San Salvador, EL Salvador
Most of month 5 in el salvador was scattered, but throughout the month I still saw God show up in even the shortest and most random ministry settings. One night, frustrated, because we had not been “allowed” so to speak to go downtown on the streets to minister and spend time with the people there our team decided to ATL (ask the Lord) and go out on the main street closest to our home and see how God would show up. We got together to pray and 3 of the girls on our team felt like they were supposed to stay back and intercede, while the other 4 of us hit the streets. We walked down Motocross to the main street and gathered together to pray again, and ask for direction. The guys felt like we were supposed to go right, so off we went.
The streets were pretty much deserted, and the few people we saw were finishing up their shifts at restaurants. It is about 11:45 pm at this point. We were about to be at the round about, when I saw a man sitting in a doorway alone across the street next to the Burger King. I felt like we were supposed to go and talk to him, but kept walking- what if I’m wrong? As we got further away it was like my insides were about to explode, we needed to go back. He was who we were sent out tonight for. I told the team we needed to go back and talk to him, and everyone was on board. As we approached the man and began introducing ourselves we realized this man speaks english!! Out of anyone we could have passed on the street we found a man from California and Oregon. Of whom in our group we have two local residents, me and Rosa.
HIs name is Ricardo, and he has had a rough life. He has struggled with drinking, and stealing, and was deported from the states a long while back, I think like 20 something years from selling drugs and possibly injuring a man. He had lost his family, and had a son here in El salvador. For work now he was painting signs for restaurants, and he was so proud of his work. All he had was some plywood and blue paint. We just sat in the parking spaces around him listening to his story. He didn’t want to talk about his son, he was ashamed of how absent he had been in his life. Ricardo had had a great father himself, and living up to him was unimaginable. After a while he said, “You guys are Christians aren’t you?” we smiled, and said “Yea, we are. We are missionaries here, traveling around the world to spread the gospel.” ” I know the word”, he said. ” Pull out one of your bibles and flip to James. Now go Ephesians… and so on. He knew the word, and encouraged us to be humble. That Christ came to minister to the down and out, and we should to. ” I wouldn’t see no pastor out here associating with me though” he said. “A pastor would never be out here.” That broke my heart. He continued on to say that he wasn’t allowed in restaurants in the area, because he smelled. “No one deserves to have to sit by me he said, they don’t want the likes of me there.” Again, my heart breaking. No, maybe they don’t want to smell you, but you have just as much right to be there as them. You are a human being. You gotta eat. This is your city too! He saw I looked distressed, and said ” It’s okay sweet heart, I’m used to it.”
My heart cracking still.
This man knows the word, but does he know his worth? He is a son to the most high God, we are all equal in his sight. No one person is above another, our lives are all just as valuable to him.
It was about 1:30 am at his point, and we asked him if we could pray for him. He seemed stressed out at first, and said there were still things he was struggling with. “Thats okay, we can still come before the Father, he can help.” we said. We started to pray over Ricardo, and by the end, Ricardo was praying for us, exalting the Father, and just giving praise. One thing he said while praying has really stuck with me:
“What more could I ask for Father, when you sent your son Jesus?” What more can I ask for?
The Lord has really transformed my heart this year in what I need, and the motives of my heart in prayer, and what I am asking for, but there are still things I am worried about having, even daily basic things. But Ricardo summed it up pretty simply, “What more could I ask for?” Everything else pales in comparison.
As we got up to leave he said, ” Now don’t go judging me if you see me walking down the street drunk… I have been clean from stealing for a year, but still need the drink.” We all hugged him, and I looked in his eyes, and said ” We won’t judge you, but you don’t have to settle for that either. The Lord helped you overcome stealing. He can help you overcome drinking as well. I know he can redeem so much in your life. He can even redeem things with your son. I know he has created you to be a good father, and he will help you walk that out.. He lead us here to encourage you tonight, and you have encouraged and challenged us so much. He isn’t through with you.” The rest of the team encouraged him some more, and we parted ways.
We walked home at 2 am in a mix of emotions. Joyful and encouraged from being used by the spirit. So full and humbled, yet disturbed and sad that Ricardo isn’t the only one out there.
He is one of many who don’t know their worth in their heavenly father.
One of many who are settling for a weary life.
One of many the Lord’s heart breaks for.
One of many the Lord has not forgotten.
One of many the Lord sees when no one else does.
One of many he has brought us to in order to share his HOPE.
It’s nights like these that I came on the race for. Nights like these, in the most hopeless places where I see the spirit move. Most of the time there is nothing I can do, but be a listening ear to the ignored or a comforter to the rejected, but seeing God move in these actions has shown me they have great worth in the Kingdom of Heaven. We have his spirit inside us, we carry around the Kingdom, and when we give the spirit freedom to direct our path we get to be blessed by Glimpses of Heaven breaking free here on earth.
Lamar, Joe, and Rosa…
