I’ve been going to the Street Cleaners Outreach with my care group since June 2020. I still remember it was during the summer season when the street cleaners always heavily sweated all over their necks and faces. We started off by addressing their physical need by distributing face masks to them bi-weekly so that they would have enough supplies. Apart from that, we took one more step to approach them by appreciating their efforts in cleaning the city and cheering them up by saying, “Jesus loves you. Wishing you good health!” Some of them would reply back to us with the same message and we felt a very warm welcome in return. They usually rest in the back alley by sitting on the styrofoam boxes. There was this one time where they took a seat on a water pipe and asked me to join them. It was my honor and pleasure to be with them as we had some in-depth dialogues related to their worries and struggles due to family and health issues. The uncertainties of the future made them feel helpless. When they were willing to join us in our prayer, we experienced an amazing moment in the corner of our fabulous city.
I truly felt that God is really with us. My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You. Job 42:5
We gradually established the relationships and started to call them by name when we saw each other. One of the ladies had a serious illness on both of her legs but she insisted to work there every day. Our brothers and sisters consistently prayed with her after listening to her difficulties during each visit. Several months later, she told me that she started to call on Jesus’ name in the morning and spoke to Him, but she questioned herself whether this was the right way because of her lower educational background. I encouraged her to pray continuously because our Father God would appreciate our genuine heart calling on Him regardless of our qualifications, and so I advised her that she just needs to end with “I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen”. In the next visit, she looked very good and her legs became stronger than before. I asked her what had happened recently, and she became silent with tears in her eyes. She responded that it was because she cried out to Jesus every day. One of my care group members and I witnessed this amazing grace and we gladly praised our Lord together with her immediately. With a warm reminder from another brother, we invited her to accept Jesus Christ into her life in the following visit.
I was so joyful to see and witness God’s mercy and love here.
This encounter made me reflect on how people were healed by Jesus Christ through Faith in the Bible. “Take heart daughter,” He said, “Your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. Matthew 9:22
When I recall participating in this outreach at the beginning, I had no idea what I could do and doubted many times if I could commit. I truly believe that the Holy Spirit moved my heart and led me to go ahead. It is not necessary to consider so thoroughly because if we are willing to serve, our Father God will allocate time and resources. If He would like us to work on other matters, He will also provide an alternative solution for us. “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105
