I joined two music team members today as we ventured out into the city to share the Message of Peace. We rode in a taxi for nearly an hour to reach the ‘slum village’ where our translator knew people who would want to hear our stories. We walked down a street filled with piles of trash. Women were tearing open bags and digging through the trash, setting aside any small treasures they found.

We crossed a make-shift wooden bridge covering the raw sewage running parallel to the busy main road and reached our destination. A family welcomed us into their home and wanted to hear our stories.

The three of us sat on the best seat they could offer- their single bed. After greeting the family, a group of people standing in the doorway adjusted and shifted until all 18 of them fit comfortably in our small cramped space. Whoever did not fit inside stood by the doorway, sticking their heads in so they could listen. Our translator told us, “share with the group.” So, Nathan shared his personal story and the message of Jesus. The audience of mostly women listened intently as he told his story of finding peace through Jesus.

When he’d finished, the translator told us that several people wanted us to pray for them.  I laid hands on a woman and her sick baby. Next, two young girls asked for prayer.  Nathan and Martin prayed for the husband whose arm and back pain prevented him from working.

I was really excited when Martin asked me if I wanted to share a story. So I told about the “bleeding woman.” Then Martin read about Jesus and the paralyzed man. Sensing the timing was right to ask if people wanted to know more about eternal peace, our translator and Martin asked the people in the room to “stand up if you want to pray.”

Seven people stood up.

It was as if a cloud of darkness rolled back from the eyes of the women as they stood. Then the posture of the husband shifted from one of despair to hope. As we left, our translator promised to come again and teach them more stories. We began the day asking the Father to show us people who needed to know more–and finished the day watching seven people stand wanting to know.