Has
your heart ever been touched by someone you didn’t expect? God can come through
and bring you close to someone whom you would have never predicted. The more you’re
around that person you feel joy like never before. The smallest things bring
huge smiles to your face because you see God at work there, you are able to see
how God is working through the person, and you see those changes affecting
those around you. Have you ever been encouraged by a person who pushes on and
works harder when others would give up? Or seen a person trust in the Lord and
dig deep in faith when others would fall to their knees asking why? In these times you’re able to share their joy
because you know how hard they worked not only physically, but spiritually as
well. When they do conquer their challenges in the end, you have learned from
them how to persevere.
This month in Nicaragua I have met a
person like this. A person who has taught me without knowing it, and whose
strength and faith in the Lord encourages me to strive for more. This young man’s
name is Jovanny Rodriguez. He is seventeen years old, but has the heart of a
man more than twice his age. Throughout
this month, Jovanny has radiated maturity when others around him are consumed with
drama. He has taught me when you love things enough you don’t let obstacles
hold you back. Instead, you must go after the things you love with the most
intensity you can muster. When love and passion are fueled by desire and a
disregard for failure, you will achieve the impossible.
People should be able to tell when
someone has a passion for something, because they pursue it at all costs; every
free moment they have is spent chasing their passion. Jovanny’s passion and
heart’s desire is dance. Not only is it his passion, but he leads the dance
ministry here at his church. The team which he leads currently consists of him
and six girls. Seeing their ministry is a truly remarkable thing. Not only do I
see what they’re trying to achieve, but I see the Glory of God working through
them. They recently went to a youth conference, where their team performed two
songs. As they were performing, I could clearly see Jovanny’s passion shining
through, as well as the Lord working through the team. I also saw Jovanny’s leadership shine as his
team danced flawlessly. The team had gone through a rough time the week before
the conference, losing two team members, two of the boys in the team decided
they didn’t want to change how they danced so they quit and abandon the team,
and abandon Jovanny. However, I assured him if he did three things, God would
not let the team fail. These three conditions were 1) trust in yourself, 2)
trust in your team, and above all else 3) trust in the Lord. Jovanny not only
did these three things, but he killed it at the conference. You could see the
confidence in his face, and in his every movement.
Jovanny is a man of God, plain and
simple. That’s the only way to put it. He may be young, but I know God will
continue teaching him. Not only is he a man of God, but he is a leader in his
community. In a community of broken homes, lies, gossip, adultery, and pain, Jovanny
brings a light. His leadership goes far beyond his dance team or his generation,
because persons both younger and older look up to him and seek him when they
have problems. He takes on the weight of his community, carrying it on his
shoulders, all the while showing no signs of exhaustion or it wearing on him.
At seventeen, this young boy has become a man of God to show his community the
love of a true father. Through his actions he has shown them how to live a life
which is pleasing to the Lord. It’s no coincidence you hear five year old girls
run up to him yelling PAPA, because they see the Lord resting in Jovanny. They
see it in his heart and in his mind, and are drawn to it. I’m blessed to not
only know Jovanny as a person, but I’m truly blessed for being able to call him
my friend, and fellow brother.
