June 24

                  Today our team went to a special needs orphanage.  We met and comforted children and others who were into their 20s and even older.  The people there had a large variety of disabilities.  When we first walked into one of the rooms,  I was a bit shocked at how drastic some of the disabilities were.  We had the amazing opportunity of talking to some of these people, and just comforting others.  I realized when I saw these children and older people that I sometimes forget about the lives that disabled people live.  Most of these people are stuck 24/7 at that care center, constantly needing medical attention.  I realized how important it is to minister to those people.  They are not able to constantly interact with others.  Most of them are able to do very little outside of their home at the care center.  Going back to the U.S., I have a better heart for the disabled.  Now I strive to seek them out more and care for them.

     The second ministry that we went to was called Buena Semilla, or "The Good Seed".  It was in a poor neighborhood highly influenced by gangs.  It is a place for kids to go when they are not in school.  They can go there when there parents cannot watch over them or when they need a meal.  This place allows kids to do things like PE and Art, and most importantly the kids learn about God and His Word.  The goal of this ministry is to spread God's Word through the surrounding neighborhood, and to help the kids be in Jesus and live godly lives, even though they have grown up with evil surrounding them.  Some of the kids have seen one of their parents get killed by gangs.  Others have seen their parents kill people.  Many of the kids have parents that are alcoholics and drug-addicts.  When I went to this ministry, I was amazed that God's Word was shining right in the middle of a dark place of violence and gangs.  God can work in awesome ways, right in the middle of  darkness.  There were many awesome people at this ministry who are bringing God to these kids who live in corrupted situations.  It was awesome to see that these kids respond to God's Word at this ministry.  Even though they live in a bad area, this place gives them hope.

-Cal Anderson