God's Love On the Streets

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Published: Sunday, 24 July 2016 14:30

Written by Corina Clements Soria

PART ONE:  (I started writing this over a week ago… “Friendship on the Streets” was from July 11 to 15)

We just came out of our week-long “trial” of “Friendship on the Streets”… overall, it went well… and it was neat to see it all come together… and witness, once again, God´s hand in big and small things… like someone returning my purse (with El Jordán´s money and my documents) after I lost it on an early morning shopping trip to the vegetable market… and in finding the right place to buy the hygiene products for our gifts… and more…

When I priced the hygiene products for our gifts, vendor after vendor would turn away, ignore me, say “no” or say they´d tell me when I came back with money when they realized I wasn´t actually buying!!! At the last stall, I was bracing myself for the same reaction when the lady offered me a chair… and the best prices…  In the end, on top of great prices, the lady gave boxes of stuff to give away to our girls or other centers that needed them!  On Saturday, she gave me a call to see how “Friendship on the Streets” had gone… So, it worked out that it was good that I ran into so many rude people that first day!

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Two Petitions

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Published: Sunday, 03 July 2016 14:30

Written by Corina Clements Soria

What makes YOU get a lump in your throat?

Seeing the underdog or the oppressed NOT.GIVE.UP does it for me.  That person who, when everyone else has long completed the race, keeps on running, limping, or stumbling to cross that finish line. Wow.  I´m getting a lump in my throat just thinking about it!

Another thing that “does it for me”, are those people who come alongside of that faltering figure… encouraging them, spurring them on…  when the majority are already celebrating "the winner" ...

Maybe that is why one of my favourite all time books is “Good News about Injustice: a Witness of Courage in a Hurting World” by Gary A. Haugen.  The book walks you through verse after verse in the Bible pointing the reader to the God of Justice and what our response should be.  Phillip Yancey´s comment on this book is, “A book of prophetic and vital significance.  Gary Haugen has pioneered in a field where Christians should be at the forefront.”   Read it!

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Where We Are At TODAY

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Published: Monday, 27 June 2016 14:30

Written by Corina Clements Soria

Warning: This is a letter that has taken me 6 months to write… it´s long, detailed but it explains some changes we are going through... Kudos to anyone who actually wades through it all...

Time has flown since that day in 1995 when God first “branded” the street kids on my heart… and as day turns to night and back to day again, years and seasons go by; and life now seems barely recognizable in comparison to those "early days"...

Babies, who I had the privilege of naming, now have their own babies… Little kids who I held tight in the midst of their chaos, are now mothers of as many as 5 kids… Skinny little 11 year old “Mono” who I met in the “shoe shiner park” is now an almost thirty year old who works at our boys´ shops… I have lost count of how many kids (of all ages) whose grave I´ve stood beside, where I´ve been asked to say a prayer or read a verse…

Sometimes I think I should still be in my twenties… or thirties… Then I look in the mirror… and remember that I´m racing through my forties!!!

Life twenty years ago was much simpler… I had one key… my bed and everything else was borrowed… my possessions were a two burner stove, a pot and a frying pan… no vehicle… I had a budget of about $35 a month where I didn´t eat much… I could take one “micro” (little bus) a day (and walked the rest)… I didn't have to worry about utility bills or mechanics… accidents or meetings… My life basically boiled down to walking and talking and being with street kids… Sleeping, waking up and doing the same thing all over again…

As in anyone´s life… in any part of the world, 20 years have brought major changes in life, ministry and our country...

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I Believe...

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Published: Wednesday, 08 June 2016 14:30

Written by Corina Clements Soria

Hi there…  I´m sorry to bombard you with so many El Jordán things lately… but this video is just such a great overview of the last 15 years at El Jordán… Every time I watch it I am overwhelmed by who God is… and all He has done…  Enjoy!!!

This is the note Heidi put on Facebook with the video:

It's finally up!!!  In October of 2015 we celebrated 15 yrs of God's faithfulness over El Jordan ... this powerpoint was made remembering many of those times ... due to many tech glitches, third world internet and problems that the greatest tech guys stumbled over .. we finally have it on the internet to share with all of you!!  A huge thank you to all who worked on helping us get this up, (Calgary, Kelowna, Bolivia, Spain, and Kansas City) and huge thank you to God for His care over us!

The song that is playing in the background in Spanish is Hillsong´s “This I Believe - The Creed”. Just in case you want to listen to the song afterwards in English here is the link: This I Believe (The Creed) - Hillsong Worship.