body, and he received the gifts of the spirit. For example, he started speaking in tongues for the first time in his life. He was so moved by God. Later, he shared how encouraging this is because he used to pray for the gifts of the Spirit, and now he was able to receive them freely as a gift from the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord!  (July, 2022)

hope that changes our perspective

Each time someone receives Jesus as their Lord and Savior is a day of celebration. Whenever we see them again we chat together, ask them how they are doing, listen to what challenges they are facing, spend time praying, and read the Scriptures. One prayer of ours is that each healing and salvation would lead to a life in the fullness that God has for each individual. Sometimes we can see the transformation right away. Other times, the transformation takes place through a process. One example of this is J. When we first met him a while ago, he experienced a lot of anger, but God touched his heart by completely healing his body pain. From that moment on, he was much more open to the gospel, and sometime later, when we saw him again, he dedicated his life to Jesus. He was able to let go of anger and he took large steps in the faith. 

One thing that he didn’t have hope for, at that time, and didn’t want to take steps in was to get into housing. In our past couple of conversations, we would pray together, and we also prayed for him to have hope for his future. We prayed that he would be able to get housing although this wasn't something he was looking for. 

We didn’t see him for about a month, but we just saw him again three weeks ago. We spent time together, and, in the middle of our conversation, he said that he wanted to let us know that he took the step and is now on the housing list. This was such a big deal for him. Over 10 years he was not interested in getting off the streets because he said he didn’t have hope, but now through the transformation that he experienced in God he is ready to get off the streets because for the first time he is now on a housing list. 

We celebrated with him that he made a step in faith and applied for housing. Stories like these are so encouraging for us. Oftentimes the world wants to change things on the outside, but God’s kingdom always brings change from the inside out. When we give God space to form our hearts and thinking, we are giving him space to transform us from the inside out. This inner work of God will also form a desire in us to take steps where we get to see visible and outward change as well. We want to value the work that God does in the hearts of individuals over time. We know that he is the One that gives the grace to live more and more in His fullness.  (July, 2022)

Treasure the Supernatural Moments

In a certain area of town that we often go through on our scooters, there are many gang members, drug dealers, and individuals involved in criminal activities. Numerous times we see drug overdoses. Every once in a while some ambulances zoom by us to help individuals that have passed out in the middle of the street, in a parking lot, or on the sidewalk. Sometimes when they are called too late, then they take the individuals with them. 

At the same time, we have experienced God move in supernatural ways that we treasure greatly and that we are so grateful for. One example of this is the story of Lake. We saw him passed out on the street. He was laying on the ground unable to move. He was experiencing a drug overdose. As we prayed for him, he started to move his body, sat upright, and stood up. He smiled, laughed, and he was so encouraged by what he just experienced. He shared with us that not only did the pain caused by the overdose leave his body, but he went from being unable to move to being able to sit up and walk. 

This is just one example of the supernatural moments that we hold as beautiful treasures while we walk through the streets. God can heal someone from an overdose. God can free individuals supernaturally from addictions. God can heal pain in an instance. There is nothing that God can’t do. (May 2022)

ENCOUNTER WITH GOD

We met a man named Gregory. He shared with us that he was struggling with depression. He said that he is not able to take his medication because of the negative side effects. We asked him if we would pray together, do you think you would be able to notice a difference or do you think it is something that you would notice over time? Gregory said that he still remembers how it felt before he had depression. He also shared that he thinks he would be able to notice a difference because the depression he feels is so strong. He elaborated by saying that since his depression constantly affects him, he would be able to tell if something changed. 

During the prayer, we spoke the truth of who God is. We also spoke about what God thinks about him while sharing the gospel. We prayed for numerous minutes together. After the prayer, we asked him how do you feel? 

Kevin said you won’t believe this, but at this very moment, I can feel a tangible difference. He said I wasn’t expecting this, but I feel so good right now. He continued explaining himself, and he then said I mean I feel so good, I mean I feel completely different. 

God touched Gregory in a tangible way that made him feel like he was a different man. We and Gregory could testify of God’s supernatural power that was at work in our midst. He felt so tangibly different that he kept repeating himself just in awe of what was happening. God is so good, and his ways are higher than our ways. We pray that this encounter will not only lead to a life free of depression in all the coming decades, but we also pray that Gregory would get to know Jesus as his personal Savior.

Each and every encounter with God is so valuable. It lets us taste more of all that is available in Him. When the world says that we just have to survive, God invites us to overcome. No matter what is standing there, He is the one pouring out a grace that enables us to conquer mountains. We pray that no matter what you are sensing in this season, you would feel the tangible presence of God and His great grace in this walk with Him. (April 2022)

OUTREACH & A SPECIAL STORY

Backstory: 

A week before the outreach, we were thinking about where to meet with one of the groups. Naomi kept on seeing this very specific parking lot in her inner eye. We have never parked at that parking lot before. Also, we have never had that parking lot as our meeting place for an outreach. Every time we talked about it Naomi kept on seeing the middle of that parking lot for some reason. So, we decided to make that the meeting place for the group. Little did we know what God wanted to do in that exact spot until later. 

The Sunday before the outreach, Naomi had a conversation with someone from church. The woman shared how her granddaughter ran away from home, and that she must be somewhere out on the streets of San Diego. On our drive home, we prayed and prayed for God to bring the granddaughter home because we know that God’s heart is for each one to come home and be found by Him.

It was Tuesday morning, and we were driving to the outreach. We prayed in the car “Lord bring the prodigals home.” After we prayed for a bit, we talked about how crazy it is that individuals on the streets are sometimes a son and a daughter of parents who are praying for them. We asked God to do the impossible.

Pre-Outreach: 

Right after our pre-outreach huddle around 10 am, all the groups spread out across an area of downtown San Diego. Jess and two students walked to the middle of the parking lot where the ticket station was. There they met a mother. This precious woman had been looking for her son out on the streets of downtown San Diego every day since December. He ran away from home, and he had been living out on the streets, but he was nowhere to be found. She said that she has been trying to find him for the past three months with no success. She shared how she prayed for him every day and searched everywhere. They prayed together with her that God would bring him home. 

Post-Outreach:

During our post outreach huddle just a few hours later around 4 pm, this same woman drives into the parking lot, walks out of the car, with tears running down her face she immediately hugged Jess while saying she found her son. Everyone in the group was completely in awe of what was just unfolding before our eyes. The mother shared about what happened. She then went to her van, opened the door, and her son stepped out of the car. 

Unpacking the Testimony: 

There is so much to unpack about this incredible testimony. So many dimensions that are so touching. The mother who prayed and searched every day for her son. The group that prayed with her in the middle of the parking lot. God who spoke to Naomi a week before and showed her the exact spot where He would move in the life of what we found out was the precious mother who would in turn find her son. God is so much bigger than we can imagine. He is so much greater than anyone can fathom.

The Son: 

In one way, everyone was still processing what just happened. The mother was still in shock at how God supernaturally answered her prayer. The son was in shock at how he was the answered prayer. The group was in shock at how God just moved. Just a few minutes before, the son was one of the thousands who lived on the streets. Now he was standing in the middle of a group. He was an answered prayer. A miracle.

We had a wonderful time where we all prayed for the son. During this time, heaven was so tangible. Everyone felt God so closely. It truly felt like God’s Presence was all around us. It was the beginning of a new season for this son. God was anointing him in such a special way. The Presence of God was there in a way that sealed a revelation of his identity as a son of God. There was a spirit of impartation there. We as a group spoke over the son’s life, calling, and destiny. The enemy tries to steal, kill, and destroy, but God is the one who gives life and life abundantly. 

Prophetic Message: 

Not only was God moving in the life of the mother, the son, and the group. God was saying something over the city and the nations. He will bring the prodigals home. He will do the impossible. He is the Father who stands with open arms. 

For Those Praying for Your Children: 

God wants to bring your child home. God stands with open arms bringing in those that belong to Him. Continue praying. Don’t give up. Stand steadfast. Press Forward. And let God be God. He will do the impossible. (March 2022)

500 SOCKS, TENTS & BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

Dream From 2 Years Ago: 

Last month we were reminded about a dream from two years ago (thank God for dreams and thank God for Holy Spirit reminders). Interestingly this was also before we even launched embrace ministries. Below is a short summary of what occurred in the dream: 

"There were a couple of individuals that lived on the streets. The individuals had really hurt hearts, and they were not friendly to us at all. Many were involved in criminal activity, and they were very dangerous. Then, we felt that we were supposed to go buy socks which we then did. Through the socks, God started to move on the hearts in a way where many repented and gave their lives to the Lord."

This Month

Through a reminder of this dream, we felt like we were supposed to give out 500 socks throughout this month. With each sock and tent, there were conversations held and often prayers, encouraging words, and hugs that were given. 

The focus of our mission is on relationships, individuals encountering God, and individuals experiencing life transformation. At the same time though, this month we wanted to include this project. Thanks to our mission partners and to those that gave specifically for supplies (thank you JC San Diego), we were able to provide over 500 thermal socks and 30 two-person tents.  

Giving the socks out and the conversations we had is another relationship-building point. Although some have socks (some are barefoot, as well), many shared their excitement of finally having a pair of thermal socks. Many others shared how helpful they were as they were sleeping on the cold pavement while the temperatures dropped at night. For those that asked for tents that we personally know, they were so encouraged because many tents are stolen on a regular basis. 

There were some really touching moments through giving out socks that God used to open and reach hearts. Isn’t it so beautiful that God can move through the smallest things? We are so very thankful for each story this month and each seed that was sown. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us! (February 2022)

AN ENCOUNTER DRAWS HEARTS TO HIM

We were talking to Jacin, whom we haven’t seen for a while. While we were chatting, we noticed that Jacin’s friend was paying close attention to our conversation. We asked the interested observer what his name was, and he said in a high-pitched voice, Kenneth. When Kenneth chatted with us, we could sense how hopeless he felt about life due to the pain of past experiences. He seemed restless and stressed at the same time.

We were able to pray together, and we took our time praying. After a while, we asked Kenneth if he felt anything. He said that he felt an incredible peace come over him and how he can still feel it so strong. Kenneth shared that this is so touching for him because he gave up praying a long time ago. He said now that he experienced this he wants to start praying again.

Having an encounter with God’s peace is something powerful and significant. When the peace of God comes over us, the perspective we have of our circumstances changes. Suddenly the large mountains in front of Kenneth became small. The impossibilities became something that was possible through God. He no longer felt stressed and restless because he felt Someone greater than his circumstances. Kenneth shared that this incredible peace came over him and this peace is also something God wants to fill us with day by day. 

Although he gave up on God in the past, God did not give up on Kenneth. God was revealing His peace to Kenneth because He wants him to know that He is searching for him. Kenneth was left with a desire to learn more about God. The experience he had with the peace of God reawakened his awareness of his need for God. God longs to touch the deepest places of our hearts. He wants to fill them all with His wonderful truths. This encourages us to give God room to show us more of Him. (January 2022)

GOD LIFTING OFF HEAVINESS

We saw Lola for the first time this month. She shared with us that she moves around a lot throughout the different streets in the downtown area. We found out throughout our conversation that we still had quite a few mutual friends that built a bit of trust throughout our short little chat. A few minutes into our conversation, Lola began sharing some heavy things that were on her mind. She was talking about how down she has been feeling. She was full of sadness due to the things that were weighing on her shoulders.

After a very vulnerable conversation, we asked if we could pray together for God to touch her heart and comfort her. Before she even responded with a word, Lola bowed her head, closed her eyes, and put her hand out to indicate that she was ready to pray together. 

While praying, we could sense that God was doing something, and her heart was so tender before the Lord. We never said the word joy during the prayer, but that was definitely what we felt God was releasing over her. 

Afterward, we asked Lola if she felt anything while we were praying. Lola looked into our eyes and shared that she felt such joy. While we continued talking, she was smiling, laughing about things, and her demeanor became playful. We noticed that such a heaviness fell off her as she encountered His joy. 

Although Lola does not yet have a personal relationship with Jesus, we believe that Lola was blessed with a glimpse of the joy that is available to her through Christ. The joy of the Lord breaks the hold of depression. It surpasses all understanding. It is a lightness that is supernatural for it is way deeper than any emotion. His joy lifts off any and all heaviness and brings a light joke. We pray that this encounter with the joy of the Lord would woe Lola into one day having a relationship with Jesus where she can have access to the joy that is only received and maintained through Him. (December 2021)

HAIRCUTS THAT MADE INDIVIDUALS FEEL CARED FOR

Although our focus on the streets is to build friendship and through this meet individuals where they are in their walks with the Lord, Naomi and I wanted to create an opportunity for some of the individuals to feel loved. We partnered with our friend Nicolas, who is a licensed barber, to bless individuals with a clean and handsome haircut. He did an amazing job. 

The response was touching, and we could tell that providing haircuts was such a beautiful way of showing love. We are so thankful for all the amazing conversations and feedback that we received. A common theme during that afternoon was that we have a loving Father that wants to love on us. All we are to do is to take a seat in His chair and receive what He wants to bless us with. Our heavenly Father is much more interested in our heart than our appearance, and He is much more interested in showing us who He is than something we can give Him. (November 2021)

OFF THE STREETS 

3 PRAYERS & 3 MIRACLES THAT SHOW HOW GOD CARES

First Prayer & Miracle

At the beginning of the year, we shared a story about Leslie (this photo was from back then). The first time we met her she said that she was so surprised that someone would talk to her. She shared with us her story, and in the end, we asked if we could pray together. She said that we can, but she doesn’t believe that anything would happen. During our first prayer, God touched her heart in a way that resulted in her crying. When we asked her if she felt anything during the prayer, Leslie shared that she felt a warmth in her heart that was difficult for her to describe. She told us that she wants to process and reflect on what she experienced. Although Leslie didn’t believe anything would happen during prayer, she experienced God in a way that she could not yet describe. 

Second Prayer & Miracle

The second time we prayed with Leslie was multiple weeks later. We didn’t share this part of the testimony in our newsletter from the beginning of the year. Leslie shared with us that she had pain in her hand. Summarized, God completely healed Leslie’s hand that day. Although the Lord was touching her, Leslie shared (before and after the prayer) that she feels a strong hurt towards God. During prayer, God encountered Leslie in a way that led to healing in her hand! God is so good! Although the hurt she felt towards God was still very present and very much affecting her relationship with God, our loving Father answered the prayers and showed how eager He is to reveal Himself to Her. 

Third Prayer and Miracle 

The third time we prayed with Leslie was a good month ago. When we saw her, she seemed to be exceptionally sad. She shared with us that her dog was stolen. This was a very painful experience for her since her dog was her closest friend. We spent time with her, and we tried our best to comfort her and be there for her. Before we left, we asked if we could pray together. She said yes, we could pray, but she feels so disappointed and angry towards God. She shared with us how God took the dog away because He doesn’t care about her. She said that this is exactly why she does not believe that God wants the best for her. We tried to share what God thinks about her and how different God’s ways are from ours. During the third prayer, God was trying to reveal to Leslie something that would one day change the course of her life. In the middle of the prayer, Naomi looked at Leslie, their eyes met, and Naomi shared something that she felt God was highlighting to her. 

Naomi said that God will give you a new dog, you will get into housing very soon, and this will show you that God cares for you. After the prayer, Naomi wasn’t met with a welcoming reaction. Instead, Leslie was vocal about wanting her old dog as opposed to wanting a new dog. Leslie also shared that she has given up any hope of housing since she has tried for multiple years with no success. 

But God had a different plan for Leslie. Just this month, we were on our razor scooters in an area of town where we had never seen Leslie. While we were scooting along, we saw Leslie from a distance with a new dog. Leslie greeted us with a large smile and a hug. She shared that she was given this cute dog about three weeks ago. She was so excited. This new dog looks very similar to her old dog, but the dog is better trained, looks healthier, and is much friendlier. 

On top of that, Leslie shared that she got into long-term housing two weeks ago and is now off the streets. For years she has been trying to get into either short-term or long-term housing with no success. She said that she was on a waiting list in numerous places and that she had completely given up hope, but now she has a home.

We were both so filled with joy to hear the amazing news! Naomi asked Leslie, do you know what this means. Leslie looked at us with a large smile remembering what God said to Leslie through the impression that the new dog and housing will show her that God cares for her. 

Through three prayers, God revealed Himself to Leslie as the God who cares. During the first prayer, God touched Leslie with what she described as warmth in her heart to show her that He cares for her. During the second prayer, God healed Leslie’s hand to show her that He cares for her. During the third prayer, we felt God speaking about a new dog and about housing. Just some weeks after this prayer, God blessed Leslie with a new dog, and He blessed Leslie with long-term housing. What an incredible God we have. He shows us that He cares and even in pain, He can meet us right where we are. 

After Leslie shared with us this amazing news, we asked her if she would be open to reading the bible together. She said that she would love to. The revelation that God cares for us opens hearts to want to know their heavenly Father. 

As we talked about the testimony together, we asked ourselves some of the following questions: What area(s) in our lives do we not expect God to bring breakthrough(s)? What part(s) of our hearts do we feel like God does not care about? What disappointment(s) do we have from past experiences that God wants to release healing to? In what part(s) of our lives can we receive a fresh outpouring or revelation of hope? We love that God uses these stories and testimonies to encourage us in our personal walks with Him. We are to let God search our hearts so that we can be transformed more into His image and likeness. 

Leslie said that she does not believe that anything would happen if we prayed together, but then God touched her with a warmth in her heart. Leslie shared that she feels hurt by God, but God still healed her hand. Leslie believed that God took the dog away because He doesn’t care about her, but God blessed her with a new dog. Leslie gave up hope for housing let alone long-term housing, but God provided long-term housing for her. 

God cares for you, and His plans for you are amazing! His plans are often different than ours. Still, He is our good father, and He is wanting to reveal Himself to each of us personally. He cares about you more than you’ll ever know, and His desire is for you to know His heart most intimately. (November, 2o21)

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

Building relationships is very important. Listening to the individual’s stories, getting to know their hearts, and encouraging them in the process are all major parts of our day. Often through building relationships, individuals start asking us questions. Through this, we often have amazing opportunities to speak into their lives. Through building relationships, we are also building trust. It takes time to build trust. It takes vulnerability. It takes a risk, but it is worth it. As this is true in our own personal lives, this is also the case for those that live on the streets. God uses relationships to reveal to us more about His heart.  

WHEN CARING MEANS THE WORLD

When walking downtown we saw Karen who we have met and talked to a couple of times. She usually shares a little bit about her life, but most of the time she seems a little bit hesitant. When saying hi to her this time, she seemed really sad. We asked if there is something that weighs heavy on her. She then shared that it is her birthday. Karen said with sad-looking eyes how disappointed and lonely she feels that no one is celebrating her birthday or singing for her. We took time to listen, and we tried our best to comfort her as we spent time with her.   

After saying goodbye, we then decided to go buy bright pink flowers and delicious ice cream to celebrate her birthday. We came back, and we sang the happy birthday song as passionately as we could. She looked out of her tent with tears rolling down her face. She was so surprised. We saw a soft and warm smile while she thanked us from the bottom of her heart. We could tell that this meant the world to her. 

CELEBRATING

Stories like this show us how important it is to take time to listen to what is on someone’s heart. Sometimes something small can mean the world to an individual who lives on the streets. Hearing someone’s heart can help an individual feel seen and known. We have a God who celebrates all of us, not just on our birthdays but each and every day. Our Father is full of delight, and He celebrates the lives He created!

For individuals on the streets, birthdays, past anniversary dates, and holidays are among some of the most difficult days of the year. They are days that often bring back very painful memories or sadness of their current life circumstances. 

We often try our best to dedicate time to celebrating individuals on their birthdays. Many if not most individuals living on the streets are in one of the most difficult seasons of their lives. Having a day where they are celebrated, is more than just a positive experience. It shows them that they are worthy of love. (September 2021)

WORSHIP

Worship is a major part of what we do downtown. Whenever we can, we sing songs with individuals who live on the streets. We do this with those that know the Lord and with those that do not yet have a personal relationship with the Lord. Either way, it is something that we look forward to and where we also personally experience a special time of worship.

When we sing worship songs with those that do not yet know the Lord, we often have significant conversations about our faith afterward. We have heard some giving us feedback that they experienced goosebumps or that they felt a positive emotion while we were singing. Sure, songs carry emotions, but we love that those experiences often open hearts to hear who Jesus is and what He did on our behalf. 

We believe that God moves and touches hearts through His Presence. When we worship God, we also invite Him in a truly special way. It can have a lasting impact for just one touch can change our lives forever. We have seen God’s Presence move hearts during our worship times and raise questions about who Jesus is. Questions are powerful especially when we bring them before the Lord with an open heart. We are so excited for all that the Lord will continue to do. (August 2021)

GOD SAVES LIVES

We were walking on a certain street looking for someone that we haven’t seen in a while. We knew that he is often on the sidewalk nearby. On this street, it is very common to see individuals taking all sorts of various illegal drugs. 

As we were walking through, an individual, who is experiencing homelessness, was shouting at the top of his lungs for help. There were homeless individuals around, and most were just sitting calmly as if it was a regular occurrence. We quickly went there, and we noticed that his friend was experiencing an overdose. The man who was there noticed that he no longer had a pulse. The individual laying on the ground had already turned blue when the friend began to do CPR, and we were there in case he wanted to switch. It was an unexpected crisis situation. While he was doing CPR, we stayed with him and prayed with all our hearts that God would save his life. A few moments later, which felt like forever, his pulse came back. He then shortly opened his eyes. While we were trying to keep him awake, the ambulance arrived, gave him medical care, and continued to monitor him. We are so thankful that the man survived.

After that experience, we continued talking with some of the people like the friend who did CPR and some of the other individuals who live on the streets. Although the situation was a shock for everyone, multiple individuals shared that it touched them that we were there to help and pray. The whole group who was standing nearby, all of which we didn’t know, seemed to open their hearts in a special way. They started sharing about their own lives in a depth that near-death experiences bring.

For example, Iris began sharing her story of drug addiction. We exchanged phone numbers, and she shared with us that now she wants to go back to Rehab and get fully free. We had a long conversation with her, encouraged her in the process, and we were able to share what God thinks about her. God finds ways to use hard situations to reach searching hearts. (August 2021)

GOD HEALS HEARTS SUPERNATURALLY

We met Annabelle for the first time this month. She shared that her last few months have been very painful. She is going through a difficult time because of a heartbreaking experience she had. We prayed together that God would touch her heart. After some time of praying, she started weeping and it lasted for a long time. It was not clear what she was experiencing. We were not sure if she was crying out of pain or if she was encountering God. She kept on weeping and weeping and weeping. We just sat there, Naomi put her arm around her, and we kept on praying for her quietly.

Once she looked up, we asked her what she was feeling. She said that she felt God in such a strong way that she could not stop crying. We thanked God for this incredible encounter that she had with Him. The next day we saw Annabelle again. We asked her how she is feeling in her process of healing and if she could share some more about what happened yesterday. She looked into our eyes and said that God completely healed everything regarding that painful experience. Annabelle shared that God took her hurt and pain out of her heart and made her free from the inside out. We were both so blown away by the goodness of our Father.

This is such a beautiful testimony of how God can heal traumatic experiences in one moment. We all know that it can take years sometimes to process a painful experience, but God did a major acceleration in Annabelle. The Lord healed her heart within a few hours. His supernatural work is not just available to us physically or spiritually but also emotionally. (July 2021)

GOD COMFORTS THOSE WHO MOURN

We met Ashley a few months ago, but we did not see her in a while. As we saw her again this month, we immediately went to her to catch up. She seemed particularly discouraged. When we asked her if everything is ok, she shared that she is heartbroken. Ashley’s partner passed away due to a stroke. She shared that they were living together on the streets and that they loved each other dearly. She said that he was the man she always wanted and that he was always kind to her. 

We spent time listening to her while she processed her emotions and feelings. We took her in our arms, and we were just there for quite some time. After a while, we prayed together. Among other things, we spoke the Scripture over her from Matthew 5:4 which says, “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.” After praying, she shared that she feels love and strength inside of her. She said that she is thankful that God has not forgotten her. 

Although Ashley is still in the mourning process, she felt God’s love and strength. She said that she is encouraged knowing that God sees her and that she can talk to Him. In Jesus we have a friend who is always there for us. We have an amazing Father who meets us where we are. Even in the most difficult situations, He gives strength to those who receive from Him. No matter what we are going through, we are not forgotten. We have a caring Father that comforts us. (July 2021)

GOD BRINGS CLARITY TO HEAR

When we saw Sarah, we noticed that she was talking to people that were not there. We tried to start a conversation with her, but we could not understand what she was saying due to her mental illness. She was talking in phrases that did not seem to belong together, and she wouldn’t make eye contact for more than a few seconds. 

We decided to sit beside her and see what happens. During this time, we felt God’s compassion for her. Although she was still rambling while turning her head in random sporadic directions, Naomi began sharing the biblical story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz. Naomi talked about the redemption God brought and how this story points to Jesus. Naomi continued to share the gospel message for quite some time. Eliel was wondering to himself if Sarah even understood a word of what Naomi was sharing because of how Sarah was still speaking to herself. Eliel noticed that God’s Presence was there, but it just wasn’t that clear yet if Sarah even understood anything. 

After Naomi shared the gospel message something incredible happened. All of a sudden, Sarah looked into our eyes, and she started talking to us in clear coherent sentences. She even began to ask questions. It was as if there was an entirely different person in front of us. We looked at each other, and we were both in awe of what God was doing. The Spirit of God was bringing such a radical shift. The Holy Spirit gave her the clarity to speak, hear, and understand. It was incredible. We had a wonderful conversation with her, and we felt the Holy Spirit present.

Due to some past experiences Sarah had in her life, she felt that God was disappointed in her. We continued to share with her the beautiful message of Jesus, and we spoke the truth that God is a loving Father that brings restoration and reconciliation through the power of His Spirit. We believe that it is through the grace of God that Sarah was listening and dialoguing with us about the gospel with an open heart and open ears.

It is an amazing testimony that when we start sharing about our Savior, He can come with clarity over individuals so that they can hear and understand. God can speak to individuals who seem so caught up in their perception of the world. Jesus gifted Sarah with clarity that day. So much so that it seemed like we were talking to a whole different person. We look forward to our future conversations with Sarah. We believe that the Lord will continue to reveal Himself to her, and we are excited for all that God has in store for her. (June 2021)

THE WORD OF GOD MOVES HEARTS

We often read the bible with individuals that gave their lives to Jesus and sometimes also with individuals that do not yet follow Him. By reading Scripture, we see individuals receive a deeper understanding of who the Father really is. We have seen individuals become transformed more into God’s likeness. For a believer, this process of transformation sometimes goes very quickly, but sometimes it is also a process with the Lord.

On this occasion, we were reading a passage from John 15 with Julia and a friend of hers. We were talking about how we can abide in Him and how He can abide in us. Julia shared that she was so moved that God wants to abide in her despite her shortcomings. We shared that we all have fallen short of the glory of God, and we are all dependent on God in the same way. This is where we come before Him, and He fills us with all that we need to follow Him wholeheartedly. We shared that through abiding, we have the strength to do things that would be impossible to do without His Spirit in us. (May 2021)

NO ONE IS TOO LOST TO BE FOUND

We feel so honored and blessed that we get to serve and reach homeless individuals. God is reaching out with His love, His hope, and His mercy. Throughout this month, we had more than our usual encounters with drug dealers, women in prostitution, and pimps. Since we have become a familiar face to some, they started talking to us. Although sometimes their questions pertain to asking if we want drugs or other illegal things, we get to know them, share the gospel, and pray with them. We believe that no one is too lost to be found by our merciful Father. Every time we meet drug dealers, women in prostitution, and pimps, we sow words of truth into their lives, and we believe that God has restoration and redemption in store for them. We thank God that we can minister in an area where we get to naturally connect with such individuals, and we are grateful that God is so present. (March 2021)

GOD GIVES STRENGTH TO KEEP ON GOING

The first time when we met Misty, she was very skeptical, and she didn’t seem interested in talking. So that day we said nicely hi and bye. When we saw Misty for the second time, she was sitting behind a blue tarp. We went to her and said, “Hi Misty.” She looked at us and said, “What? You remember my name?” We told her that her life is so very significant, how much Jesus loves her, and that God also calls her by name. She was so surprised that we knew her name that she was so open to talking with us. We spent a good portion of that afternoon with her, listening to her story, and building relationship with her. In the time we spent together, she seemed to trust us more and shared very personal things with us. Before we left, we were able to pray with her and share the gospel message. She said that she could feel a strength coming over her while we prayed, and she would be thinking about what we shared regarding what Jesus did for her. Before we left, she said that the conversation and the prayer really gives her the strength to not give up but keep on going. The message of Jesus is the most powerful message we can carry. When we share about Jesus, He moves through His Spirit on the lives who hear. He gives strength to the weak, and He is the strong shoulder that we all can lean upon. (February 2021)

GOD STRENGTHENS HEARTS

Vicky shared with us her story, talked about her time in prison, and about many heartbreaking experiences she had throughout her life. Sometime later, we prayed with her, shared the gospel, and spoke God's truth into her life. After praying together, Vicky said that she felt God's love and she feels strengthened from the inside out. Wherever we are in life, God has a plan and a future full of hope. He is our helper, strengthens us, and He builds us up. On the streets, we testify almost daily that there is nothing impossible for God. Like Vicky who experienced the love and strength of God, we can draw from His strength and receive from His love day by day. God provides us with all that we need, and He promises that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13) (December 2020)