Focusing on the Few

By Merlin M. | Volunteer

This year Ciudad Refugio has been working under the mandate to evangelize where God has placed us and to disciple those who God has placed in our path.  Miraculously, the Lord has been opening unbelievable doors for us to accomplish this goal.  One amazing opportunity is to lead an English club at a local high school.  Read our previous post about this (HERE). Volunteers from the foundation go to the school two times per week on Wednesday and Friday afternoons to engage the students and encourage them to speak in English.

This program began in March of this year with a lot of engagement and enthusiasm.  As a volunteer from the foundation, I even wondered if we would be able to manage the number of interested kids! However, as time and the months went on, the number of students who regularly attended began to diminish little by little.  This could be due to a number of factors: Many students have said they forget about the timing of the club.  Others are engaged in so many other projects and activities and find it hard to make time for this.  And most of all, we are talking about teenagers here.  Their interest and attention spans are so limited; so, it may be that they just simply lost interest.

I can speak on behalf of all the volunteers (Special Shout-out to the amazing team: Julia, Maria, Tim, Joshua, Luise, and Yeyson) that we do try each week to make the club as fun, entertaining, and educational as possible.  Initially, as a volunteer it was deeply discouraging to see the number of students drop as the weeks went on. But an amazing thing happened.  I began to notice that as the attendance declined; the students that did come were more engaged and comfortable to speak English. We were able to talk to them on a deeper level as well; more than just the superficial.  We would have discussion on their families, strengths, weaknesses, hopes and dreams.

Last week on Friday we only had two students in the class.  But it was personally one of my favorite sessions of the club.  During the meeting, we were able to discuss about our influences, our dreams, and what happens when we die.  My fellow volunteer and I were able to share about our faith and the hope we have for eternity.  The most miraculous part of all of this for me personally was that I was able to share the Gospel in the language I am most comfortable in-English! Though looking at the number of students might have been a reason for feeling disappointed; the nature of the conversation and how the kids opened up to us, was something that only God could have orchestrated.

The events regarding the English Club reminded me about the story of Gideon from Judges 7 and how God narrowed down the available men to fight until it was the select group He desired.  Therefore, I am learning that the nature of God is more orientated towards quality and not quantity.  So, that means we’ll keep working and reaching out to these students; regardless of the number.  Because building relationships and creating personal connection is the model that Christ has taught us to follow. And if we can speak life and the truth of the Gospel into the heart of one student, that alone would be worth it.   At the end of the day, as it says in I Corinthians 15:58: “ So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”  (NLT)

Can I encourage you be fruitful for God where ever He has placed you? Don’t be discouraged playing the numbers game but pray that God provides a fruitful harvest for your efforts!

The True Heart of Ministry| Mission in Manatiales

By Ashira D. | Children’s Ministry Worker and Youth Team Member

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to spend six days in Manatiales and minister to the people in that neighborhood.  Manatiales is a place in Medellin where the internally displaced in Colombia have formed a community. Ciudad Refugio partnered with students from Christ for the Nations to conduct a week long program designed to be able to reach women, children and the families in this area. The first two days were spent packaging bags of food and distributed to families in the neighborhood.  For the remaining days, we conducted a VBS type program for kids of all ages. Through songs, games, lessons and crafts we taught the children about creation, the fall of man, and the story of David and Goliath.

Overall, it was an incredibly fun time.  I got to meet new people from all over South America and we had amazing times of worship as well.  However, there were some difficult moments as well. The first day of the VBS program was one of the hardest days I have experienced since I began working in in children’s ministry. The group of teachers I was working with, for the most part,  had never worked with kids before and had no idea what to expect. And on the other hand, the kids were full of energy and so excited to be there and wouldn’t sit still or listen to anything any of the teachers were saying. Of course, they are kids and that is to be expected. The activities that we planned couldn’t keep their attention enough for them to want to participate and I got more and more frustrated with them. But after we finished the kids program that day, a couple of the children came up to me to give me a hug and to ask what time we would start the next day. Even though, that didn’t erase the hours of frustration it did make it worth it.

The following days were much better and the children seemed to really enjoy everything that we were doing. I had fun watching puppet shows, making bracelets and a lot of other activities. There were still some moments when I was tired and I felt like giving up but there were others when I could look down at smiling faces and feel like what we were doing was making a difference.

After serving for a week in Manantiales I have learned an important lesson.  My ability to serve and help others should never be dependent on how I am feeling, on the people around me or the recognition I receive. This may seem very basic to you and, in my head, I know this to be true.  But in the actual day to day ministry and in doing things I’ll catch myself thinking that ministry or the things I do only has value if it makes a difference. Especially in working with children, I may never see the direct fruit of what I do and kids will not always come up to me and give me a hug or to say thank you. But even when I think nothing is working and that there is no point to what I’m doing, I have to make a decision to serve God and others to the best of my ability no matter what my surroundings are. I can’t live waiting or expecting results because I’ll be disappointed most of the time. However, when those special moments come, they will come when I least expect it, not when I’m depending or conditioning my service on them.

Misiones Manantiales

By Juan A. | Christ for the Nations Volunteer

La pasada semana del Domingo 14 al Domingo 21 de Abril, durante las festividades de semana santa, un grupo de alrededor 60 misioneros de Estados Unidos, Brasil, Ecuador, Curaçao, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, entre otros, nos unimos en una misión de esperanza para una comunidad extremadamente vulnerable y de escasos recursos ubicada en el departamento de Antioquia, Colombia. Se trata de la comunidad llamada “Manantiales”, la cual es considerada como el segundo asentamiento más grande del país, la que a su vez sufre una gran problemática social y económica debido a la falta de planificación por ser una invasión de territorio que fue creciendo desmedidamente desde hace algunos años atrás.

El instituto bíblico Cristo para las Naciones, la fundación Ciudad Refugio y el programa Amaneceres unieron fuerzas, pasión y recursos para llevar el mensaje y amor de Cristo Jesús a este sector. Durante toda esa semana se desarrollaron diversas actividades deportivas, recreativas, musicales y espirituales para que cada asistente los cuales principalmente eran niños, tuvieran una experiencia extraordinaria y se llevaran en sus corazones el conocimiento del amor de Dios.

Fue muy hermoso sentir el sincero abrazo de cada niño y sus radiantes sonrisas, ver el brillo esperanzador en sus ojos, y ver además que durante esas jornadas ellos se desconectaban completamente de una realidad muy dura que les ha tocado vivir, para conectarse con la paz, amor y alegría que provienen de Dios. La pregunta frecuente en cada chico era: “¿Cuándo vienen de nuevo?”, la cual quedó grabada en el corazón de cada misionero. Pedimos a Dios que ese anhelo de los niños de Manantiales de tener tiempos diferentes, escuchar cosas diferentes y sentirse amados, se convierta en combustible para cada uno de los voluntarios de dicha misión y abocarse con mayor frecuencia a esta población con tantas carencias.

Gracias al apoyo de algunos patrocinadores y al esfuerzo de todo el equipo, se lograron entregar refrigerios cada día, algunos mercados, ropa, zapatos, entre otros, no solo a los niños sino también a muchas madres residentes del barrio.

Oramos para que Dios mande obreros para su obra y que la semilla que fue sembrada en cada corazón de frutos a su tiempo. Estamos felices de poder decir: ¡Misión cumplida!

“Y es necesario que el evangelio sea predicado antes a todas las naciones”. Marcos 13:10

Listening For The Voice of God

By Merlin M. | Volunteer

As a believer, one of the most difficult things to do is wait on God and often in this situation I find myself  praying and continuously bringing my requests before God.  But the real question should be: As I wait, am I actually giving God a chance to speak? And more importantly, am I actively listening for His voice?

We all have that one friend in our lives who is “the talker.”  No matter the situation or topic they always have an opinion but more importantly they need to share their views.  They often dominate entire conversations with just their thoughts and don’t usually give others a chance to talk and share.  For “the talkers,” all the world is their stage and their needs and views matter more than anyone else’s.  However, “the talkers” miss one of the most important parts of communication-LISTENING!

In basic human interactions, the act of listening is often overlooked or not given enough credit; which leads to miscommunication. To listen not only requires focus and effort but active involvement in the conversation. To put it plainly, it requires you to care.  Surprisingly, most successful business leaders credit some part of their success to effective listening skills. Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen is quoted as saying: “The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention.”  If the skill of listening is such an essential part of human interactions; how much more important is it in our relationship with God?

I truly believe prayer is the equivalent to having a conversation with God. Though often it’s used as a one way interaction to upload our wish list to our Heavenly Father.  But this is not the type of interaction that God desires with us.  From the very beginning, He wanted a close relationship with His creation.  We can see this straight from the Garden of Eden and how God would spend time each afternoon with Adam and Eve.  Our God is not a distant God who just sits up in heaven but He longs to commune and develop a connection with us.  Therefore, when we ask something of Him, in His time and according to His will; He responds.  But most of the time, we just keep talking and fail to listen to what He is actually speaking.

In Scripture, we can see countless examples of God talking to His people.  For Moses, it was through a burning bush.  For Gideon, it was through a fleece.  One of my personal favorites is how God used a donkey to speak to Balaam.  But each example shows how God is creative in how He responds and interacts with His people.  He knows our depositions and what manner would work best for each of us.  Many times, I expect God to speak through earthquakes, floods, and fires.  But instead He shows up in the gentle whisper in my heart; much like He did with Elijah in 1 Kings 19: 11-13.  Verses 12-13 says: “ After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  The key to Elijah hearing the voice of God was that his heart was open and listening for it.  What a great lesson for each of us!

So can I encourage anyone waiting on the Lord to remain steadfast in seeking the Lord.  Spend time in His word and in prayer.  But also leave time to just listen. Our God can use supernatural means and methods to get His point across but He can also use a gentle whisper in our hearts to convey his love and message to us.  As it says in Psalms 27:4: “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”  Can I also add to that..listen for His voice! He is still speaking today to those whose hearts are open and listening!

The Freedom of Grace – Program Graduate Testimony

By Viviana L. and Merlin M. | Volunteer

We are so proud and honored to share the story of Vivana Valladales Londoño.  She is a graduate of the women’s restoration program and is now in the period of transition.  Viviana is a true example of the transformative power of God and a testament of how Ciudad Refugio offers the hope of Christ to the hurting, lost and broken. This is her story:

I was born in Medellin to a loving family that included my mother, father, and two sisters. My fondest memory from childhood was spending time with my father and how he always sat with me on his knees. My mother was a Christian and raised me in the ways of God.  From a young age, I felt a connection to Christ and no matter the situation I always went to Him first. And up to the age of 15 years old, I was a model student and daughter.

However, when I turned 16, my life took a turn for the worse.  It all began when I started a new friendship with people from my neighborhood that were not in my circle of friends from school. I began to sneak out at night to drink beer with them and started living a secret life that my parents knew nothing about.  I remember my first encounter with trying cocaine was when my older cousin offered it to me.  He was a dealer and would provide me drugs whenever I asked or needed them.  For about five years I lived a double life and hid my addiction from my family; I would use drugs but always felt I could control and manage it.  That changed one day when my mother went through my bag and found drugs inside. She confronted me with what she found. Afterwards, I saw no reason to hide my drug use and I began to use more openly and frequently.  But along with my increased drug use, I became more depressed and hopeless.  Day and night, I would drink alcohol and use drugs to numb what I was truly feeling inside.  I can honestly say that everything in my life changed for the worse after I started using drugs. Things escalated to where my mother could no longer put up with my bad habits and eventually kicked me out of the house.  At this point, I wanted to die and felt so utterly alone in the world.

To find a place to belong and to continue my drug habit I joined a gang on the recommendation of my cousin.  I mainly just needed access to drugs and this was a means to that end.  But to be truly initiated into the gang, I had to prove my worth and toughness. I was required to fight, transport drugs and even carry a pistol.  In a period of one year, I remember I had to fight three times.  But I felt brave and invincible and always justified my actions because it granted me access to the drugs I needed to survive.

After about four years with the gang; my life changed once again.  One day, I was required to transport some drugs to sell in a neighboring town.  But while the transaction was taking place a dispute arose about the price of the drugs.  The buyers became violent and killed a member of my gang.  I had to retaliate in self-defense and was forced to do the unthinkable.  The police were called and we all ran once they arrived.  I tried to flee but I had consumed drugs before this encounter and was very high.  Because I was not in my right mind, I couldn’t escape and was apprehended by the authorities.  Once I was arrested, I was charged with crimes such as drug trafficking and extortion.  Without a second thought, the judge condemned me to 18 years behind bars.

To spend 18 years behind bars was the same as a life sentence for me.  At this point, I had two young kids and was essentially a single mom.  My lawyer tried to convince the judge to reduce my sentence or set me free for the sake of my kids.  But the judge was adamant that I was a danger to society and should remain incarcerated. I was completely hopeless and felt such anger in my heart towards God.  Even though I had hit rock bottom,  my heart remained very hard and I would often fight with the other inmates.  All appeals for my freedom were rejected by the judge and there was no hope for me.

But God had mercy on me.  After two years behind bars, one day I received a message from my lawyer that I had been conditionally released on house arrest.  The same judge that condemned me to 18 years behind bars miraculously granted me my freedom after just two years.  There was no other way to describe my early release other than a miracle of God; no other human explanation can ever be given.  But even after being released, my addiction and abuse of drugs continued; and I lived this way for two years after being granted my freedom.   I would still leave my home to buy drugs and go to unsafe places with my neighbors and friends. Through all this, my mother was crying out for me but nothing in my life was more important to me than using drugs.

My lowest point came on a Monday morning when I felt so depressed, hopeless, and alone that I decided to commit suicide. My kids no longer lived with me and I felt that I had let everyone in my life down.  There was no longer a reason for me to keep living if this was all life had to offer me.  However, before taking my own life I began to walk with no real destination in mind.  By the grace of God, my walk brought me to the street corner where the foundation is. I stopped and read the name “Ciudad Refugio” (City of Refuge) and I heard a voice in my heart encouraging me to go and talk to the people inside.  Without second-guessing or questioning myself, I went in and spoke to someone who explained what Ciudad Refugio was.  So, I began the restoration process that day itself and Ciudad Refugio welcomed me with the clothes on my back and just the way I was; broken, sick, and a shell of the person I am today.  Once I met the leadership and the team at the foundation, especially Doña Nena, I realized that I was no longer alone. I truly believe that God’s power and freedom in my life are what motivated me to not return to drugs. Over time, God began to break down my cold and hard heart and replaced it with one dependent on Him.  And I transformed from a tough and cold woman to someone who smiled and embraced those around me with love and humility.

I cannot explain God and what He has done for me.  He loved me when I was unlovable.  His grace found me at my lowest and freed me from the person that I was.  I know I would have been dead without God’s intervention in my life.  I love Him so much for all that He has done for me. Ciudad Refugio has taught me so much.  I learned here that God is my restorer and that He opens doors in our lives.  I feel privileged because God always opened His arms to receive me; even when I had strayed away from Him and was in jail. I have begun to understand that the love of God is greater than the heavens and that with God by my side all the other things just fade away.  In fact, my favorite verse is Ezekiel 36:26: “ I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”  I have become a new creation in Christ and He has given me a new heart and life.  This transformation didn’t just effect me but my family as well.  My parents were strengthened by the change in my life and my kids are now happy and proud of how I’ve changed and become a better mother to them.

As for the future, I have such hope.  After completing my time of transition, in three months I will marry a man who has been faithful and with me through it all. I want to find stable work but more than anything else I long with my life to serve God and to be useful for Him along with my family.

This is my story and I hope it can offer light to many people. I want to share about my life to show that there is freedom for those enslaved to drugs and to offer an example of the miracle of God.  I want to end by offering advice to anyone who is in the same shoes as I was.  The world destroys you and has nothing to offer you.  In the end, you will be alone.  But Jesus is the only way, truth, and life.  God longs to be your friend and confidante.  He will never leave or forsake you.  With Him is life, and life eternal.  All you need to do is surrender everything you have to His hands. If God can offer  the freedom of His grace to someone like me, He can definitely do the same for you as well.

 

A Place to Call Home

By Alexis B. | Volunteer  with WCSC Missions
The first time I visited Medellin and Ciudad Refugio was in the summer of 2018. I was warned that Colombia was a dangerous place and that I should be careful. I came with a mindset that I would be treated poorly by the people and was ready to watch my back every where I went.  Honestly, I was prepared for the worst. However, I experienced the opposite when I arrived to Colombia. I was welcomed with open arms and received many warm smiles and greetings from the community. I felt the presence of the Lord and knew it was a place where God was moving. And it was clear to me in the first few minutes here that the people of Medellin have hearts full of faith.
This year, I returned to Medellin to bring chiropractic once again to its people. The trust and respect that my team and I received everyday was overwhelming. Women would hand to us their young babies and trust us to care for them; children came running to us with an interest in what we are doing and always left full of joy.
I am so thankful to the City of Refuge for truly showing me and my team the true nature of the community of Medellin.  In my time here,  I have seen some of  the most beautiful parts of the city as well as some of the most heartbreaking. But regardless of where I’ve been one things has been constant, I have the felt the presence and the power of God.
I am so thankful to be given the opportunity to bring the healing power of chiropractic to the community here. The people of Medellin deserve the best care that they can receive and I fully intend to return to this place that I can now call my second home.

A Grateful Heart

By Jaewon L. | Chiropractic Volunteer
My name is Jaewon Lee and I was blessed to be part of the team from World Care Specific Chiropractic to serve the people of Medellin, Colombia from March 22nd -29th.  My family is originally from South Korea and I am currently living in the United States to study chiropractic medicine.  To be completely truthful, I have not done a lot volunteer work in the last several years because my life has been so busy and full.  I had not taken time to stop and really look around to see how others were living.  And in my heart, I did not really realize how meaningful it was to serve people till I my experience volunteering with the foundation.  My perspective on so much has changed due to my time at Ciudad Refugio.
 Even though my purpose was to serve and help others through offering chiropractic care; I have received more than I gave.  For me every person I encountered, from the patients to the foundation staff have exemplified  love, kindness, gratitude and the true meaning of servant hood. Time and time again I saw this with the people I have helped and talked to this past week.
As I head home from my time serving with Ciudad Refugio I leave with a heart full of gratefulness.  I am grateful that I had a chance to serve and help minister to people with what I can do well.  I am grateful for a chance to have brought joy to so many kids just because they assumed I was a South Korean celebrity.  I am grateful for all the big moments but especially the small moments such as when I was able to hold the hand of a patient who was nervous and they granted me a smile of gratitude.  Most of all, I am grateful to have been given this opportunity to serve with WCSC and Ciudad Refugio. I want to extend a special thanks to everyone at the foundation for their help and kindness.  It truly has impacted my heart and I leave changed and with a new perspective on life and how to serve others.

Una Experiencia de Aguapanela

Por Merlin M. | Voluntaria

Todos los miércoles por la noche es un momento especial para Ciudad Refugio porque, sin falta, es el día del Aguapanela. Para aquellos de ustedes que no lo conocen, Aguapanela es el ministerio donde creyentes locales y voluntarios de la iglesia salen cada semana (llueva o truene) para repartir pan y una dulce bebida caliente en las calles. En muchos sentidos, consideraría al Aguapanela como el motor del ministerio aquí. De hecho, Ciudad Refugio comenzó porque el Pastor Douglas fue obediente a la voz de Dios y salió a ministrar en las calles solo; y comenzó la obra de Dios, un alma a la vez. Afortunadamente, hoy en día no salimos solos sino en grupos. Mientras que el pastor Douglas era un hombre solo que iluminaba con la luz de Dios en una oscuridad total y absoluta, en estos días somos un ejército que trae la esperanza que solo Cristo puede ofrecer a las almas que viven y usan drogas en las calles.

Quería compartir mi perspectiva como trabajadora al interior de la fundación en cuanto a lo que significa servir con Aguapanela y para dar una idea de lo que encontramos. Antes de salir cada semana, el equiposiempre se reúne para orar juntos. Le pedimos a Dios que nos guíe y nos dirija a las personas que más lo necesitan y cada semana Él siempre responde nuestras oraciones. Luego, nos subimos a los vehículos para conducir al área donde ministramos. Esta semana pudimos meter a 13 personas en un miniván, sin desperdiciar ningún espacio. ¡Solo eso es un milagro en sí mismo!

La calle donde tiene lugar el ministerio del Aguapanela es oscura tanto en el sentido físico como espiritual. No hay luces en la calle para iluminar el camino. Hombres, mujeres y animales simplemente caminan sin rumbo, y muchos usan y venden drogas abiertamente. La mayoría son como zombis y no están en su sano juicio. No puedo explicarlo en mejores términos que decir que es como caminar directamente al mismo infierno; la desesperación y la desesperanza juntas en una pequeña calle. Debes tener cuidado donde pisas porque solo hay montones y montones de personas sentadas o de pie con sus cosas. Otros están caminando en un frenesí, pero sin ningún lugar a donde ir. Aquí hay una energía que solo he encontrado en esta calle. No lo había experimentado en ningún otro lugar.

Antes de comenzar a ministrar, todos se reúnen y oran una vez más. Entonces los voluntarios tienen dos opciones para lo que pueden hacer. Puede quedarse y pasar el pan y la bebida, o salir en grupos para hablar con la gente. Esta noche en particular, fui con un grupo de cuatro mujeres y enseguida vimos a una mujer a la cual llamaré Jo, sentada sola al borde de la calle. Nos acercamos a Jo y comenzamos una conversación con ella. Comenzamos simplemente presentándonos y compartiendo información sobre nuestras vidas. La clave aquí es establecer una conexión con la persona y no solo arrojarle un tratado y alejarse. Jo comenzó a abrirse poco a poco y compartió un pasado doloroso de abusos que la llevaron a comenzar a consumir drogas. Lo más desgarrador que compartió fue cómo deseaba morir a causa de la soledad que la abrumaba día tras día. Nuestro grupo compartió todo lo que pudimos sobre la esperanza que Cristo puede traer. Finalmente oramos con Jo, la abrazamos y le recordamos que no está sola. Por la gracia de Dios, pudimos pasar unos buenos 30-45 minutos con Jo y conversar realmente para construir una conexión con ella. La animamos a buscar ayuda cuando estuviera lista. Como todos los que conocemos en la calle, ella prometió venir a la fundación a la mañana siguiente porque quería una vida libre de drogas. (Alerta de información: Jo no ha venido… ¡todavía!)

El equipo tiene una regla estricta y ágil de que cuando se hayan distribuido todos los alimentos y no queden más, todos los voluntarios deben regresar a los vehículos y prepararse para partir. El grupo se reúne una vez más y ora por cada persona que nos encontramos. Compartimos los nombres de cada individuo y los presentamos en oración antes de regresar a casa. Como lo llama Rebekah desde la fundación: “Esperamos dejar gotas de gracia como parte del trabajo que hacemos”.

Aguapanela es el área de miniserio más difícil y cruda que he conocido. Pero cada vez que voy, recuerdo que mi vida debe ser una luz que brille en medio de la oscuridad. ¿Qué razón hay de encender una vela en una habitación que ya es brillante? Como dice la letra de la canción “Poderoso para salvar“: “En la tierra, Tu luz brillará…”. ¿Puedo animarte a brillar en la oscuridad, en las áreas de tu ciudad y pueblo donde muchos viven con dolor y desesperanza? Ofrece esperanza y simplemente con tus acciones demuestra el amor de Cristo. ¡Porque eso es lo que está más cerca del corazón de Dios y es lo que todos hemos sido llamados a hacer!

The Redemption of Carrots

By Merlin M. | Volunteer

Let me begin by asking you to bear with me while I bring this illustration to life and forgive me if it’s too cheesy. A fellow volunteer, Luise and I work in the Ciudad Refugio kitchen on Monday mornings helping to prep and clean vegetables for cooking. This past Monday, there was a shipment of donation carrots that needed to be cut and cleaned to be cooked into a soup.  And while elbows deep in the prep process, we started a discussion on how these carrots symbolized our lives in some many ways.

Those of you living overseas have never encountered vegetables in such a state as these carrots; and would never think to use them for human consumption. Some of you may use them for a compost pile instead.  Upon inspection, the carrots were offensive to all your senses: sight, touch, and smell. We didn’t dare try to taste them in the raw form. But carefully, we began the process to peel and cut away the broken and flawed parts and saw that underneath all the bad there was good.  It just needed to be redeemed.  It needed someone who cared enough to endure the hardship of finding it.  What others would just throw away as trash and worthless did have some value; but it needed someone with eyes and a heart to see beyond the exterior to the hidden worth.  And spoiler alert, these carrots were made in a delicious and nutritious soup that fed many!

In many ways, this illustration reminds me of our mission here at Ciudad Refugio.  The men and women who come into the restoration program are just like the carrots-rotten on the outside but with God given worth that needs to be discovered and uncovered.  While many simply walk past these people or consider them a hopeless cause; time and time we have witnessed how with an investment of time and effort these former addicts bloom and transform into who they were created to be.   But this alteration process requires individuals who are patient, disciplined, and willing to invest of themselves to bring about a transformation in the lives of others.  And at Ciudad Refugio, we are blessed to have wonderful leaders and volunteers that day in and day out show the love of God and shine His light so that the men and women in the restoration process can have hope.

But can I be honest, it’s not just the men and women in the restoration program that’s the “bad carrot.” At the end of the day, this illustration also represents my life before Christ.  You see I was broken, lost, rotten and hopeless without His transformative sacrifice and love in my heart.  But He gave of His own life and died on the cross for my sins so that I could be redeemed.  And because of His investment, my life became whole and transformed into something of worth; just like the carrots were made into a hearty soup. Like it says in Romans 5:8-10 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”

Would you take a moment to reflect on the love and grace of God that saved a “rotten carrot” like you and me? And if you get a chance, go eat a carrot; I hear it’s good for your eyes!

Order Your Home| Women’s Fellowship

By Merlin M. | Volunteer

While the world is following after Marie Kondo to teach them to organize their lives; Ciudad Refugio was blessed to have been taught by our very own Pastor Marilu on how to order our lives and homes.  The women’s fellowship of Ciudad Refugio met on Friday, February 22nd  for an inspiring and much needed class on the importance of organization and discipline.  A large group of 30 plus women from the church and community were able to meet and spend time in fellowship and learn from the Word of God.

Pastor Marilu taught a timely class catered towards women on the importance of having order and discipline in our lives.    In a very practical and thought out manner, Pastor Marilu stressed the fact that God is a God of order. From the planets to the existence of life, He has a process and structure to everything.   The same should be applicable in our lives as well.  She also highlighted how disorder can create chaos and effect all areas of life-family, marriage, work, social, and most of all spiritual. Some effects of disorder include: confusion with respect to priorities, anxiety and fatigue, conflict within the family,  and lack of time for God.  However, with order and organization the benefits include: spiritual growth, balance in priorities, good habits with discipline and constancy, improved health, and time for God.  Lastly, the women were able to listen to the personal testimony of Darling,  the sister of Pastor Marilu, about how she transformed her life by implementing processes to improve order and organization in her life.  Darling provided practical steps that helped her including something as simple as keeping track of tasks and schedules by using a journal.

One thing is certain, no matter what corner of the world you live- Life is and always will be chaotic.  But taking small and practical steps can bring a sense of order and discipline to your life.  This not only makes a world of difference in how you  live day to day but also to help provide growth in your walk with God and in relation to those around you.