Here in Honduras, Christmas is coming. Christmas trees are in abundance, decorations are up, Mariah Carey plays in department stores everywhere, and cheer fills the air. Kids are excited and can’t wait for Christmas break, parents are filling the mall looking for the perfect gift. It’s Christmas just like any other.
This month we’ve kind of been “making our own” ministry. Here at the park there are kids who live on the streets and ask you for money, there are widows trying to support their children, there are amputees begging for food or money, and all sorts of homeless. So last week Josh and Brian saw a huge opportunity. They went to the grocery store and bought supplies for PB&J sandwiches (Because really.. what’s better than a PB&J?). Then they went to the local park and started passing out sandwiches like they were Oprah.
They described to us one particular instance that struck their hearts. They told us of one homeless man who had made camp near an intersection. He had his chemicals and rags on a bench and when cars would stop at the light, he would start washing them, all in attempts that the driver would be kind enough to give him any amount of money in return. Now Josh and Brian knew they only had so much time, but the next time the man left his bench they snuck over and perfectly placed a sandwich and a slip of paper reading “Joshua 1:9” next to his equipment. Like nothing had happened they walked far enough away from the scene of the crime not to get caught, but still close enough to watch the story unfold. In the most joyous tone Josh described to us what came next. It was like whatever he was about to say was going to burst out of his lips. He told us how the man returned from his intersection and saw much more than just a sandwich. The man saw a miracle. In his hard work he hoped he would gain enough money to buy himself what he needed, but what he least expected was for what he needed to show up when he wasn’t looking. He grabbed his sandwich and his note and instead of asking for money he started telling people “look at all of this that I have!” From Josh’s words I pictured this man in my head. This man wearing worn clothes and hungry and exclaiming to all the people passing him “look! look! I turned around and it was just here!” This man does this every day. Every day the same people see him and he asks them for money, but that day he had a different message.
I don’t know why I’m always surprised when I’m taught lessons by kids or the homeless. It’s happened enough that I shouldn’t be, but I’m thankful for it. In a lot of ways it reminded me how Jesus does this so much with my own life. He takes care of all my needs and a lot of times I’m so stuck on getting ready for the next wave of cars that I don’t even see the sandwich sitting there. But that day, that man had something to teach me.
Thank you for reading, and Merry Christmas!
