Posted by Lauren

“When you are truly in love, you go to great lengths to be with the one you love. You’ll drive for hours to be together, even it it’s only for a short while. You don’t mind staying up late to talk. Walking in the rain is romantic, not annoying. You’ll willingly spend a small fortune on the one you’re crazy about. When you are apart from each other, it’s painful, even miserable. He or she is all you think about; you jump at any chance to be together.’- Francis Chan, Soul Cravings

What would happen if we fell in love with God’s people? What would happen if we went to great lengths to serve others or drive for hours because we knew if was going to impact someone for Christ?

As the rain poured down today, we had to cancel the morning kid’s program, and instead do home visitations. It was powerful. Maybe God sent the pouring rain for a reason…because just maybe, someone needed our prayers and love today. I am not talking about conditional love, but Christ’s unconditional, everlasting, persevering, capturing, all-consuming, passionate love. The first visit that my group (Jonatas, Robin, Rodaine, and I) went to was family with eight children. As we sat and listened to the woman through her tears and the sound of rain, she explained her family’s needs, struggles, and pain. Her fourteen year old daughter has drug problems and because of this, the drug dealers have been showing up at their home demanding money. Because of this issue, the parents have had to pay off the dealers, and now have no money to buy food or fix their roof leaks—leaving their children cold and wet at night. Drugs and abuse have hurt her family deeply. She was thankful that we came to pray with her and offer her help. She needed us to come today. After the storm from last night, and leaks all through her house, she was in need of encouragement and God’s love.

The kid’s program went great! Though the rain poured hard, and the streets flooded, we still had about 30 kids or so come. We sang and danced and played goofy games. We ate candy and gave our stickers, and love, and hugs. We took pictures and video taped joyful faces. As we sang, the neighborhood invested with drugs was filled with God’s presence and brought curious faces to hear and see the even. Restoration Ministries has a way of impacting kids, which leads to impacting families and reaching people for Christ.

Nothing can stop God’s love, grace, and hope to spread.

Continue to pray for the people here, for the team, and for Restoration Ministries!! God is doing some great things!