Yo te amo

Dejenme contarles una historia…

Hace muchisimos anos habia una mujer que estaba casada, ella y su marido tenian problemas, estaban pasando por un momento en su vida en el que era bien dificil para ellos el pasar tiempo juntos y simplemente ser un matrimonio.

Un dia esta mujer se sentia muy sola y decidio salir al parque a caminar porque no sabia que mas hacer para sentirse mejor… Mientras estaba sentada en el parque ella conocio a un hombre el cual se identifico mucho con ella porque estaba pasando por los mismos problemas y empezaron una amistad.

No mucho tiempo despues estos dos amigos se empezaron a gustar, hasta que empezaron una relacion y a su vez ambos enganando a sus esposos.

En el tiempo donde ellos estaban viviendo, habian unas leyes bien fuertes que decian que si alguien le era infiel a su esposo o esposa debian morir apedreados.

Era un domingo por la manana y la mujer queria ver a este hombre que habia venido a su vida a “llenar” ese vacio que su esposo no podia llenar… Se pusieron de acuerdo y fueron a cenar juntos y despues se fueron a un hotel.

El dueno del hotel era un amigo del esposo de la senora y ella no sabia; Asi que el esposo vino y la encontraron cometiendo adulterio.

Esta historia no es real pero no se cuantos de ustedes estan familiarizados con una historia muy similar que sucedio en el libro de Juan en la Biblia.

Esta es una historia real, esta mujer esta tirada en el suelo despues de ser sorprendida enganando a su esposo y los hombres se la llevan a este hombre llamado Jesus.

Ahora, dejenme hablarles un poco de El.

Jesus es el Hijo de Dios. Fue enviado al mundo para que pudieramos tener una relacion con el Dios Padre de una manera mas profunda.

El vivio en la tierra por 33 anos y en los ultimos dias de su vida antes de que lo mataran por ser extraordinario, por hacer Milagros que nunca nadie antes habia hecho, El sufrio persecucion de los fariseos, los que no creian en El.

Entonces volvamos a mi historia, vamos a leer lo que dice:

En el 8:5 dice: Y en la Ley, Moises nos ordeno apedrear a esta clase de mujeres. Tu pues que dices?

6: Decian esto, poniendo a prueba a Jesus, para tener de que acusarlo. Pero Jesus se inclino y con el dedo escribia en la tierra.

7: Pero como insistian en preguntar Jesus se enderezo y les dijo: El que de ustedes este sin pecado, sea el primero en tirarle una piedra.

Dejame contarte un poco sobre el contexto en el que esto estaba sucediendo.

Los Fariseos traen a la mujer no solo queriendo que se haga justicia, tambien ellos quieren probar a Jesus. Si el decia que la apedrearan entonces el estaba tomando la autoridad que solo los Romanos podian tener, pero si el decia que no, estaba violando la Ley.

Mientras El se encuentra en esta situacion, El no escoge hacer lo que era lo mas conveniente para El, sino que el habla verdad y en Amor dice: El que este sin pecado entonces puede acusarla…

Todos nosotros sabemos que siempre fallamos, que por mas que tratamos siempre vamos a pecar, y estoy hablando de cosas diarias, no amando a nuestro amigo (a), mentira, etc… Y Dios, con todo su amor, aunque le duele que nosotros mismos nos hagamos dano, Su amor esta ahi, El siempre nos va a extender su Gracia!

Notemos lo que dice en el 9, despues de que Jesus dice esto, todos los que querian apedrear a la mujer se empiezan a retirar.

El unico que se queda ahi es Jesus y la mujer y El le dice: Donde estan? Ya no habia nadie… Y el unico que puede juzgarla le dice: Vete y no peques mas!

Si estamos frente al Creador del Universo, al Dios que nos creo y que nos ama, y lo unico que El conoce de nosotros es que hemos pecado, como esta mujer… El dice: Vete y no peques mas… El no pregunta, bueno como fue que paso? Porque lo hiciste? Cuantas veces lo has hecho? El dice: Vete y no lo hagas mas!

Eso es lo que El te dice hoy: No importa tu pasado, porque has tomado tantas malas decisions, porque andas en mentira, porque estas violando una Ley, porque solo has pensado en ti mismo… El te dice, Ve, tus pecados son perdonados, Yo te amo. No peques mas!!! Yo te AMO!!

Love

 Andrea is one of my friends from the streets; she is a beautiful costarrican chica. 
Cristina is my sister in law. Her and my brother called me a couple of weeks ago to tell me that I was going to be an auntie. 
 She made my day I love kids!!! One more person to love in my life I thought...

The team and myself went to the streets some weeks ago. It was a Saturday night and I got to talk to Andrea. I usually park the van close to them and go and sit on the sidewalk and spend some time with her and a couple more girls that are always there...
As soon as we sat, she started sharing that minutes before we arrived she founded out that she was pregnant. It was obvious that she wasn’t really happy with the idea... We invited them for a dinner the following week...

They came Friday to the Cafe and the whole topic during dinner it was how she was going to tell her husband about her being pregnant and he wasn’t the father... (Her husband is in jail)

The day after, we whent to give coffee away and she was there again... this time she was by herself and first thing she told me as soon as she saw me was: I just prayed to God and told Him, "if you don’t want me to abort this baby send me a signal"... You guys are that signal, she said... I know that God doesn’t want me to do it... (She meant to abort the baby…)

Inside of me I was jumping because I was so happy to hear that she wasn’t doing to do it... I was struggling also at the same time as I was explaining to her how much God loves us and that anything that she will do will not change the Love that God has for her (the hardest part for me it was to actually think that even that if she abort, God's Love will remain the same...)
We prayed with her and I left that place trusting God that she would make a wise decision...  

Wednesday morning my brother called me saying that my sister in law was at the hospital and that she lost her baby... My heart was broken; I loved that baby already... I went to my brother's house and all together we prayed and thank God that Cristina was ok and that He is faithful, He promise that for those who Love Him everything will work for good!

The Same day at night I called Andrea... she said, remember what I told you I was going to do... I DID IT... (She aborted. In Costa Rica abortion is illegal so she bought some medicine and killed the baby...)

I asked her how she felt and she said that she was bleeding a lot... She also mentioned that she didn’t have any food and that she was thinking about going out to the streets to work... 
We got her some groceries and visited her at her house... she seam to be ok...
Two days later around 10:30pm I got a call from her saying that she was at the hospital... We got there and she was very sick. She said: I can’t believe that you are the ones here with me at the hospital! No one else was there...
What happened was that the baby was still inside of her but dead... 
 She is ok now...
Its hard to express what is in my heart... of course I feel sad but in the mist of it to know that God is with me, with us, with both of the woman that in different ways are suffering... 
It’s “easy” to say God is a good God, He will never forsake us, and He is faithful! But when you are in the mist of situations where you need to choose to believe and to choose to receive His love and to "show" Love… in those moments when you don’t understand people's decisions... Are you willing to do it…?

I can say today that, God's Love feels more real than last week... His Love is just more real than before! And I believe that for Christina and Andrea's life it is the same!

Every situation that we face in life is a new opportunity to grow, to learn, to choose, to Love, to get closer to the One in whom we can put our Hope!!!!

We made it!!!

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT MADE THIS DAY A DAY THAT ANY OF US WILL NOT FORGET!

 Luke 18:16

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

On my b-day...

I don't know if you know... But!! my Birthday is really soon!!! Next Sunday I will turn 27! Wow... no comments on that haha...

Soooo, as I was talking today with one of the ladies that we met on the streets, she shared that the next week is her son's birthday as well. She asked me... So, what do you want to do that day??  I actually didn't know what to say... But she went off telling me about her son that he wants to have a party in MacDonalds... He wants a costume party with all his friends...

I don't know if you remember but went you are 5 your b-day parties are a big thing to you...

Let me tell you more about her...
We met Silvia around a year ago, she was one of the people that it was hard to gain her trust... I remember really clear her saying... "Do you think that you are gonna safe me from the streets just by coming and offer me a coffee"...  After a time she is in a place in her life that she doesn't want to be in the streets anymore... She used a word yesterday to describe the streets as "I don't belong there anymore"... We believe that God is taking her in a new path... and I believe that God wants to show her His faithfulness and that He cares for her son's birthday party!!

I AM NOT USED TO ASKING FOR A BIRTHDAY PRESENT. BUT, WHAT IF I ASK YOU FOR A PARTY FOR RAUL ANIBAL VILLALOBOS RODRIGUEZ AS A PRESENT FOR MY BIRTHDAY...? 


If we all put some money together then I can pay for a party for him and also I can buy him an outfit  to wear that day!!!

What do you think...???? I think that this is an amazing opportunity to bless a kid and also His mom that doesn't have the money to celebrate her only child's birthday...

I need to raise $250!! His birthday is the 21st and I need to pay this Friday to be able to separate the date in MacDonalds.

Some pictures of me visiting my friends on the streets...

After not eating for a whole day, you wanted ice cream...?

A couple of days ago I got a call from this lady that we have been working with in the last year... She mentioned that she had not eaten since the day before because the streets are really low (no clients) so she hardly made any money to buy food...
I took her to get something to eat...We got together and I asked what she wanted to eat and she answer  that she wanted ice cream... we began to talk...
I sat there for over an hour just listening to her talking about all her problems and as she talked the Lord told me that for her it wasn't about the food... she just needed someone to LISTEN to her and that's why God got me there at that time...
You know... as she shared all her problems I did not have any idea how to help her, I have never been in a situation like that before... But God reminded me that it is all about Him... I can't do ANYTHING by my self, I will get tired, I will get frustrated, I will feel that there is no Hope, BUT!  God promises to be there for her every time and He is the only one that can actually do something for her...
God I pray that You help us to take every step by your side, help us to look first up to You and to never put things on our shoulders but to just give everything BACK to YOU!!

God told her: Bring your Bible and put on your red Toms shoes...

Someone ask her to find a driver to take the school  (DTS) to do ministry  with the homeless in down town... She had some stuffs to do but she liked the idea of going and doing that ministry that moves her heart, so she decided that she would do it herself.

When she went upstairs to get her drive licence, the Holy Spirit spoke to her... He said: Bring your bible and put on your red Toms shoes... You mean my favorite bible and my favorite shoes...?

She obeyed... 

Hi Don Godofredo! she said to a friend of her that she hasn't seen for over a year in the streets! 

He started to share with her how he left the streets about a year ago and that God is playing the main roll in his life... He also shared so many ways that God has show him His Love. 

She asked him if she could pray... He replied  really excited. Yes, please! 

He told her at the end of the prayer... Can I ask you just for one thing...? Sure she said. I would really Love to have a bible! Can you find one for me? As soon as he said that she knew that the bible that she had brought was for him... Godofredo was really happy with the bible!

In the other side of the road Patricia was talking with one of the guys from our group and this chica went there and sat. 

As the conversation went on the Holy Spirit spoke again and told her... The shoes that you are wearing are for Patricia... 

She told Patricia... Since I was in my house God told me to bring this shoes and now I understand why... because I know that this shoes are for you... As soon as she said that Patricia started taking out her shoes and got the red toms and try them on... They fit her perfectly!! 

This happened to me last Thursday... 

 I felt challenge... 

We should ask God every day, what He want us to DO/ PRAY/ SERVE/ GIVE/ BRING...

 TODAY, EVERYDAY!!!

It wasn't a "normal" Saturday night...

In my culture a b-day without a cake is not a cumpleaños...

Last night we went to the streets. There was a team from states that came along with us so we split in two groups. One went with Elizabeth to the main park where all the male prostitutes are and I drove the van around the city giving away coffee and cookies to the woman and man in prostitution.

I saw again Javier... He is one of the transvestites that I have known for a long time but since Holland I haven't see him. I asked Javier for this other guy Jonathan (one of the transvestites that I love like my youngest brother)... I got his phone number and I called him... He told me really excitedly: Today is my Birthday!!! He was working that night so I said, I will be there in a little bit so I can see you again...

Not too much longer I got a call from Elizabeth (12:00am). Paola, there is a situation, I have with me two ladies and 2 little girls that don't have a place to stay, they are from Nicaragua...

My mind was really focus in Jonathan and how to celebrate his day!...

So I said to Elizabeth, find a taxi and give them some money so they can go to a Hotel and sleep there. She replied... I will call you back soon...

I went really happy with the girls to a store and bought a cake and candles for my friend...

Elizabeth called again... I said, I will go there and find out what is really happening because I was really confused. I met them at a restaurant that she took them to for some food.

As I entered the restaurant. My heart broke when I met Little Paola (6) and Leticia (7) and the two woman. I asked some questions as I was trying to figure out there situation...
They left Nicaragua to come for a "better life". That same day they got left by this Coyote (trafficker) who stole everything from them and left them in the side of the road... So, there we were, with this situation and these four women in the most vulnerable situation that they could ever be...

As the cake started melting because of the heat in the floor of the car... we decided to take them and find a hotel for them.

In situations like this, vulnerable people are taken advantage of and human trafficking takes place. So as the team and I find a hotel, I praised the Lord for giving us the opportunity to be His hands and feet!!

We carried the two little princess out of the car to the Hotel because they had fallen asleep in the waiting...

1am: we paid the Hotel for them and some friends of mine put some extra money to give them for the bus for next day for them to try to get to this farm that  is where some of their family was...

I called Jonathan and he was waiting for me... I drove to meet him and then he said he was with a client so I waited for him to finish... finally He did. I figured out that I was waiting in the wrong street and that is why I did not see him... As I started driving I called again to make sure he was there... I got confused with the streets and when I finally made it... He was gone... I called again and he said... Today has been a bad day (work wise) so I needed to take this other client again and I don't know how long will take... I almost cried... I just said to him that I got him a cake but we would celebrate it in another day...

Freedom Street ministries

A quick Update on the Ministry...

As most of you know, Elizabeth Gilroy, Ingrid Rong and myself recently attended the Shine Conference in Amsterdam, Holland on prostitution ministry and human trafficking. Since that conference we have been working to build the structure and essence of our ministry so we can officially present it to the leadership of YWAM San Jose, Costa Rica. 

We cannot move forward in ministry without the release and blessing of our base leadership.

We believe in the authority and covering of leadership in ministry and God that has put us all at the YWAM San Jose base with a passion to offer hope and transformation in the streets of San Jose. We know this is God's idea both in the authority structure and our passion in ministry so we believe He will work through our leadership to demonstrate His purposes for our lives and ministry, regardless of the outcome.

Please pray with us over the next few days as we present our ministry to the leadership on Friday morning. Our hearts are full of excitement but also of surrender to His leadership and the orchestration of this ministry.

Thank you for much for your prayers.

The Seminar is over...?

Shine Seminar Graduation

The school is over. Six weeks went by really fast... I am back in Costa Rica! :)

There is a couple of thoughts that I would like to share with you...

Finding God...

During this time in Amsterdam I found myself feeling lonely so many times and it was a struggle for me... maybe the culture, maybe the base, I don't know the reason, but, I can say that God used that time to work on my heart and I understood more about His Love. I remember in the past whenever I felt like that I always call someone or when to party... Today I can say how good it feels to be able to find God and to know that He is here with me and that I can trust Him in every single thing in my life and that is not a matter of people around, or a husband, or family etc... But to know that God would never leave me and that He is with me (us) all the time!!

 ¹The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 

 ² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
 ³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
   for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
   through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
   for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
   they comfort me. Salm 23

My journey...

Many times is easy to put on the burning of ministry or decisions or daily worries and feel tired and hopeless... one more time I was remain to stop, and think, and to tell myself that He is The One doing the impossible, That I just need to be as close as I can to His heart and just follow Him. 

It's all about walking by faith and trusting God, is not about me but about Him. 

 ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
   and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
   and he will make your paths straight. Prov 3:5-6

You can give your heart to Jesus while you are working in prostitution...

Last week we had the opportunity to meet this awesome woman, She came to our class to share her testimony with us. Her name is Denice, she is married and have 4 kids.

Her whole story it was just amazing. After being drug addict, almost abort her first child and ending up working as a prostitute here in Amsterdam for more then ten years and while she was in the process trying to get out off it she ended again in the windows but this time because of a "lover boy" (pimp).

Sometimes it can be overwhelming to hear this stories or to be in this kind of school where almost every day you talk about heavy stuffs like human trafficking, but after hearing Denice's story really encourage me, it was because of the faithfulness of the ladies that are working here in the ministry that Denice accepted Jesus in her heart. Today she is a mom, a wife and a witness of the hope that she have found in Jesus Christ.

We also have a time to ask her questions and so I ask her... Denice, I have been working in Costa Rica with the woman that works in prostitution and I would like to ask you, what is the best advice that you can give me as a person working with people involved in this issue?  She answer: Never tell a prostitute that once she accept Jesus in her heart she can not work as a prostitute any more! Jesus is the One that is going to do the transformation in that person's life, He is the only one that have the power to transform Her and it would take time... When I accept Jesus I keep working and I pray and still worked... "You can give your heart to Jesus while you work in prostitution because God is the only one that can help you step out" "You can get out of prostitution but the Prostitution can't get out of you until Jesus comes and set you free." Denice

Shine Seminar

I am enjoying every single moment of this Seminar, this is the week number 4 and I am really excited to keep learning more and more! The seminar is for 6 weeks so really soon I will be saying good bye to Amsterdam.

As we prepare to go back to Costa Rica I would appreciate your prayers for wisdom and guidance from the Lord to make decisions and take the next step as Ministry!


paola.arce@ywamsj.org

Where am I going?...

Before I did my discipleship training school (DTS) with Youth with a Mission in 2008 I thought that I have my life all figure it out... God changed all my plans and I am writing this with a smile on my face! God came to my life to radically give me a new direction.

Since January 2009 I have been working as a full time volunteer with YWAM. God gave me the opportunity to staff at the base in San Jose Costa Rica for the last couple of years joining the different ministries and since then I have seen God's hand guiding me step by step in the calling that He have for me.     

I began visiting the streets as a way of build relationships with the woman and man that works in prostitution about 2 years ago. I felt really strong that God wants me to work in this area of Human Trafficking and Prostitution. Last year I went to Mexico to do a Leadership Training School so I could start pioneering the ministry. With this vision burning in my heart, I carried this passion until in recent months others  have joined what is now a ministry called A Street Named Freedom. 

astreetnamedfreedom.blogspot.com

After praying and seeking God for the plans that He have for me I decide to commit for the next 5 years. I am secure that God wants me this year in CR and I am open to keep hearing His voice if he wants me to start this ministry in other location also in the years to come. 

I want my life to reflect the power of the Lord and my testimony to be an example of the freedom that is in Jesus. To proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to  bind up the brokenhearted, bringing hope to those who doesn't have it and making the difference in this generation and building on Biblical foundations for the future generations. 

Financial Support 

For the past two years I have seen God providing for all my needs! I went to Mexico and He provide all the money I needed, I am in Amsterdam and He also gave me all the money to pay for my ticket and the training fees. Thank You Lord, You are faithful!!

For me to be able to serve the Lord full time I need people to partner with me. I want to give you the opportunity to be part of what God is doing through me in Costa Rica. As I share before, I want to be in missions long term but I can't do it without financial support. 

Needs: I need at least $600 per month, to pay rent, food, insurance, power etc... all the expenses that I need to cover monthly.  

Would you please Pray and Ask the Lord?

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
   my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on hER,
   and SHe will bring justice to the nations." 

Isaiah 42:1

Name of US Bank:
Citibank New York
SWIFT: CITIUS33
ABA: 021000089
For Credit in Account: 36017429
Name of Costa Rica Bank: Banco Citibank de
Costa Rica, S.A.
For further credit to account: 260331 uniempd-2
Name on Account: CIMEC
Banco Citibank de Costa Rica Address:
Apartado 5884
San Jose, 1000
Costa Rica

My moms account is:
Bank of America
Liliam V Rodriguez
0476235661

(Please don't forget to put my name on the deposit or wire transfer) 

You also can click Donate and do a pay pal transfer! 

Any question Please contact me paolaarce_rj@hotmail.com 

Blessings & Love
Paola Arce

Europe?

GOD Where You go, I go!  What you say, I say...

Before I when to Mexico for the LTS (Leadership training school) I have a dream/vision and I saw a house and in that house there was prostitutes and transvestites hanging out and it was like a coffee shop in the red light street in San Jose... I saw bibles and I saw a name it was Light House. 

I month latter I was in Mexico on skype with the YWAM base in Costa Rica and Amsterdam talking about the ministry that we want to start in CR and getting some advice from them since they have been working in  Amsterdam  for over 14 years. While she was talking, this lady mentioned something about Light House and my dream came to my mind...as she started to describe the house that they have she was also describing what I saw that night on my vision... Crazy!

She invited us to the Shine Seminar taking place at the Light House at the YWAM base in Amsterdam but I didn't really thought that I would have the money to attend it.

Today I am writing this in Norway, God didn't just gave me the opportunity to come to Amsterdam in a miracle way but also I got a friend that wanted me to come to Norway so she pay for my ticket so I got to come here and God open the doors for me and Ingrid (also working with the ministry in CR, she is from Norway) to share about what we are doing back in San Jose, we visit churches and we have a couple of interviews with 2 newspaper and we got about $3000 for the ministry and people that wants to support the ministry monthly. Praise God! 

Today I am one day away to leave Norway and to go to Amsterdam for 6 weeks to attend the Seminar!!

 http://www.ywamamsterdam.org/training/shine/ 

Attending this seminar we will be able to learn more and to get advice from them to go and continue doing the ministry in Costa Rica. I believe that God want's us to go there and I also know that God is preparing us for something big that He have for Costa Rica! 

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, 

   because the LORD has anointed me 

   to proclaim good news to the poor. 

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 

   to proclaim freedom for the captives 

   and release from darkness for the prisoners 

Isaiah 61

They need your prayers

LET ME INTRODUCE YOU THREE OF THE WOMAN THAT WE HAVE BEEN VISITING IN SAN JOSE DOWN TOWN. ( I am not saying there names for safety, if you want to commit to pray for them please send me you email so I can share with you there pictures and names)

-I am 38 years old, I am from Costa Rica.

I have five kids, Ana Karen she is 23, Paola Mariana is 17, Heiner Alejandro is 15, Veronica Andrea 7 years old.

I have been working in prostitution for 20 years.

My first daughter is the fruit of a sexual abuse; One day after I finished working I was going home and a group of guys took me and raped me. I was only 14.

After that not knowing what to do, I told my dad and he never believed me. He even told me it was my own fault. When Ana was born I decided to give her to a family because I knew that I was too young to take care of a child. Since then I haven’t had communication with my daughter but I know that she is doing ok.

I started working on the streets as a prostitute out of desperation, I needed money and also I felt dirty after what happen to me. One on my friends worked on the streets for a while, and by this time she had found herself a guy who took care of her, so I was hoping for the same thing. I was all alone.

A couple months ago I accepted Jesus into my heart and life, and I have already seen a lot of changes.

I still work in the streets but I am tired of it and ready to stop this life style. Please pray for my kids and for strength on me, and wisdom for how to make the changes I need, and for a way out of this life…

-I am 32 years old. I’m from San Jose, Costa Rica.

I have four children, who I love very much. Amber Michelle is 13, Maria Rose is 10, Julian Jesus is 4 and then Camilo Fabian who is only 1 year and 9 months old.  

I grew up with my mom and my stepfather, but when I was 13 years old I left my home, and I started selling myself on the streets.  Now I’m still here, after 19 years, but I want to get out of it.

I want changes in my life. And most of all I want to be able to be the mom my children need. Right now I’m not able to take care of them, and they are placed with different families.