“You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.”-Psalm 10:17-18
After a ruff early morning departure, a delayed flight and a missed flight, I finally made it to Matamoros, Mexico. I got into Brownsville, Texas about two hours late, but one of the FYM leaders was there waiting to pick me up. We got my luggage (praise the Lord it made it there) and then headed to get a nice lunch before heading over the border. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect a border town to look like, but as soon as we crossed the border everything changed. The dust grew, the poverty increased and my heart started to feel heavy. We drove through the city and about 30 minutes later arrived at the FYM base. Jason gave me the grand tour, and then I decided to take a quick nap since I had been up since 3:30 am that morning.
After my mini-nap, I left with four other people and headed to an area called Granjas. It is a very poor community that doesn’t have any running water or electricity. Kids were running around everywhere and dogs were roaming free. Most of the houses are small, wooden one or two room block houses. Nothing more in them than a bed and maybe a table or make-shift coach. We went and visited with two families that the First Year Missionaries have been ministering to. The children were absolutely beautiful and the mothers (who were all younger than me) were filled with spunk. Despite their smiling faces, the part that broke my heart was that I soon learned that the male population in Mexico has been taken over by alcoholism. As we were getting ready for the Tuesday night Bible Study, a man was being carried by two other men because he was apparently intoxicated or high on something and could not walk for himself. Not only that, but what really hurt me was seeing every child that was there playing turn and watch him as he stumbled into his yard. This is something children shouldn’t have to ever see, but it is a way of life here. I felt like running and covering their eyes or distracting them in some way, but sadly they were used to seeing that.
Ever since I got here I have felt an intense heaviness of heart. I can’t explain it but there is just a sense of oppression in the air here. Apparently people are being held captive here not only to alcoholism, but also to devil worship. People know the term “Christian” but they don’t know what that really means. Please pray for this area and the people we will be ministering to. I can tell it is going to be a tuff week, but I wait in expectation for all that God is going to do. Today I will be going with a few other girls to minister in the local prison. It has been really hard for me not being able to speak Spanish as most people here don’t speak any English, but I know my God can use me despite myself. Hopefully, I will get to update again before I leave, but if not I will write more when I return. I love you all and am very thankful for your prayers!
For His Glory,
Caroline 🙂
Ps. 56:3
