Chicken Nuggets and Chain Prayers!

There are days in ministry when I feel one disappointment after the other! I go home and am disheartened in the effort to help the kids of the neighborhood. These are usually the days that are filled with fist fights, promiscuous teenagers or a cuss word repeated one too many times. It is in these times that the Lord stops me in my tracks and reminds me in one way or another that I'm not at NW 9th and McKinley to save the world. I'm there to love. That's it...and very simple. Love them with the love of the Lord.

Yesterday was a CRAZY day. It began at 9 in the morning and ended at 11 in the evening. All 14 hours were filled with chaos. I won't go into the details of the chaos but one of the events involved Luke, Ron and I peeling a horde of kids off of each other in a mass jumping. Despite some of the rough things, at the end of the day I was able to look Ron and Luke in the eye and tell them "today was a good day". They looked at me with faces of horror but I was able to do this because of one event.

The Hornets donated some tickets to us for the Mavs game last night. We invited some of the kids and were excited about the trip because none of them had been to a Hornets game before. We had intentions to cook dinner at Rock Island before we left but we ran out of time so we headed down the street for a healthy meal at Mickey D's. My mind was still racing from the day as I ate my food. I paused my thinking just long enough to look up and choke on my grilled chicken! There, in the middle of a McDonalds on NW 23rd were 5 of our so-called "street kids" holding hands and having a chain prayer! I sat in awe as every single one of them prayed aloud! They didn't care who saw them or how their "gangsta" friends might have thought they looked. They were just spending some time with the Lord right there in the midst of our day. Now, I have to be encouraged by that. We may not be saving them from drug lords and gang wars but I truly feel that I would have never seen that a month ago. The Lord is changing hearts and lives a little bit at a time and it is good!

Love your neighbor "Mother Teresa style".

The book "Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne has not only caught my attention but won my heart. It has now moved to number one on my all-time favorites list. This is a huge deal because I've read it all. So basically it is now number one on a list of 7.4 million. I will probably reference this book in many blogs to come. Partly because I've cried my way through the entire book and partly because Claiborne is a genius. Read it... it will change your life.

In case most of you didn't know, I have a major obsession with Mother Teresa. I have read all the books and seen the movies of her life. I read about her because deep down I want to be her. I want the kind of commitment and compassion she had. Saying all this, I thought I would share a quick story I read last night in "Irresistible Revolution" after I wrote my "Love your neighbor" blog.

Claiborne had an opportunity to serve as an intern in Calcutta to Mother Teresa right before she died. Wow~! This short paragraph is an exerpt from the book about a "love your neighbor" experience with her.

"Mother Teresa was one of those people who sacrificed great privilege because she encountered such great need. People often ask me what Mother Teresa was like. Sometimes it's like they wonder if she glowed in the dark or had a halo. She was short, wrinkled, and precious, maybe even a little ornery, like a beautiful, wise old granny. But there is one thing I will never forget-- her feet. Her feet were deformed. Each morning in Mass I would stare at them. I wondered if she had contracted leprosy. But I wasn't going to ask, of course. 'Hey Mother, what's wrong with your feet?' One day a sister said to us, 'Have you noticed her feet?' We nodded, curious. She said, "Her feet are deformed because we get just enough donated shoes for everyone, and Mother does not want anyone to get stuck with the worst pair, so she digs through and finds them. And years of doing that have deformed her feet.' Years of loving her neighbor has herself deformed her feet."

Good stuff.

Love your neighbor.

I truly believe I have learned some of life's most precious lessons from my friends in the community surrounding Cross & Crown. In the midst of poverty, addiction and broken homes are the most gentle-spirited people I have ever met. I hate to confine that description to one culture and race, but I will... I have fallen in love with hispanic mothers and am blessed to spend time with them daily. When Jesus said "the meek shall inherit the earth(Matt.5), he was talking about these women.

The most beautiful lesson lately has been the fact that these women truly live out what it means to "love your neighbor as yourself". I know one mother who quite often has a growling stomach because her neighbors children have nothing to eat. She takes her almost empty pantry & stretches it to feed 10. Another great example is the bible study. When one woman shares a prayer request and cries over her burden, all the women weep together with their sister in Christ. These hispanic women are so strong. They keep clean homes, raise sometimes up to 10 children alone, feed large masses of friends and family, try to scrape finances together, hold big parties of celebration for every occasion and love on everyone they come into contact with. All while living in a country of people who tell them they don't belong. They smile and kiss me everytime they see me, ask me about my family, pray for me and cook me amazing food. They do all this for ME, a person from a race that completely rejects them. They love their neighbor.

I am very bold about my love for these women. They are my close friends and sisters in Christ. So my question is this, do YOU love your neighbor as yourself? Do you embrace other cultures? Do you try and understand why someone would leave their friends and loved ones behind to try and build a better life for their children? Would you do the same if you were in their shoes? Have you ever smiled at, hugged or kissed your latino housekeeper or do you just ignore them and keep your distance because they don't speak your language? Do you shout hooray when Bush passes bills closing the border and kicking them out? If you feel like I am talking to you... then maybe I am. The bible never said "love your AMERICAN neighbor".

All about me.

I found myself being very overwhelmed yesterday. We opened the Rock Island House for Spring Break. What was intended to be a couple of hours for middle school/high school ended up being 4 hours for all ages. In all we spent time with well over 60 kids. For the first hour I was by myself, it was 1 vs 60 and I was very frustrated. I tried not to clue the kids in on my stress as I made hot dogs and tacos for all.

At the end of the day I went home and collapsed. I was grumpy and exhausted and as I was sprawled out on my couch I started to think... only a few months ago I remember praying that God would send new kids for us to minister to. He has definitely answered that prayer and blessed us more than we can ask or imagine. A huge guilt swept over me... so many times I pray specific prayers and God answers them in obvious ways. Instead of spending time praising God for his blessing, I move on to the next thing on my prayer list. It's almost like I present a shopping list to God of everything I need, as he anwers them I check them off and say thanks and then move on.

Is that really the way it should be? The Creator of the Universe listens to me and blesses me and I just give him a quick glance. I'm going to try to spend an entire week, from today until next Wednesday, spending my prayer time praying thanks and praise. I wonder if it's possible to put aside "me" and what I want for an entire week. It's a good challenge to try...spend an entire week using your prayer time to just praise and thank the Lord. I'm going to try it but I have a feeling in a few days something will come up and it will go back to me. Ok...that's my rant for the day. I'm out.

Grand Theft Auto..not just a game!

While some teenagers spend time on the weekends playing the game "Grand Theft Auto", one of our Rock Island teens was actually arrested for the crime. The game has become all to real to us and a new aspect of our ministry has now been introduced. Prison ministry. I don't have details right now but this week we will most likely visit one of our 12 year olds in juvie who was arrested Friday night for stealing a car. The sad thing is... I'm glad he's there. I know he's better off there than he has ever been before.

When something like this happens I want to blame the kid... but is it really his fault? Yes, he will take responsibility for it, but I want to know where his parents were? And what kind of home does a child grow up in that causes him to steal cars, sell drugs, or carry a gun at the age of 12? Maybe we should open "Rock Island Sr." It would be a community center for parents that actually keeps them out of trouble and teaches them how to take care of the children that they brought into this world. Can you sense my sarcasm? I'm kinda frustrated right now. I'm sure I'll regret this post tomorrow.

Now... if you are a parent with a rebellious child, I am not being judgmental. Please don't email me and plead your case for why you are a good parent. I'm not blaming you. But, I do know that, in our situation, while our kids are getting in trouble their parents are sitting in front of the tv, out playing bingo, or smoking a joint on the front porch. I have a problem with that.

God 3 Satan 0

Today Osvaldo called from Mexico. Hearing his voice on the phone and knowing the family is okay brightens my day and lifts a burden. He sounds happy...mainly because he is with his mom. Definitely a momma's boy. She was talking in the background and asked him to tell everyone at Cross & Crown thank you for helping their family.

I asked if his family needs anything. Even if they did, he would never ask for a thing. He is very grateful for what he has. Most likely there are alot of things his family needs. I told him that a special person had given me $100 of their emergency money for his family. You should have heard the sound of his voice. He gasped... "100 WHOLE DOLLARS". I have a feeling that money will feed their family for the weeks and months to come. He was very excited... and thankful.

In recent blogs about Osvaldo I have shared two miracles. Today his miracle is that the carpenter his dad worked for here in Oklahoma City called and offered him a raise to come back. So his dad is coming back here to work until the hearing next month. That's right.. God is setting up one thing after another to completely bless the lives of the Hernandez family. I'm not sure if Osvaldo could describe to anyone what the word "faith" means, but I see that word in him. His faith is SO STRONG... he has been in the pits and the Lord has rescued him. He believes in the power of the Living God, that is true faith.

I'll end it with this... if the family makes it through all these impossibilities and is allowed to be re-united here in Oklahoma City then we are throwing one HUGE "God is awesome" fiesta. Everyone in the blog community is invited. I'll keep you posted.

I surrender all? Really?

Last May I walked across the stage to receive my college diploma and I was ready to take on the world. I packed my bags and moved back here to Oklahoma City. The following week I drove down to the corner of NW 9th and McKinley to begin a career. To my surprise, the so called "job" I took with Cross & Crown really isn't a job at all. It is a complete lifestyle shift. And, to tell you the truth, I wouldn't change it for the world. I know that I am in a very unique situation because every morning when I get up I'm actually excited to go to work.

A few mornings ago I went into work armed with my cup of coffee and a burden on my shoulders. I was ready to talk to anyone that would listen and Ron just happened to be that person.

The burden I shared with Ron is this...
Is it possible to pour yourself out completely to inner city ministry and not feel detached from the rest of the middle class world?

I don't know the answer. I'm probably going to have to take a poll of other inner city missionaries to find this out. I do know this... every day when I go about my life, whether it be starbucks with a friend, jogging on the treadmill or a family dinner, there are a million thoughts that consume my mind. Did "Marco" pass that math test today? Has "Joe's" family found a place to live yet? Did "Maria" decide to keep the baby? It's midnight on a school night.. are our Rock Island kids still roaming the streets? Did "Jose" manage to make it another weekend without going to jail? I haven't figured out how to calm all those thoughts. I know that God brings peace that passes all understanding but I also know that the Holy Spirit has placed a burden on me for the broken-hearted. How do I balance the two?

My "normal" life seems so unimportant now. Less than a year ago I was consumed with romantic relationships, my college grades, the dents in my car and how I was going to lose the dreaded 10 lbs. for swimsuit season. All of those things seem so trivial now. Most times when I go out with friends I feel like they don't get me and we have nothing in common. How could they sit and talk for hours about Britney Spears shaving her head when there are toddlers 5 minutes away that are going hungry because their mom used her grocery money to buy crack?

By writing all this, I'm not judging any one's priorities or saying that my friends are superficial. That's not the case at all. If you saw what I see everyday, the same thoughts would consume you too. I just want to know if it's possible to be a middle class missionary or is God calling me to completely surrender my comforts and luxuries to live like a true servant? I'll update you on what conclusion I come to as I study. I close with the words to this song... they were written in 1896 but they ring more and more true to me every day.

All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In his presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me Jesus, take me now.

I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

"Chandy...we got our miracle"

I think I always knew the day would come when I would be writing this exact blog. I just didn't know it would come so soon. My heart wasn't ready. The past year has been a series of emotional experiences for me. I graduated college and left my friends behind, sent a boyfriend off to war, ended a long-term relationship, began a new job and moved in with my parents. Despite all that, without a doubt, this has been the hardest thing emotionally.

To get the full story of what I'm talking about, read Ron's blog. I just want to share a small part of the story that means the most to me. Osvaldo is a staple at the mission. If I don't seem him at least once during the day, I know something is wrong. I have known Osvaldo for about 4 years. In those four years we have spent a lot of one-on-one time praying. When he was 11, we prayed for him to be a good big brother and help at home. When he was 12, we prayed that he would make good friends in middle school, at 13 we prayed for him to stay out of trouble on the streets and at 14.. our prayers completely changed. We prayed that one day his family could be together again. Many times we specifically prayed for a miracle. Last May his mother was deported to Mexico leaving behind a husband, 20 year old son, 14 year old son, 8 year old daughter and 4 year old son. At the time she was 3 months pregnant, so they now have a new brother.

This past November I sat down one day and talked with Osvaldo. He told me how he was illegal here in the states and therefore couldn't cross the border to see his mom or he would be stuck. We knew that because of the current political situation there wasn't a chance he could get a visa anytime during the next 3 years. We prayed for a miracle. That Thursday night in bible study time with the youth we all prayed for a miracle for Osvaldos family. On Saturday I got a phone call from Osvaldo, "Chandy, a visa came in the mail for me today!" Apparently his mother had applied for a visa for him years earlier before all the turmoil had happened. He didn't even know about it. And it just happened to show up on Saturday. Osvaldo got to reunite with his mom on Christmas day after nearly 8 months apart. That was Osvaldo's first prayer miracle.

Fast forward to last Tuesday night. Osvaldo comes down to Rock Island and tells us that his family will leave this weekend, for good. They can't stand to have their family apart anymore. Their family has been told by numerous immigration attorneys there isn't a chance in the world his mom will ever get a visa and if she does it will be at least 5 years. Osvaldo doesn't want to go because he knows there won't be any school and at the age of 14 he will begin a manual labor job that will last him a lifetime. I spring into action with my own plan, thinking that if I can just adopt him then he can stay here. Ha. "Hi, I'm Chandy, a twenty-two year old single missionary with a 14 year-old mexican son!" God was probably laughing when he saw me thinking this. His plan was so much bigger. His dad didn't agree and Wednesday afternoon we spent time with Osvaldo and his little brother and sister before hugging them bye. They left for Mexico Wednesday evening. When you see a teen who is normally tough on the streets in an uncontrollable sob, you will know what it's like to have a broken heart. All day Wednesday I prayed and asked people all over Oklahoma and Texas to interceed for his family. I wouldn't be over-estimating to say there might have been up to 1000 people praying for his family that day. We prayed for a miracle. Thursday morning I receive a call from Osvaldo. I was surprised to hear his voice... "Chandy, we're at the border, we're safe." I was glad that he had called and sad at the same time.. I got a lump in my throat just hearing his voice. "Chandy...something else"... I wait... I am embarrassed to say that I expected the worst.. even after all the prayers. "Chandy... the immigration attorney called this morning and INS is going to have a hearing next month to let my mom back in the country.. we got our miracle". Chills covered my whole body and I started to cry.. I asked him to repeat it again. I wasn't sure if I heard him right. He repeated the same thing again. This attorney had no idea that his family was leaving the country, yet he calls right in the middle of their departure. Osvaldo's voice was shaking.. I know in that moment the power of the Spirit was waking him up. If you don't believe in miracles and the mighty power of our Lord to fix anything... you are officially banned from reading my blog.

I don't know what's going to happen now. I know for a fact that they are going to stay with his mom in Mexico until she can get back in. I may never see the Hernandez family again, but I sure hope I do. I do know one thing... God took a completely bleak situation and stole the heart of a teenager in Northwest Oklahoma City. I know one day I will see that huge grin in heaven. He brings hope to the hopeless, strength to the weary and love to the broken!

Our God, He is a consuming fire!

I would be failing in my job as a blogger if I didn't mention what is going on in the adult bible study. What started as a 5-6 person study one day a week in our AA room has now evolved to a 30-40 person study two days a week in our sanctuary. There is even a study by Dr. Amanda Madrid that meets on Monday evenings at 4 in one of the neighbors homes.

I am a little tentative in saying this, but I have grown up in the church and I have NEVER seen the hunger for the word like I am seeing from these women. When we arrive at work in the morning, there are probably a dozen women waiting outside (despite the weather) just so we will open the doors and let them in to study the bible. They are bringing friends and family. We are doing nothing but providing the place and the Lord is doing the rest.

We have had many baptisms since the study began and in the past week we have had 3. Let me explain what a baptism is like here. I could say one word... POWERFUL! It isn't a formality with a question and a quick dip. It's a worship to the Lord... the women sing and lay their hands on each other, they call out to the Lord in every language, they raise their hands and fall on their knees, and they weep. A baptism with these women is not for the faint of heart.. it's a transformation. A woman named Mary was baptized yesterday and when she came up out of the water she cried out in Spanish, "I'm covered in the blood of Jesus!" I can't explain the obvious presence of the Spirit in words....it's just there.

I write all of this to say. I WANT THEIR PASSION! I want to lose all my inhibitions in the presence of the Lord. I want to lay myself down at his feet, literally, like some of these women do. I want to cry out for him and weep to him. Some of us have lost that. When we first began our walk with the Lord, we had that fire. We've lost it somewhere along the way... I want it back. OUR GOD HE IS A CONSUMING FIRE!

Praise God!

There are times when I feel so overwhelmed it is very tough to write down my thoughts on here. This would be one of those times. So I will share a small part of the HUGE transformation going on in our teen ministry right now.

We have been averaging about 10-15 kids every Thurs. night for bible study. This past week we had about 25. I have no idea where they come from, but when the doors open at 6 there are teens just walking in off the street. Praise God! On Thursday night we all gathered together in the living room of the Rock Island house. Luke has a definite gift of relating to the kids and this week he took it to a whole new level by playing 3 different rap songs and pulling scripture out of those songs. If you've never seen 25 street teens being quiet all at once and listen to someone read the inspired wordof the Lord... you are missing out. The spirit was so obviously sitting in the room. The best part of the night came during our prayer time of course. We did a chain prayer and once again I was surprised. In the living room of the Rock Island House at least 20 different kids prayed out loud! I can't explain it... there was power in those kids calling on the name of the Lord and it was exciting!

CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD AND BE SAVED!