So there we were...in a poor barrio on the outskirts of Mendoza, Argentina. We arrived earlier in the day and helped serve the kids a cope de leche (cup of milk) and some bread. A couple hundred kids flow through the little room of tables and chairs in shifts as school lets out.
Fridays are special. The youth, 14-20+, meet in the newly aquired room next door to play games, guitar, or just talk. About 9:30 pm we performed our drama (called "Everything" to the song by Lifehouse) in the streetlight on the dirt and gravel road. Over 40 kids sat still as stones, watching intently. Kate shared about her life, how she had no purpose, felt empty, took drugs and how she met Jesus. She told them about the purpose, and life and newness she has now as she walks with Him. Dave started to say something to the kids after she had finished, but a guy in the crowd stood up and interupted him saying, "I have a question for her," as he pointed to Kate. Through translation he asked her if she had really taken drugs before and how it felt.
Every eye was fixed on these two. Kate answered, "Yes, I did. It felt great. But it only lasted for an hour or two, then I felt really low again." Gabriel, this guy, a ringleader in the area, asked her, "what made you change your life? Why did you choose Jesus? I'm high right now and I feel great." She answered him, "I just want to tell you one thing." He started to ask her another question, and she stopped him saying, "just a second, first I want to tell you one thing. Do you want to know the reason why I chose Jesus, why I haven't gone back to my life as it was before? Because I am forgiven. That is the best thing in the world. I am free. He has forgiven me for everything I've done wrong. And that freedom is permanent."
Others walking up to see what was happening were instantly shushed by the crowd as they clung to each word. The conversation went on, Gabriel asked a few other people on our team about their lives. When the conversation moved on to a private conversation between Gabriel, Esteban (the man who runs the Cope de Leche) and a couple others, the crowd of kids remained still, unmoving for several minutes. It was as if they were captivated by a sense of wonder. It was the Spirit of God.
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