building community
These last couple weeks have been focused more on the guys who hang out in the streets. A lot of exciting steps forward have been made as God continues to open doors of opportunity. Shorty had been wanting to get a soccer game together to play against them. Our first game against them happened last Tuesday. Even though they scored 5 times as many goals as us we had a lot of fun playing and it was a big step in building relationships with the guys. In the week that followed, as I walked the streets, I received many comments from them or other people about the game. Many of them were asking when we would play again. This past Tuesday, Shorty put together another soccer game and invited the guys for pizza after suffering another loss.
Another exciting step forward is the carpentry shop. It has been a dream of Shorty’s and Tita’s for some time now to begin a carpentry shop in the basement of the school. There are many guys wanting to learn a trade. Learning carpentry gives them a productive way to use their time as well as provides opportunities for work. God has led a wonderful Christian man, Emiliano, to join our team and teach the guys this trade. It was not an easy decision for him, but was willing to take the risk and follow God’s leading. This past week we painted the basement and purchased the supplies needed to begin the shop this coming Monday. The plan is to have the shop open Monday-Friday with a different group in the mornings and afternoons. Shorty plans to be involved with building relationships, sharing from God’s Word, and learning the trade alongside the guys. Please pray that God will work through Emiliano, Shorty, and this carpentry shop to teach not only an important trade, but also the exciting news of the gospel.
