Our Redeemer Lives

Redemption- (noun) the act of redeeming, being saved, delivered, or rescued.

It's also the name of a village in Los Castillos outside of Sosua.  

From first glance, you wouldn't think this village has been saved, delivered, or rescued.  The village, the people, the children are desperate for clean water, food, clothes, and people to simply care.

This particular village has had a hard time getting on their feet.  There is a spiritual darkness and heaviness that is no match for God, yet is still tangibly present.  We often talk about Redemption as being a forgotten village as it is emotionally and spiritually exhausting for missionaries to continue returning when nothing is changing.

But what this life comes down to, what the people of Redemption truly need, is not the help of people, but the help and ransom of Our Redeemer.

I don't know what it is.  Well, I do.  Every day that I'm here, the urgency becomes greater in my spirit for Redemption.  Each visit out there, God sends a small face, a clenched hand around my finger, up-reaching arms... anything He can to show me how deeply He loves these people.

What really sparked a fire in me was when we had a team from Summit Church visit.  Having finished our work early out in Playa Laguna, the team voted for another fun day with the kids in Redemption Village.  Earlier in the week we had been to Redemption to play ball, blow bubbles, color, sing, dance, and help with the feeding program, so the team was eager to spend more time with the kids before they left.

We entered into the village and not five minutes had passed before Yefrina, one of the young girls, came up to me and said, "Hace tiempo que ya no te veo" (Basically, "long time, no see").  At first I didn't understand what she said, so she repeated it again with a stern face.  Then all of a sudden, she bursted out laughing, saying, "Es una broma!"

That was a pivotal moment for me.  What was meant to be a joke or "una broma," made me ache for the kids.  For Yefrina to make joyful mention that I was there not once but twice that week was hard for me, in a good way.  


Up to this point, I had only been going out to Redemption once a week to play with the kids and help with the feeding program.  The kids have been getting to know me.  They know be my name, they know I wont refuse their hand, they know I'm good for a laugh, and they see that I care for them.  


The kids want and need consistency in such an uncertain, unsteady environment.  What if that's part of the reason God has me here?

So, I've been giving this ache to the Lord.  I certainly can't do anything without Him.  I want so badly to be in His will and to join Him in His work, and He sees this.

Through voicing my prayers and sharing what God has been stirring in my heart with others, I have now stepped into a role of leading a bible lesson before lunch once a week.  It started out right before lunch in the feeding program and has now moved into the church to better accommodate the activities.  And it's only getting better each time.

At the end of a recent lesson, we had to dismiss the children early because of the sudden chaos that erupted with the arrival of late kids.  I know it was an attack of the enemy as the day began so well.  At the moment, I felt myself slipping into despair as the kids filed out; however, a handful of the children from the beginning came up to me and asked with sadness on their faces, "No vamos a terminar?" ("We're not going to finish?").

The Lord began restoring what the enemy tried to steal.  Those kids are hungry for the Truths of the Lord.  Amen!

Last Tuesday was the best yet.  After the previous week's experience, we bought a small microphone for me to use. We opened with three worship songs, reviewed last week's lesson with a part 2 of the 7 days of Creation, and colored a sheet that went with the lesson.  The kids knew I was looking for those who were quietly and peacefully coloring their papers as they would receive a sticker for doing so.  (God bless the man or woman who created stickers!)

I'm teaching all of this in beginning Spanish, but I'm encouraged that the kids know what I'm saying.  I know that's the Lord.  Yes, I make mistakes, but the Lord is teaching me and showing me that this will work through Him and He will bring these children to Himself.

Right now, I'm still only out there once a week, but I'm praying that God would make it clear when and in what manner He wants me out there.  The young girls, ages 10-15, have been on my heart for months now, so I'm still praying about that, and there's also a possibility that I could pick up teaching English in the village when a temporary field missionary leaves in August.

Who knows?

I don't know what God has planned right now and I'm ok with that.  I just know that there are hungry kids out there, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, who need the redeeming love of a Savior.  God wants to use me some how in that.

Call me crazy, but I'm praying that God redeems Redemption village through those kids.  I still believe that children are the future and there's a reason Jesus called the children to Him so long ago.

"So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish."                                                                                          - Matthew 18:14

I often think of what it would be like if Jesus were here to walk through the dirt paths of Redemption Village.  I can just picture it... Jesus teaching on the steps of the church, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every affliction.  He would have compassion on the crowds, because they are harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  (Matthew 9:35-36)

And what does He say to me?

 "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." (Matthew 9:37-38)

Our Redeemer lives and is so ready for His children to draw near to Him. 


God has brought a team to us this week from Maryland (go Terps!) who are devoting the majority of their time physically restoring Redemption- rebuilding sidewalks, mowing grass, painting houses, opening up the feeding program, fixing the swings and basketball courts, and picking up trash. 

 But I know the restoration is deeper than the physical appearance of the village.  I'm praying this is just the beginning of the release, relief, restoration, and reconciliation Jesus has for the people of Redemption.