Memo part 2

Hey everyone,

The other day we went to the beach with the Didsbury Zion Youth team. I know, tough life.
Their time here is winding down as they will be leaving on Monday. If you read our previous blog entry, you will know that Memo (Guillermo) is a new believer who accepted Christ at a church family camp about a week ago. It has been a joy to see him jump right into ministry with the Didsbury team this week- orphanage ministry, fun outings and outreaches with our ministry in the poor area where he used to buy drugs. He has done all this with English speakers from Alberta even though he doesn't speak English!

Anyway as we were at the beach I was translating for one of the leaders and Memo. Memo told me a story that they write books about! Here is what I mean. Memo said that he was involved in a plan to assault a man who was going to be carrying a bunch of money. It was a simple plan, just jump the guy and take the money. These simple plans can sometimes go wrong as we know, and lives can be ruined forever. The plan was made and Memo was to be the guy to carry it out. So he was set and ready as the appointed day neared. Then he started doubting the plan and he began wresting within himself with doing such a thing, even though theft etc had been part of his life for many years.

Thursday night came along and the 2 friends that Sheri and I have been pouring into invited Memo to the church family camp over Easter weekend. Memo accepted, relenting to the still small voice inside that had been calling him for the last few weeks. He wanted to come to the church and see what it was all about. Once he arrived, he found a caring family with open arms. Of course not everyone was waiting with open arms, but he got to know some people and I was blessed to be one of them. He felt like people cared and he felt like he was starting to belong. This community felt so much more authentic than his "gang" in his neighborhood. Memo was becoming attached.

Then Friday night at a camp fire, the gospel was presented and a call to surrender to Christ was offered. Memo willingly gave his heart to Christ with tears streaming down his cheeks. He had found purpose and a place to belong.

As we wrapped up our talk at the beach Memo finished with this, "the assault was supposed to happen on Saturday , (he pauses- his eyes watering), look at the goosebumps on my arms".

Isn't God good? Wow, again, I marvel at how He works and His timing. Christ saved Memo from the trap Satan had set for him on Saturday, and He used His church to do it! Shouldn't love and accpetance and a sense of belonging in the church be replacing those same things young men look for in gangs? Memo is now experiencing the authentic version of what he was seeking.

Pray for him as he overcomes his addictions. He told me he has good days and hard days. The youth team leaves on Monday as I mentioned and the activity level will go way down as people get back into their routines. That might even be harder for Memo as he will have to go back home to his neighborhood where all the temptations will be. PRAY FOR HIM! He wants to find a job and start university, studying to become a Physed Teacher. I can vouch for him, God has certainly gifted Memo with kids!

Thank you for praying and lifting up Memo.