Seed of Hope
In the summer of 2023, God sent a group of young missionaries to share the gospel to the poor and needy children in Juárez, Mexico. There was so much doubt and worry in my heart as to whether God really wanted us to go there – a place of darkness where drug cartels thrive and women and children are being sex trafficked. I pleaded with God; if this isn’t Your will, please close the door. But the Lord convicted me through His Word, “Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!” (1 Samuel 12:16) So then, I did.
I witnessed God work through the young missionaries. Regardless of their pasts, God chose all of them for this great task. In the face of darkness, the anointed next generation was full of joy, peace, and strength of Christ. They encountered Christ through His Word and were strengthened by His Word.
After a long drive and crossing the border, we arrived at a small church by a mountain called, “¿Quién amará a los niños?” (Who will love the children?). Although the children had sadness in their eyes, they had the seed of hope as they laughed, played, worshiped, and heard the Gospel of Christ through the young missionaries.
During our visitation, the pastor shared the story of a young girl named Sarah. She has two younger siblings, Serine and Abraham. Their father was involved in the darkness of Juárez and was killed. Their mother disappeared about a month ago after she asked the pastor to please take care of her three children as evil men were trying to kill her. As soon as we heard the story, we came together and prayed for Sarah’s family. We cried out loud, not only for the family, but for all the children in Juárez who are going through similar situations.
On our way back home, we heard the good news that the 25-year-old mother of Sarah was found alive. She had been kidnapped, intoxicated, and sold as a prostitute. We praised God for His faithfulness in keeping this young mother alive and reuniting her with her children. We prayed that nothing in this world would ever place a finger on them again and that this young mother would be restored completely. The children of Juárez, including Sarah and her younger siblings, were grateful for their time with the young missionaries. When they hugged, I know it wasn’t just the missionaries they embraced, but Christ in them. The hope and love of Jesus were planted in these children.
There were many testimonies of these young missionaries who had been impacted by the Spirit of Christ through these children, and it is an experience that they will never forget. But I know it will not end there. They are not missionaries just every summer on a road trip, but missionaries from the Lord 24/7 in their homes, with their families, with their friends, in the grocery stores, and on the streets. God continues to work, and I pray that they will continue to abide in Christ and have the boldness and confidence to share Jesus wherever they go.
