the nations are here.

The nations are here!

That’s something that my new friend Margie understands more than anyone I know. This week I have gotten the privilege and honor of working beside her and getting to know her heart for the nations, right here in Houston. She has started a ministry out of St. Cloud Apartment Complex.

In this one apartment complex, there are 26 nations represented. TWENTY-SIX…in this ONE apartment complex. Let that sink in.

Here, many of these families are refugees from their home country. Some can speak English, some speak broken English, some not at all, and most of them can hardly afford to keep food on the table. Margie felt the call to start ministering to the people here, and that’s exactly what she is doing. The heart she has is huge. It’s incredible. We have a lot to learn from this woman.

[Margie and the KSM students]

This week I had the opportunity to partner up with Margie and the Kingsland Student Ministry and to serve the kids at this apartment complex. We were able to love on these kids by having lunch with them, watching a movie, playing games, making crafts, and building relationships.

My heart broke for these kids this week. Some of the stories I have heard about where some of these kids have come from and the joy that these kids show in their face, sometimes don’t add up to me. It’s made me reflect on the way I am living my life. I’ve asked myself, “if I have gone through what some of these kids have, would I still have joy?” I can’t say for sure, but I can tell you that these kids have it. They have joy.

The Lord has really convicted me this week. If you know me, you know my heart for international missions. You know that I have a heart to serve people groups overseas and to love on them. However, this week the Lord has really gotten a hold of me. He’s shown me that yes, I have a heart for overseas missions, but am I also serving the nations that are right here in my backyard? Do I love on the people around me the same way I would love on someone overseas? What am I doing with the nations right in my backyard? Not only serving the nations here, am I serving my friends and family the same way? The kids have really opened my eyes this week and have allowed me to reflect on the way I am living my life. I can’t wait to continue to work with these kids and with Margie. And I can’t wait to work with the nations here.

[Some of the kids dancing & singing]