Thanks for sticking with me on my 3 part story. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here. Now, it’s time for the conclusion!
Loaded down with all our bags (plus some of our teammates bags too), we arrive at the hotel where the “prayer team” is already waiting. They fill us in on the latest details… somewhere along the way, they ran into our friend from church (related to Pastora Aleida, we think). When the girls tell him about my stolen phone, he jumps into action and seeks out the boy with a plan to meet us at the hotel with any new information.
True to his word, within 15 minutes, our believer friend walks through the gate and into the hotel courtyard…in his hand he’s carrying my phone and the charger! My mouth drops, eyes go wide, and I say a silent prayer, “Thank you Father!”
I look at our believer friend, and I say, “Can I talk to the little boy? I want him to know he’s forgiven.”
Another 15 minutes later, I’m sitting on a park bench with the boy (I’ve finally learned his name is Isaiah), Niame (my translator), and our friend from church. Before I begin to speak, again I say a silent prayer, “Lord, give me the words to speak. Help Niame translate.”
And then the words flow from my lips. God’s forgiveness is even better than forgiveness from me. In my own words, I share the gospel. We all sin and do things that keep us away from God (Romans 3:23), but even though we steal, lie, or do any other bad thing (sin), God loves us so much that He gave us His son to die for us and take our sins away (Romans 5:8). All you have to do is confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, then you’ll be saved (Romans 10:9).
I look up into Isaiah’s eyes, watery and fighting tears, but he stoically stares back at me. I wait for a response, but I realize, Isaiah’s not ready for more conversation. “Lord, please, may Your Word stay with Isaiah.”
He looks away into the lamp lit park, and points to a man sitting in the gazebo, “That’s the guy who told me to steal the phone!” Isaiah exclaims in Spanish. The moment is broken. We speak for a few minutes more before heading our separate ways, but not before our believer friend promises to follow up with Isaiah.
God used these few short hours to reveal so much to me. First, I needed to genuinely say, “Lord, I’m ok if you don’t return my phone. My faith isn’t in technology. My dependence isn’t in things of the world. I trust You to provide for me.”
After that, God showed me how the night’s events were so much bigger than my stolen phone. The lost sheep. The lost gold coin. The lost son. A lost little boy who needs His Savior. God reminded me of the relief, joy, peace, and thanksgiving I felt when my phone appeared in my friend’s hand. How much greater is God’s joy, peace, and thanksgiving when one of His children confesses Christ as Lord?
“Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15: 10).
God’s battling for Isaiah’s eternal life. I may never know the end of his story, but I know this night and my stolen phone, was the beginning. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray for protection over Isaiah. I pray for a man of God to step in and mentor Isaiah with patience, courage, initiative, love, an boldness. May Isaiah grow to be a warrior for Christ. Lord, Isaiah is Your child. Isaiah is Yours and Yours alone!
I won’t stop praying for Isaiah. Please pray with me that this is just the beginning of God’s great work in his life.
May what was lost be found.
Love, Love, Love
Kate
