YWAM Denver Outreaches

Here are some of the countries that our outreach teams have visited in the past couple years. Check out the outreach testimony below!

Jesus Loves the little children

By Tori Reich CPDTS Student

The time leading up to going to our trip was full of anticipation.  We wondered "what are we actually going to do in a country that is closed to religion?" Not long after we arrived, it became very evident to our team that we were here to simply love if nothing else. 

Everywhere we went, we were able to show the love of Christ to people that have never seen an unconditional love. We had the opportunity to work with several children's homes for disabled kids and children with HIV, many of whom were babies. These times were just a preview of two days that would change all of our hearts.

For two days and nights our entire team stayed at a private orphanage.  Three sisters run a family-style orphanage for mentally and physically handicapped children, ages 3 - 24 years old.  During this time we were able to play, laugh, dance, do crafts, make balloon animals, read, talk to and just hold these children that have been given away by their families. As we looked in the eyes of these children who could easily be hopeless we saw joy and hope. These three ladies in the middle of Asia made it a priority to show these children Jesus.

Our last evening there we worshiped, sang and danced with these children in our arms. Many of them couldn't speak, see or even move at all, but as they felt the love of God, we could see joy in their eyes. At this moment we realized that if this was the only thing we did on this trip, it would be more than worth it.

"Whoever receives one child like this in my name receives Me." - Matthew 18:5

Three little girls in the park - A story from Xochimilco, Mexico

By Megan Gilbert, Musicians DTS 2010

Every Sunday, our team would go down to Xochimilco Center with a group of people from the churches we were involved in. The very first time that we did dramas in the park, me and another guy from our team made friends with three little girls. So, every Sunday we got to see them and just play with them and take time to have fun and show them Gods love through that! We found out that the two oldest girls were in the park all the time because their parents worked in a stand there. The youngest girl did not have any parents so she would sometimes come and eat with the other girls and their family, but other than that, she lives on the streets around the park. So, the very last Sunday that we were there, it was so difficult to say goodbye. When we got back to our house in Xochimilco, I could feel my heart breaking for this precious, energetic, little seven-year-old girl that did not have a home or a family. God has been showing me how blessed I am, and also that I have something to offer. It's easy to think that there is nothing that I can do about that little girl's situation. But, I can show her His love and she will be in my prayers every day! Some of the girls from the churches we worked with in Xochimilco also seemed to get along really well with her.

I pray that they will continue to love on this girl. I had been feeling for a couple of years that God has given me a heart for the children that don't have any parents. I feel like that has been confirmed through this whole experience. I've never felt such compassion before, and I'm sure that it comes from the heart of Father God. I hope that someday I will get to see her again!

Salvation at a Baby Shower - A story from Mexico City

By SARA Tress AtW DTS 2010

After traveling around the world for a couple of months, the last destination on our outreach was Mexico City. The girls on our team built relationships with some of the women in the church we were working with, one of which invited us to her baby shower. We went to the baby shower but three hours later it was still going on.

We played just about every baby shower game that exists and more. I knew the people of the Latin culture were relational and they liked to fiesta but this was crazy. Sitting in my seat I couldn't stop wondering when this was going to end. I was enjoying it but a 3-hour-long baby shower is just too long. As my mind started to drift off, the mother to be and her husband stood up to speak. They thanked everyone for coming (routine) but then something happened I would never have expected at a baby shower; they proceeded to share the gospel. A room filled with about fifty people was completely silenced and listened intently to a message about love and salvation. After the couple finished speaking they invited people for prayer and to receive salvation. We huddled in a circle and began praying over them. Seven people came to Christ that night, including the mother of the expecting mother! I starting thinking how incredible this was. I've never been to a baby shower, birthday party, anything of that sort, and heard someone share the gospel; it's just not on the schedule of events. My idea of when it's "appropriate" to share the gospel changed that night. Why don't I do things like this? Why don't I share God with the people I love when they're crowded in a room together? Why do I put evangelism in a box? It's astonishing to think that I've never considered it before, maybe because it wouldn't be "normal?" But God's so beyond doing the norm and he's rooting for us to step up and speak in those moments. I'll never forget the night seven people came to know Christ as their personal savior at a baby shower; it will forever be a reminder to seize any opportunity given to share my faith.