In Colombia we are serving with Fundacion Ciudad Refugio who serve the homeless and addicts. This ministry is modeled after Teen Challenge, where Pastor Douglas got his start before coming to Medellin, Colombia and reaching out to the homeless and addicted. We've had the opportunity to go down to the area twice, once at night and once during the day. This was an opportunity to pray for the community and serve them bread and a warm drink. 

The area of town where they live is known as the Bronx. We were prepped before we went to remember this is where people live, so we are coming into their homes. We were encouraged to look them in the eyes and smile at them to give them dignity since so many people look down on them. We were told we could walk around the area with someone from the Foundation, pray for them, and talk with them as we felt led. The first experience I had was at night. We had been briefed on what to expect, but I didn't feel prepared because I had no way to grasp the reality of what we were about to see. Walking around, I could feel the spiritual darkness. At one point it was hard to breath it was so heavy, but I never felt afraid. I prayed the whole time we were out there, but mostly felt in shock of what I saw. 

When we went out the next week during the day, I felt more prepared because we had gone before. This time I prayed for the Lord to give me eyes for how He sees them. The day time felt harder. Business were open in that area, families and children were walking around, and people where doing drugs out in the open. I decided to stay and hand out food instead of walking around this time. The whole time my heart was breaking for the people we were talking to and giving food to. The Lord answered my prayer of seeing them how He sees them and His heart for them. I cried out, "Jesus, where are you?" while I was serving. If He loves them and cares so deeply for them, where is He? He gently reminded me that He gives us the choice to choose Him or reject Him. These people felt so much pain that choosing the drugs seemed easier for them. The Lord is there the whole time waiting for them to reach out, waiting for them to make a better choice, but He won't force them to choose Him. I can't make that choice for them either and that was hard to accept...I want them all to experience freedom and a relationship with the Lord. So I continue to pray for them to choose Jesus over the drugs. 

While it's hard to see them choose that life, I know that God is bigger than their addiction and they can experience freedom and salvation. The first week we went, two people showed up the next day asking for help and wanting to change. They had to walk from the Bronx to the Foundation and it's not that close. Again this week, we saw two more people decide to walk away from that life and pursue a life with the Lord. Instead of being discouraged, I'm choosing to celebrate with the four that have chosen the better life, life with Christ.