Every now and then preachers or speakers will get going on a topic and someone will say, “Amen!”. I have never been a person to “Amen!” speakers or preachers. I have to say though, I have really learned to appreciate and respect the “Amen!” this month. When people say Amen they are saying it in agreement. They are saying it in support. They are saying it to reinforce.
Our Peruvian pastor here always says, “¿Amen o Amen?”. She wants to make sure people are listening, that they are in agreement and that they are grateful for our Lord. At first I would say Amen to appease the question, but now I am saying it and mean it. I would like to give a few Amens! to a couple of situations I have had this month.
1. One day while my team was riding in a taxi to the mall, I asked our taxi driver if he had ever been to Machu Picchu. He said no, but God willing he would see it. For whatever reason I felt the need to say, “God willing we will get to do activities each day.” And he smiled and then went off about God’s love. Insert: Amen!
We talked about our churches and why my group was in Trujillo and what work we are doing. He was happy to hear about the work we were going to do and then kept going on about God’s goodness and love. The next thing I know he is singing us songs about God’s love. He sang us two songs. He was such a blessing! God’s kingdom is so cool! And it is so cool how when you become a Christian because you have family all around the world; people who are reading the same book (Bible), trying to follow Jesus’ instructions, trying to love one and another. Our taxi driver reminded me of the goodness in Christian brothers and sisters in Christ. I got out of the taxi feeling so refreshed, so loved and so encouraged in my faith. Amen!
- One little preschooler didn’t have a snack and without any adult telling the other students to share with Jose, one by one kids broke off pieces of their bread, banana, or orange and passed it down to him. Amen!
- Listening to all my fellow squad mates preaching at the different services: so much wisdom, so much insight, life experiences, and faithfulness to share. Amen!
- Praying at the hospital for all the sick and their families. My Peruvian friend, Gabby, and I were in the same room praying for different patients and Gabby got my attention and said, “You need to back me up in prayer. This man has bad spirits in him and we are going to break these spirits in Jesus’ name. I need you to Amen and ask for Jesus’ presence while I am praying.” I got really nervous, because I am not an Amen-er! So she started praying in Spanish and very quietly I would say, “Amen or Come Jesus”. Then her voice became so emotional and powerful and before I knew it my voice became stronger and my “Amens “and “come Jesus” got louder and more powerful. Then before I know it, I was adding, “Yes Jesus” and other short phrases. There was so much peace at the end of our joint prayer and the Holy Spirit definitely led my words. Amen!
- The local store owner always picks out the biggest piece of cake for me. Amen!
God is good! ¿Amen o Amen?
