Outreach, Day 1

We started our outreach today, for real… the evangelism part of it at least.  We went out into the city, found crowded places, and did a couple open airs, doing testimonies, and preaching the gospel.

The first place we went to, a few of us had a chance to talk to a man there.  Shortly into our conversation with him, he decided to make the decision to follow God!!! It was amazing to see his response, and how open he was to God, the people here are so much more hungry for God than at home.  He told us that as soon as he prayed, he felt God come and give him a big hug.  As we continued talking with him, he told us a bit more about where he was coming from.  He had been in jail for the past 5 years, only getting out about 4 months ago.  But being out of jail was really hard for him, and it ended up that yesterday, he tried to commit suicide, but a friend found him and saved him.  At the time, he was angry at his friend, but because of us, he said that he now knew that God didn’t want him to die.  That God had a greater purpose for his life.  It was amazing to see.

We continued looking for crowds to be able to talk to, and ended up finding a huge crowd of families, waiting in a line to get free toys for their kids.  So we decided to do the banana song (if you don’t know what it is, find someone that’s been at pretty much any camp at some point in their life, they’ll know it).  The response was so cool.  We ended up getting asked to do it again at another spot in the line, because people liked it so much.  Because of that, we were able to share testimonies, and pray for people through the line.  I was able to pray for a girl that’s mom has cancer; the doctor’s aren’t sure if she is going to survive or not.  It was awesome to be able to hear this girl’s story, and to pray for her and her mom. 

Everyone that we talk to, no matter where we are is so curious about why we are here, and about who God is.  It’s amazing to see how just because we’re white, and don’t speak their language, we have that opening to be able to share God with everyone we talk to, because it is so clear to everyone that we don’t live here.