Rivers in the Desert

Estrella de Poniente - Part III

A City On A Hill

God has been moving in power in this Colonia for some time.  One thing the Spirit has made clear is that what God is doing in Estrella de Poniente is unique.  Many residents of the Colonia are newer Christians.  All of them have been touched by the IFM outreaches in the past.  It has been neat to see as God begins to build fellowship.  And as we meet more and more Christians, we find that He has been bringing many to His throne of mercy throughout Estrella de Poniente.

Geographically, the Colonia is located on a mesa formation, above a highly populated valley below.  Especially at night, the Colonia is very clearly visible for a long way off.  However, it is not just physically set apart, it also has NO gang problem.  Which for all of the surrounding Colonias is a persistant and severe problem.  While the Colonia does have its share of problems, many residents (including those who have not been born again) believe that God has protected them.

Many within the Colonia believe that as the IFM buses started coming God began to move in power there.  Subsequently many have given their lives into the hands of the living God.  Additionally, as the Colonia grows, houses are improving dramatically.  Houses that were once one room pallet shacks are quickly becoming 1-2 room cinder block homes.  As of yet, there are still no emmenities such as sewer or running water.  However, within recent times, the electric company has built all of the necessary infrastructure to begin safely serving the residents of the Colonia.  It's fair to say that Colonia Estrella de Poniente is an up and coming Colonia.  All of this is seen as God's blessing being poured out in the Colonia. 

Consistently the Lord has healed many.  Including a boy we met on our first trip.  Jesus Armando was suffering with Luekemia and all though he was receiving sporatic treatment seemed to be worsening.  Jesus' father had died a year and a half earlier.  Jesus' sister suffered with epilepsy and his mother had no job and they begged for food.  We prayed for them instensly.  I can clearly remember his mother sitting there, looking off in the distance, numb to reality.  The other day I was visiting and I saw Jesus.  I stopped him and spoke with him and the Lord has healed him of his cancer.  His mother confirms this and she herself is a different woman.  She shines with the joy of the Lord.  The amazing thing that God did was to lift up this poorest of poor families.  In addition, He has healed her daughter as well.  She is not taking medication and has been without epilepsy for a long time.  If that weren't enough, Lupe is now working in a factory 4 days a week.  And while this is a hard life.  She credits God for the amazing gifts that He has provided for them.  And they are active participants at a church in downtown Juarez, near the outdoor market.

On another occasion this summer we were in the Colonia with an outreach team.  A woman that we know "Maria" came and asked Kathy Hart if we could send men to pray for her husband who was extremely ill.  He had a very high fever and she was trying to figure out how to get him to the hospital.  A number of team members and I went to see him.  He was indeed very sick and as we layed hands upon him we could feel the intense fever.  As we prayed the Lord moved in power.  All of us felt his flesh cool down dramatically.  When we finished we shared with him the Gospel and he responded and received Jesus.  After this, he told us that he was no longer sick.  God has blessed us by allowing us to pray for a number who desired to heal.

The primary thing that has occurred is the number of those who have received Jesus as their Savior.  It is a bright and hopeful day in the Colonia and it seems as though God has brought a harvest.  God is raising up various Bible studies, etc to begin to feed the many that have placed their trust in Jesus.

Our prayer for the Colonia and we would ask that you would pray as well, is for salvation for the Colonia.  That God would continue to move in power their.  Additionally, please pray that those who have bowed their knee to Jesus would find a church home, either in the Community Center or at a Godly church elsewhere.  Finally, that God would raise these up as fruitful "outreach" minded servants.