Training in Pachuca/Mexico City

“Fear grows in the absence of knowing who God is.” Dean Sherman

As Christians we are called to go into the dark places. 

A lot of people do not like this. 

It is scary.

But this is what Jesus did.

We are called to cast our eyes on God, not on the situation.  This does not imply acting rashly, with no regard to our surroundings or the danger.  But it does imply not being moved by fear. 

These past couple of weeks that I spent in Pachuca and Mexico City I learned more about the reality of getting involved in human trafficking.  It is a dark place.  If I were moved by fear or passion, I would be out in a heartbeat.  However God has really convicted me to move according to who He is and what He calls me to do.

During this trip I had the opportunity to witness and participate in the various steps of ministry.  The timing/schedule of events actually worked out perfectly.

 

YWAM Pachuca

While in Pachuca I was able to join the YWAM base as they start up human trafficking ministry.  We went out to the red-light district to intercede and pray for the area, the girls and strategies on how to rescue the girls. 

Red Light District in Pachuca

In Mexico City one of the main focuses of the YWAM base is human trafficking.  I was able to participate with them in a ministry called “Distribution”.  Basically we walked the streets of the La Merced Market where all of the girls are lined up every meter.  In the 4 block radius there are 5000 girls.   

La Merced Market

We handed out little “goodie-bags” with a hand made card with a verse about how they are loved by God, nail polish, mascara and a business card of a beauty salon in the area.  We talked with and prayed for the girls.  The purpose of Distribution is to make the 1^st contact with the girls.  We invited them to a free haircut and to a weekly bible study at the salon.

Some things in the Goodie-Bags

 I also had the opportunity to spend the day at the beauty salon with a good friend of mine from when I used to live in Mexico City.  She showed me the ropes of the salon and shared more about her experience with the girls over the past 6+ years.  The salon serves as a refuge/resting place for the girls when they want to take a break; the girls are provided food, prayer, biblical counseling, etc..  This is where they minister to the girls, give them hope and offer them a way out.

The Salon/Community Center

Another day in Mexico City I was able to spend the day at a safe house for underage girls rescued from human trafficking.  It was definitely an experience to remember.  7 year old girls.  I don’t even know how to explain the emotions I felt that day.  The only thing I could do was hold tightly to God and remind myself of how good He is.   Keep my eyes on Him and not on circumstances.

A phrase that has really stuck with me on this trip is the fact that…  “Jesus was not motivated by human needs, but rather by the heart of the Father.”

Here in Guadalajara our team is in a time of seeking the Father’s heart.  There are lots of ideas, plans, strategies out there, but we want to seek His heart, His plan, His ideas, His strategy.    

“You steady me, slow and sweet, we sway;

Take the lead and I will follow,

Finally ready now to close my eyes and just believe

That You won’t lead me where You don’t go.” 

We Dance-Bethel Music

PRAYER REQUESTS:

-His strategy.

-Continued contacts/networking with others in trafficking here in Guadalajara.

-That we would move only according to His voice.

-The times that we go out onto the streets in Guadalajara to make contact with girls, pray, etc..
-A Christmas Outreach/Distribution Project- we want to distribute goodie-bags to the girls in Guadalajara.  That God would provide finances through partnering churches here to purchase the items and a prayer team to go out and distribute the bags and pray with us.