I went on my first outreach!  We met at the prayer room and then walked together to a place called "Luz," which means light. :)  Several different groups that have ministries to women in prostitution joined together for the first time Saturday night.  We claimed a spot on the side of the street near a subway station where women often come.  The leaders brought food and gifts for the girls, and we went out in small groups to go invite them.

I went with Kristin (another member of the Liberdade team) and her Brazilian boyfriend Eduardo.  I was a little apprehensive beforehand about knowing what to do or say, but when we arrived I felt such peace.  I still didn't really feel like I knew what I was doing, but the calm I had in The Lord was amazing.  We walked down the street looking for women to talk to.  Kristin initiated conversation with the first woman we met while Eduardo translated.  She declined to come to the party, but was open to talking with us.   

 

Eduardo said that the street was more empty than usual.  This may have been due to a larger police presence because of the World Cup.  We walked down the street a ways and then came back to where our party was.  As we came back we saw someone by the wall and Kristin invited me to initiate conversation even though they had probably already been talked to by another group.  So I did.  It was a little uncomfortable and difficult to know what to say.  I ran out of questions after the first couple of minutes, but it was good to be pushed out of my comfort zone and just to begin reaching out to people!

Next we took some food from the party to share with a couple of homeless men we had seen sleeping on the sidewalk.  On our way we met another man who we shared food with.  I saw Jesus shine through Eduardo as he talked to the man.  We got to pray and prophesy over him and I could see he was touched.  One of the men on the sidewalk was awake when we came, so we talked with him as well.  He was so discouraged, but Eduardo declared the love of Jesus over him.  

When we came back to the party, a couple of people were ministering to a young woman so we joined them.  Wow.  It was so sweet.  She seemed to me to be full of light.  She was so beautiful as she told us about her son and listened to us pray over her and declare worth and value over her life.  One of the leaders invited her to go to church in the morning and she agreed.  Pray that she enters into relationship with Jesus and that he heals her heart and establishes her in community!  Pray also for her son- that he will choose to follow Jesus. 

 

I am so encourgaged to see how God has changed me.  I am not who I used to be.  I bought the new Bethel CD from their women's conference on-line and the first song is called "You Make Me Brave."  That's how I feel.  He is making me brave!  What a joy to have the courage to love people in ways I never had the courage to before.  Jesus, continue to make me brave and to teach me how to love like you!