This is not a post about fasting. Well, not really, anyways.
This is a post about feeding the homeless and poor. Which, if you read Isaiah 58, is a part of God's fast. (I won't get into it!!) Personally this has been miraculous in that when we fast as a team, we literally are saving our budgeted money for that day and saving it to buy food that we get to prepare and serve to the homeless and poor of Ternopil. It excites me to think of what and how God will work in and through this!
Our team here in Ternopil, Ukraine had prayed and asked God where and what He wanted us to do during our 3 month outreach phase. A number of people on the team heard and received direction from the Holy Spirit to work with homeless poor. (We had met a number of them while we were weekly in the city sharing Jesus' love with people.)
I know - this is old news for those of you who read my posts and updates. BUT what is not old news is what has been happening in the process of ministering to and beginning to love these people.
Last week, Ukrainian Christmas Eve, we were handing out the food we had prepared, pouring tea, and giving special sweet bags that we had made for Christmas and nice new clothes. It was not really an "easy" night to be brief. Lots of the people were drunk, some were stirring up strife. Others were almost trying to climb over us to get to the food - ha ha ha - fun times! We sang a Ukrainian carol and we all forgot the last lines! Good thing everyone here loves to sing - they lead us strong in the end!
After the large crowd dispersed, usually there are at least 10 -15 people that come to get food and leave and don't like to stay to talk, pray, receive ministry, etc., we were standing in the cold night talking and praying for people who wanted prayer.
One dear lady probably in her 60s, originally from Russia, started blessing us and thanking us. She said, "Seeing you here makes me so joy-full. I will pray that there will be more and more young people like you in Ukraine and all over. Coming here to help us. Not all wrapped up in the things that most people are wrapped up in. We need more people like you. I wish that I would have known Jesus and lived for Him when I was your age. If so, I may not be in this state." (This woman is a sturdy character - very dear.)
We assured her that it is not too late for God to work in her life. Jesus bring hope to the hopeless. I was awestruck by God's goodness to bless us through this dear lady's words and gratitude, not even to us, but to the God who has made and caused us to love Him and love others.
To you, this might just seem like words that she shared with us. But in that moment, we were standing there in awe and being totally blessed by God that the people that we felt needed us, we actually need as well. We needed her encouragement, we needed to see that the only thing that separates us from these people that society rejects and writes off is our own prejudice and pride.
Jesus loves and died for these precious ones and they might be stuck in their mess, but God's hand is not too short that He can not save and deliver!
We have been in awe at the relationships that we are making and as we become a part of this street church. Really it is amazing! These people come to be fed physically and spiritually. And they are so eager to ask for prayer, to pray together, they hear a message, ask questions, comment, share, etc. I realized that these ones probably hear God's word more than most "nominal" Christians - they are in church most nights on the street!
AMAZING!
I am convinced that amidst this group of babushkas, alcoholics, drug addicts, street people, young and old, are some radical disciples of Jesus! We get to know them and love them in the process - glory to God!
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