I have never realized until now how much a person’s eyes
tell you. I always thought I had a
firm grasp on seeing someone through their eyes, but they mirror something so
much bigger then I could have ever thought. They mirror deeper emotion, hope, joy, and fear. The eyes are powerful! For something so detrimental to
focusing in on surrounding objects, it kind of baffles me that looking inward
one is able and has the opportunity to witness the Savior of the Universe. I don’t say that as a Sunday School answer,
but the truth is I saw it in my niece and I have become kind of numb to the
fact that the depth of what the eyes will tell you is not reserved to just new
born babies but can be seen in everyone.
The hurt, the homeless, the working person, the kids, the wealthy, you
name it and it works. And it hit
me the other day.
We had the opportunity to travel to a local village and play
with a bunch of street kids. We
sang songs, led a Bible Story, threw kids high in the air, spun them around
until we could not stand up straight and played soccer with them. These kids were full of life and
joy. They ran around and slid down
cobblestone to jump right back up and just grin so wide you would think it was
Christmas morning. But let’s
rewind the day a little bit.
Here in Guatemala, in order to get somewhere we have been
catching what is called a Chicken Bus (to us Gringos anyways). So, we met Mama (Ilse’s mom) at a bus
stop after spending the morning in the factory to head to this small village on
the outside of Antigua to head up this kids ministry. Now the truth is the chicken busses are pretty much pimped
out school busses. And riding one
of these things in Guatemala ranks high on adventurous activities. Side note: I have really been surprised
at how well we stick out in a crowd.
I say this because after two weeks, we now refer to white people as
Gringos when we see them. And they
stick out like a sore thumb. I can
only imagine what we look like to the locals and not to mention, we get strange
looks everywhere we go.
So anyways, here we are piled or I should say crammed onto
this bus, sitting three wide, the only gringos. We are doing 80 or 90 miles an hour around curves and I
swear it makes you a little nervous because one minute I am sitting straight up
and the next minute I am laying in this man’s lap thinking we are about to go
tumbling. Probably didn’t help
that I was told I wouldn’t throw my hands up around a curve. Sharpest turn and I semi checked that
off the list somehow managing to ride in the middle of the aisle more then on
the seat.
Anyways we arrive to this small village. The streets at first seemed to be
pretty abandoned and we were zig zagging down in between huts made of sheet
metal and some concrete. It was
pretty normal for a village around here, but it still takes you by storm. All around the ground is litter and a funky
smell kind of hangs in the air. We
were walking to this place that normally held the kids for the afternoon so
that we could have fun with them and get to tell them about Jesus. But no one was there. And then the sound of laughter
came. A few small girls scurried
by and this kid runs up with a ball just laughing.
We started to walk up a hill to look for the kids to let
them know that we were still having the afternoon activities. And kids did we find. About twenty kids in all, they all
introduced themselves by giving us hugs and telling us their names. Instantly the team was smitten. These kids would just look up and smile
and ramble off some Spanish. And
even though I only caught a few words it was evident that we had new amigos and
amigas on our hands.
I will throw this in there. Truth about a missionary! We were playing a soccer esque game on the side of this hill
and I turned around to kick this small plastic ball and straight booted the
ball right into this small little girls face. Probably not the best way to let her know that Jesus loves
her, but she looked at me and started busting out laughing and took off running
down the hill after the ball.
We headed off to a park that was a good fifteen minute walk
and the kids would run up and hold your hands and talk to you, even though we
mainly would repeat pretty much what they told me followed by “que?”, “no
comprendo” or “no se”. They would just
laugh and keep talking anyways. It
brought joy to my soul.
We got to the park and the kids sang “Father Abraham”, “I’m
in the Lord’s Army” in Spanish for us.
That was kind of cool because I got to show off my interpretive
dance/mumble singing skills off.
Then we sang a couple songs for them and shared the story of David and
Goliath. After a soccer game and
running around like crazy people it was time to head back. I took turns giving piggy back and
shoulder rides all the way back and then we were where we started. The day had completely flown by and we
were not ready to leave.
Next came the moment that I looked into a kids eyes and knew
that I was seeing something that I couldn’t explain. I had been playing with these twins. And they both walked up to me to say
goodbye and hugged me. They pulled
me down closer to them and handed me a tiny plastic rooster and a wooden block
that had a roof on it. They had
given me a present. May not seem
like much, but it meant the world to me.
I went into that village expecting to show them about the man that has
taken me on this wild journey; the one I call my Savior. Instead, God said, “Check this
out. I am here and I live in each
and every one of these kids. I
hold them up and I put smiles on their faces.” Hah that will put a smile on my face every time I think
about it. Because it’s not only
true for them, it is true for you and it is true for me.
In their eyes, I saw myself. I saw myself letting go of petty fears and plainly, stuff
and I saw myself smiling in awe of an Awesome God. You see those kids didn’t have much, but they wanted me to
take this rooster and block. Get
on that level.. Kingdom Changers!
I want you to know that I am dropping my expectations. I came into this month thinking that I
was going to lay hands on handicapped people and watch them miraculously get up
and start walking. Not saying that
this isn’t going to happen, because I am believing more and more in a Big God
that does miraculous things and works in and through me. But, I have come to realize that my God
lives in you, them and me. If that
is not miraculous enough for me then I am missing the point of miraculous. God has the power to work through each
and every one of us and do crazy stuff that would make you run around in
circles laughing and screaming.
First we have to realize that He has already done the miraculous and
decided that He wanted to claim space in your heart. I hope you get this, because I am still trying to work this
down from my head into my heart.
If people see that God transcends space and lives inside of all of us,
then they are witnessing a miracle.
They are a witness to how much God truly loves us. They realize God has a plan. You get what I am saying? God has a plan! That may look like raising the dead or
it may take the form of a rooster and a block.
I have been soaking on these two verses and encourage you to
take a few moments out of your day to just meditate on them and see where they
take you!
Romans 10:14-15
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed
in? And how can they believe in
the one of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are
sent? As it is written, “How
beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
and
John 17:26 (Jesus prays for all believers)
“I have made you known to them and will continue to make you
known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself
may be in them.”
Take the time to look into someone’s eyes today and know
that you are looking into the eyes of the Creator who loves you!
