Happy Signs of Love

Last week was more or less a normal week here. We have developed a sort of rhythm to how the weeks go here at YWAM CMC. During a normal week we will take two days out of the week to simply work on things for the base such as buying things we need for the apartments, fund-raising, general upkeep and maintenance, and general set up as we are still relatively new here. Then we spend the rest of the working days of the week doing some sort of ministry outside of the base. Last week we did a ministry we like to call, "happy signs of love" where we make signs with messages such as, "smile," "be free," and "I love you." I had the sign that said, "smile." So we got our signs and took to the streets. As we walked along at first I got some bad looks and comments, but as we went oin it seemed like people took really well to it! Each time someone would walk by I would give them a big smile and they would almost inevitably smile back. Giving and receiving so many smiles you cannot help but to be happy! It was actually a very relaxing and uplifting time and a good break from the hard work we have been doing to establish this base. Also, although we didn't share the gospel outright the people I think we really did some good. Some people did get asked questions and were able to share a more in depth message with people, but I believe that all of us accomplished a purpose. Living in a city like this people can get very wary of people and actually depressed, just walking around, not talking to people and not seeing much hope. So sharing a message of hope and happiness can really change peoples' attitudes and make them much happier. I also felt like going out and doing this ministry was a way of us coming out as a base and saying to the city that we are here. And we are not here to condemn or shove religion down peoples' throats, but we are here simply to love people.