She jokingly said to two of us today, “God brought you here only for me,” while more seriously mentioning, “I think part of your purpose in coming to Nicaragua was to listen and encourage me.”
Itzel is a tall, beautiful Nicaraguan girl with tiny jet black curls that she pulls back on most days. The depth within her eyes draws you in, while her wide smile is incredibly contagious. She is 15, but mature enough to be 20 something, an excellent student, and during her free-time plays on a kickball team (that I must say has improved a whole lot in one week!). Just a couple of days ago she was sharing with Katie a dream she had. In it she came to the door of the clinic where we are living and we invited her in. During this time we worshipped, prayed together, and there were many tears….
Since the beginning of our time here in Nicaragua all five of us were drawn to Itzel. Until today we only knew part of her story. She is the youngest of one other sister and brother who live with their mom. She became a Christian just one month ago, and is now starving for more. She is hungry for God’s Word and discipleship, and it is very obvious that Jesus is incredibly active within and around her life. He radiates from her life, and when she is around you can’t help but want to be near.
Feeling led to invest more into her, we did end up inviting her in. As we ate together over tortillas, eggs, and fruit we learned more of her story. With her head down and tears in her eyes she told us that her father had recently met another woman, and for the past month hasn’t had any contact with her family. As I listened to Itzel, I couldn’t help but cry with her. Everything inside of me held back from just exploding with tears as I could literally feel the pain of her heart in this moment. God never ceases to amaze me in that he never wastes our hurt, but instead exchanges it for his good in being able to relate and comfort others. Though our stories are somewhat different, they are also very similar and I was able to share what I have learned through my own brokenness in the past.
Through listening to her pain, I also realized how much God has been inviting her into intimacy with him. She continued to share with us about a random woman she never knew, but is her mother’s friend, that has prophetically spoken truth over her life. This woman recently told Itzel’s mom that she has a daughter who will be influential in traveling to the nations to preach to young people. Itzel knows this to be her, as this is part of her heart’s desire.
This was certainly a day of invitation…as she has invited Him in, and we
invited her in, He invites you in…
but for more than just a day, He offers a life of invitation!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
2 Corinthians 5: 17
