my pot of soup miracle

Wednesday morning I woke up with a profound sense of exhaustion.  You know that sense?  When you wake up and feel completely overwhelmed and tired with what you have to face in the day?  

I sat on my couch and prayed a desperate tear filled prayer.…  “God HOW am I going to make it through the day!?  I have to make 20 liters of soup for the outreach!  I have work in the shop to do that needs my attention!  My kids need my attention!  LORD I CANT!!!  WHAT AM I GOING TO DO!?!!”  

You guys!  Not seconds  AFTER I PRAYED I got a phone call!    Sweet Sweet Rose Goddard called me at 7 am to tell me she had MADE THE SOUP FOR THE OUTREACH AND COULD I COME PICK IT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!  (As I write this I am getting choked up with the goodness of God and his ability to provide!!!)  After I ugly cried my gratitude to Rose and to the Lord, Jesus spoke to my heart. 

“I GOT THIS!!!! Just step where I tell you to step and I will take care of the rest!!”  

All exhaustion fled my body and I was flooded with the joy of the Lord that truly and sincerely is my strength!  

At the outreach that night I saw one of the most beautiful displays of generosity I have ever been privileged to witness.  

We had just finished handing out soup and rice to the kids and were settling in to hang out a bit with them.  

I was sitting with Tembo.  Tembo is a man in his mid to late 20’s.  He has some obvious mental issues and is probably more like an 8 year old in his mind.   As I was talking with him I realized he hadn’t received any food.  I had no clue what to do because we had just handed out 20 liters of soup and double the amount of rice.  A TON OF FOOD AND IT WAS ALL GONE!!!  One young man was near us and heard this interaction.  He had a full plate of food.  When he realized Tembo’s predicament  he got another plate and gave him half his food!   I rejoiced!  I even saw some kids put their extras in containers they found so they could have for later.  Like the 5 loaves and two fish!  

Jesus truly does provide a table before us in the presence of our enemies!  

What are you facing today that is overwhelming your heart?   All I know is this…… When we are walking in obedience to what God has told us to do, he WILL meet us!  He WILL provide any and everything that is needed to get the job done!  And it WILL be provided in a way that ONLY God can get the glory!  So all will see that Jesus reigns and there is none like him! 

If you are reading this and you don’t know Jesus, I urge you!  I implore you and yes, even beg, CRY OUT TO HIM!  Jesus has the answers you are searching for!   The Word of God says that Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life!  It also says that every knee WILL bow and every tongue WILL confess that Jesus is Lord.  Either here on earth, or in the after life.  TRUST ME  you want to do it now!  Life is hard folks!  There is no way around the hardships.  But this I promise you, with Jesus there is fullness of joy in the middle of the greatest pains that we have to endure.  There is hope and there is peace that surpasses all understanding.  Come just as you are and Jesus will take your hand and guide you in the greatest adventure you will ever know!

If you would like to contribute financially to Streetwise Outreach you can go to tscnyc.org, click DONATE, then MISSIONS, then MORALES FAMILY / ZAMBIA 

streetwise, family life and all that entails.....

Wow, is it MARCH already!?  HUH!!???

Raise your hand if 2015 started out the gate fast and furious!  

I have barely had time to stop and think five minutes ahead, let alone to sit and write a much needed update.  SOOOO, here it goes!!! 

STREETWISE STOREFRONT AND OUTREACH:

We have been working and praying for 3 years towards getting a center where we can conduct ministry from.  DRUM ROLL………WE MOVE IN THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We can hardly believe all that God has been doing.   I will post pictures of what I am dubbing “THE BIG MOVE 2015” (which begins tomorrow barring any vehicle issues....this being Africa and all)  

I took this photo from the doorway looking into the center.  

The Streetwise Center is going to serve a couple of functions. 

1. It will be a place where the kids can come on a day to day basis and learn the Streetwise Craft co skills.  The boys will get help in reading, writing and math.  They will also learn job skills      
2. We will be able to conduct ministry outreaches from the center.  This is wonderful because it will allow us to control the environment a bit more effectively.  As of now the kids are free to come and go with their drugs and it is hard to regulate that.  We feel that in order to be more strategic and effective in the lives of the kids, they need a safe, clean environment to come in off the streets for a bit. 

ALL IN ALL WE ARE PUMPED!!!!!  After all the blood, sweat and tears we can hardly believe it is happening!   How can you get involved? 

You can pray!!!!!!! 

You can volunteer your time!  

It is going to take loads of hands to help with these kids. 

Each need is so varied and so diverse, that it is going to take

 a hands on, organic, God driven approach to reach them 

You can give financially.  

The monthly costs as of now is around 970 USD per month to run the program, 

however we expect it to grow when we move into the store front.   I would be happy to give a breakdown of that number to any one who wants .

This is Titus.  He has been off and on the streets for the 7 years we have known him. 

 

OUR FAMILY:

Luis and I have enjoyed learning how to work together on Streetwise.  It has been a challenge learning how to mesh our vastly different personalities together….but really and truly, we love what we do and enjoy getting to do it together!

We call Hannah the Dog Whisperer (she didn't get her love of animals from me!)

Our girls Amira, Hannah and Brooklyn are doing well.  Amira is 12 and has started junior high with a bang.  She has taken life by the horns and is doing really well.  Hannah is 10 and is turning into such a beauty.  Her compassion for this around her leaves me awe struck.  Brooklyn is 8 and she is a fire ball.  She leaves us in stitches all the time.  The kid is hysterical!

Amira has gotten so big!  

Ok, you guys, here is goes, I am just going to lay it out there.  (my eyes are squeezed shut) We need help getting home this summer for a break.  We need money in order to do that.   Currently we live on 2,000 USD a month. ( our rent is 1,000 per month and then I have to feed three hungry kids)  As you can imagine, it isn’t easy to save money for airfare with the fluctuating exchange rates and the sky rocketing inflation that is happening right now.   Would you consider helping us out with this? 

Brooklyn and Luis having some quality time on the front porch

OUR PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Pray for the storefront.  

2. Pray for Luis and I to continue to work in unity and with wisdom and God’s direction . 

3. Pray for the financial resources to do this work 

4. Pray that we can make it back to the states this summer!  We wanna hug some necks and eat some of my dad’s famous BBQ!

We love you all so very very much!!!!  Please let us know how you all are doing as well!  We love to hear from you!!!!   

If you are interested in giving financially to STREETWISE you can go to tscnyc.org…..click on DONATE….go to the drop down menu for missions and find MORALES FAMILY / ZAMBIA.