I will never forget my last night in the Dominican Republic. My first month of squad leading could not have ended in a better way. I have said it many times but this season is such a journey of leaning deeper onto my beloved and trusting his voice more and more. And he is ever faithful!
Lindsay, Robby and I had left the squad to spend a few days in Santo Domingo for a time of refreshment and renewal before we traveled with everyone to Ecuador. Wednesday night was our last night and so we decided to go to the Colonial center for dinner and to just enjoy the city. God in his sovereignty, knew that it would not just end there. And that night I realized once more how present my God is in all things and how he is with us always, speaking always.
We had a nice dinner with a beautiful view overlooking the city and talked about our amazing squad and how our Dad is so good. We decided to walk through the Colonial Center for a little bit, take some pictures and then head back to the hotel. It was a pretty chill evening and none of us had any kind of agenda. Usually we are all so laid back that it takes a while for us to make a decision and while we were talking about catching a cab or walking a little more, I just knew we should keep walking.
So within 5 minutes of walking, I saw a woman and my spirit was instantly drawn to her. I wasn’t sure if I should stop because we had just started walking, but then I saw Lindsay walk straight up to this same woman. She was old and frail and carried such a sweetness in her eyes. Through our broken Spanish and small understanding of the Dominican accent, we were somehow able to communicate with her.
All of her family had died. She had no place to go. She was hungry. She was cold.
Instantly I stopped listening. And before I could even question what God was telling me to do, I took off my sweater. I knew that he wanted me to give her my favorite sweater. In that moment, I realized how much material things did not matter. Especially when she asked me if I would be cold, all I could say was that I had another in my hotel room and she needed this one now. I felt so deeply in my spirit how important this woman was to God and how much he loved her. So Lindsay and I continued speak with her and found out her name was Esperanza, which in Spanish means Hope. I love how prophetic and powerful names are.
We told her that we would go and find some food for her to eat and walked about one more block to a hotel restaurant and ordered her a ham and cheese sandwich. And as we sat there waiting for the food, Robby said that earlier during dinner the Lord kept saying to him the phrase ‘the shirt of your back’ over and over again. He had no idea why he was hearing it until the moment I took off my sweater. It confirmed for me again how intentional and purposeful God is and I was so filled with the Spirit. I can’t really describe it, but if you have ever been filled with the Spirit then you know what I am talking about. It is the best feeling in the world.
We walked back to give the sandwich and french fries to Hope and she had cleared a space nextto her for us to sit. We sat with her while she ate. And I loved watching her enjoy the food and hearing Linds next to me saying ‘Get it, girl!’ It was such a beautiful moment of sitting with Hope and sharing with her about God’s love. We taught her how to say her name in English and it was probably one of the cutest things I have ever seen. We told her about how we will have to leave but God will never leave her. We told her about his Spirit and his faithfulness. We prayed again for her, and as we are all praying in the spirit and laying hands on her, we literally saw the Spirit manifest in her heart. She has a few tears. She moves and shakes a little bit as were praying. I have seen and experienced the Spirit enough to know that the Lord was touching her and pouring out his Spirit on her. She received his love with such gratitude and joy. It was a beautiful and powerful moment.
And then we had to leave. We hugged her and blessed her. And we told her we couldn’t wait to meet again in heaven. And as we walked away I knew that I would never forget Esperanza. I knew that she was a sign from the Lord that he is still the Hope of nations. Our only hope. The only one for whom life is worth living. The only one I will listen to and obey. For his Kingdom come, and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven. amen.
