S.P.E.A.R. 2008 Outreach Begins
By Darlene Rodriguez
We have reached Mexico!
After two weeks of lectures on leadership: Servant-Leadership, and Practical Missions, we have headed out.
We spent a weekend in the beautiful countryside of Julian, received some great teachings, and left for Mexico Monday afternoon.
It is so interesting to see how the Lord directs…"The heart of a man plans his ways, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:9) Justin and I spent the past two months planning this trip and after it all, plans changed in a matter of a week! Supposing to head to Sinaloa, Chiapas, and Oxaca, we are now in Tijuana for two weeks, Sinaloa for two weeks, and Tecate for the last two weeks. And all I can say is, Praise the Lord. He knows where the need is and He alone knows how to grow us and change the face of nations!
SPEAR
A leadership program that stands for Servant-Leadership, Perspective, Equipping, Application, Responsibility. This year I have the honor and blessing to lead anointed men and women to become leaders for this years outreaches to Morocco, India, and Israel. Please pray for us by name (Justin, Mark, Jacob, Rich, Hailey, Jenn, and myself.) We have such an awesome group of people, and I am fully confident that after these 6 weeks they will walk out even more prepared for what the Lord has for them than when we entered! Each week a new pair of leaders gets to experience leading the team, in ministry and daily life. This weeks leaders are Jacob and Hailey. It has been so amazing for me to be an eyewitness to how God is growing and shaping them as they lead. It is a treasure for me to walk with the girls and pour out all that God has poured out to me, and to be a source of support as they walk into this gifting of leadership.
TIJUANA
My heart has been torn for yet another place in this world desperate for the Lord. I had no idea how much I would come to know the HUGE need for Jesus here in this border town.
Monday afternoon we spent the day looking for a hotel, and after no little while we found our home. It is just outside the main area of Tijuana, and what I believe a complete strategic move on the Lord's part. In order for us to reach the orphanage we are serving at we have to walk through the red light district of TJ. Walking past these women who have given themselves over to this saddening career breaks my heart. My spirit gets angry within me knowing how much satan and his little workers are ravaging this area with lust within the men and women. And I praise God that we get to walk through each day praying and warring in the spirit for these men and women who have no idea the lifestyle they are missing out on having relationship with Jesus. During the night I pleaded with the Lord for these people's souls, that they would come to know His peace, His love, and His forgiveness. If you could only see these women and the things they say to our guys as we walk through, if you could only get a sense of the Lord's heart as He weeps for them in the night as they ravage their bodies, if you could only…I pray He stirs your heart to intercede on their behalf, that you would be moved to fast for them to break this heavy spiritual bondage!
Much of this human trafficking leads to the orphanage we have been working at. Children picked up off the streets, battered and bruised from the realities of living in the most horrific places. The stories of these children should not have to ever be repeated to even the most mature adults, yet they have faced it first hand. The roots that the Lord needs to wipe out and restore are deep and dark. This orphanage houses about 50-80 kids and the vision is to raise up ministers of the gospel for the streets of Mexico and beyond. There is actually a young girl here (about 18 years old) who has a calling to go to India and serve as a missionary. In the short while that we have been here I am seeing how the Lord Restores the years that the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25) in these kids lives. It is beautiful!
So much more in store for us as we have just begun our journey! I am excited to see all the doors the Lord opens, and all the Praises that we will be able to share with you as you journey with us!
Please pray for us:
- Continued sensitivity to the Spirit as different people lead the team
- Deepening of friendships within the team
- Finances: We only have enough money to make it half way through the trip
- Softened hearts in the Mexican people
- Open doors to share with prostitutes and others here in Tj
- Salvation for the people in Mexico
I pray the Lord blesses you all immensely, and that a glimpse of His heart is implanted in yours as you seek Him.
Walking under His shadow,
Darlene