CityOfRefugeSanDiego

We are getting ready for a busy summer here in the city! We have lots of teams that will be staying with us and helping out. And we are working on our 3rd annual Kids Camp!
So ready to serve lots of people this summer, and are grateful for God’s provision to be in the city!!

We are collecting gifts for annual Christmas Gift Give-Away!! Please look at the Christmas Blessing page for more details about how you can get involved!

On Sunday we went to Mexico to visit a church and bring the kids toys and clothes. We ran into some trouble crossing the border which delayed our arrival time by a few hours, but the people still waited for us at the church.

As soon as we got there we immediately started playing with the kids. At first it was hard because I do not speak Spanish, but the love of Jesus transcends all languages.

After we finished playing we went up behind the church to the pastor’s house, where you could look down the hill and see the houses. After seeing how little the people had it really made me thankful for everything I have. It encouraged me to see how these people still love God and are thankful for every little thing they have.

-Elli, WWAM Student, Germany

In my time here I’ve learned many things while passing out food. While we are passing out food at schools I’ve noticed that some people complain about the quality/quantity of food that we are giving out. Some of the things we usually hear are “people are always cutting in line” or “you guys need to be more organized”  the more this happens the more it makes me realize how often as Christians we do the same thing to God. Instead of saying thank-you for all God gives us we complain about the things we don’t have. I know for me personally I get so caught up in what I don’t have and what I feel like God isn’t providing for me that I don’t give Him praise for all that He is doing in my life. We serve an amazing Savior who never leaves us or forsakes us and we should never forget that no matter what is going on in our life.

- Savannah W.W.A.M Student (Florida)

God has really been rocking my socks and blessing me a lot. I have been experiencing the Holy Spirit like never before. I experience Him most when I am in quiet prayer or communal worship or prayer. The best feeling in the world is God’s touch. I want to fully know through experience what it means to walk in the Spirit while going about various physical tasks.

This may sound weird but I think sometimes my mindset to help others actually hinders my ability to help. If I am focused on someone else and how I can best help them, I can only help them the best I can. But if I focus on Jesus and stay in the Spirit, I will most likely be acting like God wants me to act naturally. It’s about a relationship not duty anyway. Here’s to walking with the best friend in the universe.

-Lawrence, WWAM student

This last week I was in the car driving to help pick-up donations from Target, and we drove passed a little old woman that we see often. She has been on the streets for years. We often give her food when we see her and invite her to our food lines or worship gatherings. It always breaks my heart when I see her and I know it wounds the Lord deeper than me.

As we came toward her, I saw a woman from a nearby house come out and bring her a sandwich and sit to talk with her on the side of the road. It was such a blessing to see that we are not the only people who are kind to her. That God uses so many people everywhere and anytime to do His will. We are a part of an amazingly strong and large body of Christ. It gave me such comfort to know that I follow an unseen Leader who sees everything and brings each of His followers to the right places at the right times.

-Genevieve, New Zealand, WWAM Student

A couple of weeks ago at a Friday morning meeting, David had us stand for prayer if we wanted a new heart of passion. Some of the team had oil to anoint us and pray. As Jenny was praying for me, I believe that God spoke to me about teenagers. I believe He wants to use me to serve the teens that nobody cares about. I’m glad that God wants to use me for His kingdom. I want to be used by Him.

-Elli  WWAM Student, Germany

Exactly one year ago today my mother walked out on my dad after 23 years of marriage. If you would have known anything about my parents you would have never imagined my mother leaving. My mother was a professing Christian who always taught me how sacred the vow of marriage is. Because of what my mother did my view of marriage had been changed. Somehow I had gotten to this place where I thought all marriages would soon fail no matter how hard you tried, because eventually someone would decide that being married and taking a vow wasn’t really worth it. I found myself at a place where I was scared to really let myself trust someone because I thought one day they would leave just like my mother.

Coming to City of Refuge has been an eye-opening and heart-changing experience seeing young married people who love each other, but more importantly love Jesus, has been an encouragement to me. Seeing those same people put their full trust in Jesus and each other makes me realize that not all marriages fail. If two people die daily to themselves and make Jesus the center of their marriage He will help them survive the good and the bad times. Marriage is a holy union of two sinful people who want Jesus to be the center of their lives. It’s about learning to live with each other and accept the flaws that you have while keeping Jesus in the center.

-Savannah, WWAM Student, Florida

We just had a full week with 8 college students from Bryan College. It was interesting to see their reactions to all that we do and all who we serve. I was very encouraged to see how united and joyful they approached each task. I was filled with a new thanksgiving about where I am and the privilege it is to serve here.

God has been giving me more and more peace as each day goes by. Not the type of peace that makes one complacent, but that kind of peace that leaves me free to love boldly for Jesus’ kingdom.

I was also very encouraged to see one of the college team members disciplined in writing in his journal. He would write about 3 pages a night, regardless of all the commotion around him. He said it helped him to keep his thoughts organized. I plan to do the same, so next time I write it should be better.

-Lawrence

A couple of weeks ago was the first time I went to a parking lot where City of Refuge has been serving which lets families stay in their cars overnight when they have no where else to go. We bring them food and spend time with them on Thursday nights, there I met        a girl called Priscilla who lives in a small car with her mom, and every time since that I have gone we play checkers with her plastic travel kit. and every single game she beats me, without fail. And it’s not like I go easy on her I get pretty competitive but I have still yet to have a victory over this 12 year old girl. She’s simply a checkers genius! I love that about her and I love that we are able to sit on the concrete under the street lights and play a board game, its an experience that I will never ever forget and has truly touched my heart, God uses me and grows me simultaneous in those moments and it’s beyond amazing.

- Genevieve WWAM Student (New Zealand)