His shoulders are broad enough!

I have just had a wonderful time with the Lord! 

The past 2 weeks have been in a word….AWEFUL!!!!!!!! 

While Streetwise is progressing and moving forward at break neck speeds, on a personal level I have battled confusion and frustration like never before.  I have at times felt the icy breath of bitterness down my neck and whispering in my ear.  It has been a battle folks!!!!!!!  

My prayers have consisted of 

“GOD WHAT ARE WE DOING!?” 

“LORD ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING!?”

“GOD DON’T LET BITTERNESS TAKE HOLD!!!!!!!!!  PLEASE FIGHT FOR ME!!!!”

“God!  Please let all this make sense!’

“Lord, I know in my heart that your word in true, please remind my brain of that!”

I have attempted to read my bible only to have the words swim before my eyes, not able to make sense of any of it.  

Confusion the likes of which I have never known. 

I have just had a rare moment alone….no one in the house but me and Jesus.  So, I got on my face and cried out! 

“Lord I won’t let go until you speak!  I know you hear me!” 

THEN! Psalm 91 came up!  

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High WILL REST in the shadow of the Almighty!” 

I haven’t been dwelling in the shelter of the Most High!  I had to repent!  I have been dwelling in my own abilities and work.  Things at Streetwise have begun to move SO FAST that I have become consumed with Streetwise and not with Jesus!  

In Jesus there is no confusion!  In Jesus there is no frustrations that can’t be solved, there is no inabilities that can’t be met with the His strength and grace and wisdom! 

If he is the same yesterday, today and forever, the same God who raised HIMSELF from the dead, who raised Lazarus from the dead, who healed the lepers and fed the 5,000 starting with barely a mouth full……can’t he meet us today with all the provisions that we need?  Spiritually, Mentally, Physically?

I don’t know where you are at, what you are going through or if you even know Jesus.  All I can is this……He is the answer!  I am no bible scholar, no intellectual by any means, but all I know is this…..I cried out just 1 hour ago in desperation and tears and Jesus met me!  I KNOW Jesus has met me and I am hidden under the shadow of His wings!  You can’t argue a changed and peaceful heart!  

Let Jesus shoulder the loads you were never meant to carry!  

turning corners

Streetwise is turning a corner this week!!!!  

Remember Joe?  

Not the best photo of Joe but I wanted you to see him on an outreach

WELL!!!!!!!!!!!  He is coming this week to work full time with us!  YEAH!  We are VERY VERY excited!!!  He has completed the Teen Challenge program and has shown himself to be very faithful and all around rock your face off awesome!   His heart is to be on the streets doing outreach and Streetwise offers that venue for him.   Our dream has been to see outreaches happening every day and for them to be in the hands of the locals.  SO, Joe coming on board is an answer to lots of prayers…..the proverbial “kill two birds with one stone” scenario!  

His job is going to be two fold…..

First of all he is going to be given the authority of the outreaches under our direction.   We will be there to give direction and support as needed.  

Secondly, as the need arises boys will live with Joe.  Case in point, last week Fabian needed to to to the clinic to have 11 teeth pulled. 

As we had no other place to put him, Fabian has been sleeping on the floor of the Streetwise Center, not ideal, but better than where he was.  So, Joe will help give care and guidance in situations like that.  Should a boy want to come under streetwise as a student, he will live with Joe for a period of 6 months, sort of like a Teen Challenge-esque situation.  

How can you be a part of the exciting events unfolding in Streetwise?   You can be on the team even if you can’t get on a plane and get your bootie over here!  

PRAYER!!!!!!!  I say it often and and I will say it always!  A mission can only be as effective as those who are praying!  This is serious warfare and these kids have been institutionalized into the life of the streets.  Their comfort level is the insanity.  Who will commit to pray?  

FINANCES………It costs money to run a ministry.   Will you consider allowing God to stretch your faith a bit by committing a certain amount a month?   The finances given help us to live here, help us to feed the kids on the street, help pay for the rent on the center, help pay for the rent on Joe’s house and his salary, plus it also helps to pay for a kid to get through the program. 

YOUR TIME!!!!!  We need bodies!!!!  YOU GUYS!!!  There is SO MUCH WORK to be done!!!   We strongly believe that by being consistent in their lives and showing up when we promise we will be there will speak volumes of the love of God and will also begin to build bridges of trust between them and God.    I know there is a short term team coming in August……maybe consider making a trip?  I am a good cook!!  My mother taught me well! 

AND FINALLY!!!

PRAYER!!!!!!!! 

YOU GUYS ROCK MY WORLD AND EVERYTHING IN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are interested in giving financially to Streetwise Outreach go to tscnyc.org and click on donate.  Follow the directions to missions and select MORALES FAMILY / ZAMBIA.  

highs and lows

As I sit here trying to find words to express what is in my heart I am finding myself oppressed with a severe case of writers block .

HOW do I put it all down on paper!?  

I have experienced extreme highs and lows in the past six weeks since we have opened the center.   

The high of moving forward in the ministry.  The high of knowing that we are in the center of God’s will and doing EXACTLY what we are supposed to be doing.  You know that high?  Kinda makes one feel invincible.  

AND the lows…..the lows of reality that we can’t reach everyone.  The low of reality that not everyone wants the help we offer.  That we can extend ourselves and sacrifice until we are blue in the flipping face and still it will at times get thrown back into our faces.  Deals with the invincible feelings, thats for sure! 

THEN!!!!!  The high again!!!!  This time the high of the reality that none of this has A DARN TOOTIN THING to do with me!  The reality of the high that Jesus won the victory on the cross and that the work we do in Streetwise is all about Jesus!!!  It actually has nothing to do with the Morales Family Clan or even the precious homeless babies of Lusaka.  IT IS ALL JESUS YOU GUYS!!!!  It is all about the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf on the cross, NOT about the “sacrifice” I make by living in Africa.  That doesn’t impress Him one bit!!!  What he wants is a broken spirit and a contrite heart.  The work of Streetwise Outreach and Craft Co is simply an overflow of the abundance of grace and mercy that has been poured into my own undeserving heart. 

It takes the pressure off!!!  The pressure of thinking that it is our responsibility to get these kids into heaven, the pressure and burden of seeing that kids who have never been given a fighting chance in life are given one….the list is endless…….

Those pressures belong to Jesus!  My responsibility is to make sure they know they have a choice, that they have the information in their hands to make the choice to follow Christ.   

All I have to do is walk in obedience everyday to what Jesus has called me to.  The rest is up to Him! 

If you are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted today, I pray that these words encourage you today and lift the burden of pressure from your shoulders.  Rest in Jesus!!  Let Him carry the burden for you!  Let him take the load of responsibility!  

WOW!!!  Look at that!  I think I was freed from my writers block!  YEAH!