Meaningful Development

School Truth & Transformation / Speaker Dr.Derek Kirbow / Topic "Community Assessment Guidelines"

When I first came to do my DTS to Hawaii, I didn't have in mind all the many things that God was going to do in this and next seasons. Outreach was way far from my imagination, first because unconsciously I didn't really believe that I could actually go to the South East, second, deep inside, I didn't think I could be a blessing there eighter. Going forward was truly challenging because of my fears.

When I chose Malaysia instead of Vietnam, my heart started to exploit in a non-logical way. I remember seeing colorful shapes of "M's"popping out in the range of reds, pinks, and yellows, expanding and dissolving in the big sky of my mind. When I got there, accompanied by a team of 20 people of all ranges of age, for the first time I wasn't interested at all jumping into Ministry without clear guidance of the Holy Spirit. I had enough experience getting involved with things where God was not leading me in to. I wanted to be faithful.

After hearing all the possibilities where I could serve, each possibility so interesting and meaningful, my ears got opened up when I heard "working with stones of the river", "beads", "counseling and connecting to people through art"... I understood that it was a ministry not yet developed, but the importance was that it was on one of the leader's heart. 

So, without knowing much, I decided to jump into that. I went to the Homeless Shelter where the river stones and beads were. There was this big box with all kinds of beads in a huge variety of colors, shapes, and different models of necklaces to inspire the production. I decided to do an inventory, digitalize everything, and do new models more simple, to be able to follow up in the production and facilitate the next outreaches too. 

When the dining lunchroom would get full of people, I would go down, with some threat and beads, with the only goal to connect to the woman, children, some man. The excuse of doing necklaces, or art, was just hoping to meet their needs. 

Once a week, during the nights, I decided that I was going to serve in the sex workers Ministry too, with the same organization. I had never got involved with Prostitution, I was truly excited until I started to receive a bit of information about the reality of human trafficking in this country. This was my first night. My stomach got really tight. I followed the leader's steps, praying without ceasing, doing my best to be natural, and assertive in my words and body language. I stepped into the darkest night of Malaysia. But in the midst of that, Jesus burst in, smiling, spreading his sweet aroma with love and kindness. He wasn't in a hurry. It was us, incarnating the Son of God.

Even though this experience was powerful and unforgettable, the day after I  was frustrated,  my emotions had me. I was with a bad attitude because I didn't feel capable of visiting them and not fixing the problem. I just wanted to drag the woman out of the streets the fastest possible, because that was the only solution that would make sense to me. What did I have in my hands to offer them? Would making necklaces be an option for making a living?

Because of my Visa, I had to go to Singapore for some days. And through a  friend, I connected to a Christian businessman that had the vision to plant Coffee Shops instead of Churchs in places like China and India to reach out with the Gospel. He was also planning to be the Christian version of Starbucks in places where Christianity is still accepted. He offered me to get involved in the art direction of the project, and I asked him if he would be interested in putting a Coffee Church in Malaysia. 

God was downloading me a strategy for all that I was experiencing. Before that, one day I was a bit anxious and full of uncertainties, accidentally I bumped into a Resort walking on the beach of Malaysia with a friend. We went in, and it turned out to be a beautiful resort for foreigners that had been started to raise funds to bless more than 200 kids with syndrome down that didn't have a proper education because of their disability. God was speaking to me, and I was connecting the dots.

What if the solution "for the sex workers" created a safe place born from the Homeless Shelter to redeem their stories? This initiative would include developing art (necklaces, jewelry), rescuing and redesigning vintage clothes, to be sold in the Boutique - Coffee Shop that could be located in the same building where the Homeless Shelter is, in a perfect tourist spot. We could include the stuff that Human Trafficking girls do too. I had the privilege to meet one of the organizations with the objective to break in with creativity for the confection of attractive necklaces.

Well, to make it short, If I want to go back and do things right there are steps I can't miss take.

What is actually going on in the field today? They already have my perspective from outside, but I have to align myself with the actual challenges that they are facing and see if it's the correct timing to fully develop this project. I need a proper meeting with the leader of the sex workers and work a strategy. 

I need to understand deeply why sex workers are choosing this work instead of others. Ask if they will be interested in dropping this work if we offer something better. I have to see reality through the leader's eyes and the sex workers' eyes. 

I'm aware also of the importance we address correctly the health issues. What do we do with Aids and other sicknesses? What local public services provide them Healthcare, emotional and psychological assessment. Do they have a court system, welfare, counseling, education? We have to connect with organizations that can help us in these particular fields for the benefit of women.

What role is the woman playing? What are their beliefs?  What are their habits and the meaning of their actions? With how much money they live? What projects have failed in their lives? Do they drug themselves? What primary needs do they have? What are the positive things? What are the negatives? How do their children look? Are they attentive to them? What faith groups are predominant? What are the various interventions strategies being used in the community to address poverty? Are the community members ready for a change in the issues we are trying to address? What seems to be holding them back?

"We know that Christ came and died and rose again so that all of Creation would be brought back into the promise of reconciliation." Derek Kirbow

Its necessary to understand deeply the problems that God is calling us to solve. We have to know what people feel and think they need. We have to lift them up and empower "them". We missionaries are called to guide people into their identity and purpose in Christ. Lay our lives down as bridges to model and inspire a better living so women and communities can be restored in the fullness of Christ.

"We cannot hope to help others without understanding the world around us. Using science and technology is taking what we have learned about how the world works and functions and applying methods to bless others physically, care for the world sustainably, and bring people into a relationship with God eternally." Derek Kirbow

 "...and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." Colossians 1:20