There and Back Again

   I think about San Pablo and it’s like thinking about a good friend that I miss. We left at around 2pm that afternoon. There were 8 of us – Percy (my team´s main contact), the father of the family we stayed with, Elvis (16 years old, he came with my team from Portoviejo), and then five world racers : Bekah, Joel, Lacey, Allie, and myself. Walking in the daytime was easier because I could see where I was stepping, but I wasn’t prepared for the heat. We’d start singing or talking to get us out of our heads when we started getting tired. We took our first break after climbing up a steep part of the trail and prayed for Christ’s strength. A few of us shared words of encouragement God had laid on our hearts – Joel shared that we are each confronting mountains in our life right now and that God wants us to go straight up it, not around. I shared that God says his burden is light, and that the struggles and difficulties we face in this walk, or any walk of life, cannot be compared to how “wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” 

      For me, the journey there and the time spent in San Pablo were two very different experiences. During our hike there, I saw and felt God moving in some really energetic ways, while the 12 hours in San Pablo felt very still and quiet with God’s grace. God speaks to me very strongly with images, and I’m going to do my best to describe what he showed me on the way there. A little background information is required before I continue. Michael Hindes, the director of the World Race, shared with us at launch back in January a vision he’d received from God while traveling. He went into detail about seeing an elegent and beautiful woman approaching him on an escalator connecting his heart to his mind. He explained that the woman he saw WAS grace, the grace of God, in all her beauty and mercy.
   And so during our hike to San Pablo, we were maybe an hour and a half in when suddenly I saw in my mind an extravagantly bright image of a young woman. I couldn’t see every detail of her face because her skin was just pouring out this brightness. She was looking at me through a cottage window. Not sure what that means. But her face was bright, beautiful, striking, and mysterious. I realized a few minutes later that I had seen her, Grace. The light in her eyes was the light of the world, and they looked so infinite.

   And so I’m walking along with this image in my mind, still aware of my steps, but not really aware of much else. I saw her for about 5 seconds, and then she was gone. But I was meeting the face of Grace for the first time. Another strong image I received in my mind was a photo. Again, it came like a flash, and two seconds later it was gone. Even though I couldn’t see it clearly, I could make out what it was. In this photo was a young man, maybe 19 or 20. I saw only his torso because he was sitting down, but his posture was disarming. Though I couldn’t make out his face, I felt like I was looking at the embodiment of dignity. He was sitting in a chair with the most dignified posture, and behind him stood another person. Though I could only faintly recognize this person’s outline, I knew it was the Father, and his Son was sitting in the chair in front of him. I was looking at a family photo, Father and Son, and their royalty was not in their clothing, but in their posture, dignity, and mystery.

   We arrived in San Pablo around 5:30pm and the Pastor introduced us to the family we stayed with. They were the only Christians living in San Pablo. After taking some time at the river behind the house, we went inside and upstairs. We took off our packs and socks and sat on the floor to rest. We all felt strongly that he was ready to move and so we started praying. Lacy said something like, “God, we know this place is thirsty for you.” About two seconds later it was raining hard. I’m not exaggerating. I prayed aloud and said, “God, you are like a thunderbolt.” Then a crack of thunder in the sky. And I told the team then that I felt the love of God so strongly in the house, that it was already there and moving. I can’t remember how long we prayed for but after we finished, I opened my eyes and a group of kids had gathered near us, staring at us with confused but intrigued faces. One of them asked Percy, “why are they talking to themselves?” He explained that we were talking to God.   

   Dinner was ready, and we walked downstairs. I felt strongly a loss of place and time because suddenly grace was just so thick in that place, and it made me feel very light and I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be. The presence of God was moving, but not impolitely or in a forceful way. It was just waiting, but also eager, to be acknowledged. Our time around the dinner table made me feel the intimacy of God even stronger – we learned that the Pastor’s cousin, the man who had died, had prayed to God as well as told the town that he wanted someone to speak about Jesus at his funeral. We were told no one in San Pablo wanted to. We just happened to be staying in Igarrones four hours away. God’s timing is perfecty. Later we learned we were the second missionaries ever to visit San Pablo, and the first Americans ever to spend the night.

   The river was high from all the rain, so we rolled our pants up above our knees and linked arms to walk through the current. The funeral was being held underneath a white tent. We stood outside the tent for awhile which got us attention from others at the funeral. The family of the man who died began singing worship and we made our way further into the center with a bench. We sat down, and most everyone there was staring at us. I made eye contact with a few people. Their stares were not out of anger, but of intrigue. It was certainly uncomfortable but I was just happy to be there. The family finished their last song and then Percy played a few songs on his guitar. He finished and then introduced the five of us. Joel stood up and shared great words with the crowd about how those in Christ all share the same ending to our story. Percy spoke again and asked anyone who wanted to receive Christ to raise their hand. Eight people raised their hand. Joel and I joined Percy as he walked around and met with each one. I was able to share with one guy, in Spanish, that sometimes all I can do is be still before God because he is so wonderful.   
   Things wrapped up and we walked back across the river. It had gone down so no water in the boots this time! We got back to the house and hung our clothes up to dry. There were four of us guys sleeping on a mattress turned sideways so as to make room for all of us. I didn’t get good rest and what felt like a few hours later we were up again gathering up semi-dry clothes. I was not exactly looking forward to the return trip, but we made it back to the house. God showed up as a strong image in my mind on the way back. The image was of me, but I had the same eyes as Grace, as well as two enormous white wings unfolding from my back. I think the image illustrates that through Christ, we become ONE with God – that is, we begin to take on the same mysterious and infinite nature. A way I’ve heard it described: we become a new species in Christ.

   I was reminded today of something I said on the way there, that only love would do this. Only the most real love, which is Christ, would march through mud to find his children. I’m just honored I got to be a part of it.

 

 

Pictures coming soon!

 

I still need to raise $4,000 by the end of June. Please prayerfully consider partnering with me financially in this ministry. My cup is overflowing with support from family and friends, so a big thank you. Our God is good!!