"Our laughter was warfare" Mission trip to Boystown, MexicoRachel Wegner - 3 Oct 2013
Boystown is a walled-in region in the city of Reynosa (Mexico), set up by the Mexican government as a red light district with legalised prostitution. The area is now controlled by the Mexican mafia and is renowned for violence, prostitustion and drug dealing. It was because of this that teams from the Kansas City and Tulsa Boiler Rooms decided it would be the perfect place for a mission’s trip. So earlier this year, under the leadership of Emily Sengel (who has lived in Reynosa but was forced to leave due to intensifying cartel violence), the group headed across the border into Mexico and towards Boystown.
"The spiritual atmosphere is dark and a heavy spirit of fear hangs over the city, which is directly linked with its prevalent worship of the spirit of death 'la muerte' .... But we are seeing the church awakening in the midst of the darkness and people encounter Jesus and walk in the Spirit of life" Emily Sengel
As the team prepared for the trip they asked God to reveal scriptures to them for their trip, it became clear that God was leading them to the same verses that had been foundational when 24-7 Prayer first began ministry in Reynosa in 2004. So as they arrived in Reynosa and began praying around the walls of Boystown they felt the theme of joy returning to the team.
(Entrance to Boystown)
Rebecca, who is part of the Kansas City Boiler Room and helped to lead the team, had this to say:
"We laughed our way through Reynosa. It's this unattractive and very poor area, even for a third-world country, and in the sweltering heat, we had so much joy. Our laughter was warfare"
During one of the times they were able to enter Boystown they got the oppurtunity to give gifts to some of the women inside, which led to lengthy conversations with them about Jesus and the hope of the Gospel.
During the trip Rebecca was able to reconnect with a young woman she had met on a previous trip. The woman and her boyfriend had been captured by the cartel, her boyfriend had been killed and she had been able to escape.
"There's no one for these women to cry or laugh with" Rebecca said "So we just sat in her room and cried and prayer with her, and then we laughed and laughed and laughed with her"
(Woman's hands as the team were able to pray for her)
Emily was able to introduce the team to some friends who had come to know Jesus, found a way to leave Boystown and rebuild a new life outside its walls. These women now stand with Emily as she carries a vision to build transitional housing for those who want to leave Boystown. A place to live, detoxify from drugs and alcohol, discover a God who loves them, receive love and learn new skills to support their families.
Pray for Emily as she looks to continue taking mission teams and for God to open doors that would allow a team to be based there permanently
"The Father's story of redemption is incredible, and the piece He is writing in Reynosa is beautiful" Emily said "He is establishing His Kingdom in Reynosa and there is so much more to come"