memoirs of a street ministry.....

(this is the text from our latest update)

Lusaka’s busy City Market Bus Terminal is what the
Port Authority is to New Yorkers. An insanely active hub, it also serves as a market and whatever else you need. 

It is a hive of activity, an organism pulsating with the push and pull of necessary daily African life. Blue buses honking and wheel barrow porters Ts-Tsing behind you so you can get out the way! Young boys selling fritters out of plastic buckets and African women selling dried fish are all part of the painting.

I often come back to Pastor Dave and his invaluable handbook on street outreach, The Cross and the Switchblade. I remember what he wrote regarding his pavement pounding in search of what it was God wanted him to do. He said they were not idle explorations, he was being led by God. In other words, it was purposeful. After a long hiatus from street ministry (our last outreach prior to our return last month was in May of 2011), we’re now back, and one thing is very crucial for our ministry to these kids: trust. They need to be able to trust us, and see that we are not just another do-gooder photo-op. We want these kids to know that we are  genuinely interested in their well-being.

Today I met Mumba, who claimed he was 12, but looked closer to ten years old. He had just arrived on the streets, and had the look of an old experienced man. His eyes had bags under them and he was very quiet and withdrawn. Myranda met two other boys who scrammed after she asked some questions. Maybe they thought she was a cop. 

We know that God has a plan for these kids lives, but we also know from experience that sometimes these kids don’t really want to get well, like the man at Bethesda. Street life is an addiction, and that is the thing that God needs to break in them. 

OFF THE STREETS

Randa and I are also being creative in our spare time. I’ve been doing graphic design and branding for the church we attend, www.southcitychurch.net, as well as stencil art. Myranda has also been experimenting in mixed media. I’ve become her mentor in the fine skill of spray can art (wasn’t raised in the church, remember?). We have had some good rest time and recuperation, and we thankful to TSC and our supporters for allowing us this opportunity to minister in this way. 

We are still praying for the most effective way to reach these boys and girls. We are seriously considering being able to have a trade school where carpentry and joinery can be taught, and where former street boys and girls could possibly market their skills. Some thoughts are a cafe, with a furniture / home store where furniture and artwork could be displayed and sold, to offset the cost of operation and feed the kids coming through the program. These are still drawing board ideas and dreams, but we are open to whatever it is God has in his heart. I believe that God will give us something challenging, but something we will enjoy and thrive in.

We would also like to develop a program that helps to meet their daily needs.  A store front church / feeding program / fill in the blank?  An outreach van?  

SUPPORT FOR THE
MORALES FAMILY

In short, life here is expensive. How can you help the Morales family?  Consider supporting us on a once in a while basis, or monthly. You can also send care packages to our address on the right.

We love hearing from you!!!!  Please drop us a line and keep us updated on what is going on in your lives!!!  

Prayer needs

1.
We would like a small compact camera to take on the streets so we can document what we see with out causing a scene. 

2.
Pray for our financial needs. Lusaka is an expensive place to live. 

3.
Pray for our families health and     unity.  

4.
Pray that God will show us how to move forward in practical ways with ministry. And that we don’t move to far to fast.