As we walk through the church doors we are immediately welcomed with two kisses and warm embraces from the enthusiastic church members. Steaming mate (mah-te), homemade bread, and an assortment of cookies are laid out on the table for our arrival. As I take my seat, our host, Samantha, brings out decorated signs with specific bible verses for each team member. And for the two days that followed, our bellies and our hearts were constantly full.
Our team was the very first missionary group to this church and we only stayed for the weekend, therefore we felt lots of pressure. BUT, we soon realized that it had nothing to do with us and everything to do with the presence of the Holy Spirt and He was so evident throughout the whole weekend. From intercession time to leading Youth Group to soul-healing chats around the dinner table. Hearts were refreshed and spirits rejuvenated. Tons of prayers were answered and new milestones were set for many of the women and youth at the church. We got to build relationships with many of them and got to listen to lots of interesting testimonies and stories. And two stood out above the rest —
Christina’s Parents
On Sunday evening, we went to the Youth Group leader and his wife’s house to freshen up before Church and to spend some time with them. Christina and Oscar. Until Christina was 5 years old, her parents were unbelievers. Her dad was a drug and alcohol addict and her mom was very sick. They struggled to maintain their family vineyard that they worked at. One day when her father was at work in the fields, her mother heard a knock at the door. She was so incredibly weak, but something compelled her to get out of her bed. A woman was at the door who prayed for her. Right in that moment, God healed her sickness and she accepted Christ as Lord. Sometime later, her husband was home and the same woman came to their door (who to this day they still do not know). He did not believe in his wife’s testimony even though she was healed, however when the lady came again he couldn’t help but recognize there was some higher power moving in their lives. Within a few days, he became set free from the addiction of alcohol and drugs and started to have a relationship with Jesus. Today, Christina’s parents are pastors at a local church. This set her walk up with the Lord and led her to her now Husband, Oscar.
Noellea
On Sunday morning, we went to a woman’s house who recently lost her husband in a sudden heart attack. She has two boys, 10 and 12 years old. And she is heartbroken. We walked in her house, chatted about her being a teacher and about her kids’ love for futbol, and drank lots of mate. Then all of a sudden, we dove into the depths. And like a waterfall, tears fell from her eyes in such a way you can tell someone has endured suffering. She was at the point that she had a lack of desire to live, even though she has two children. She talked and cried and we listened and cried. The Lord compelled me to empathize with her even though I have been through nothing close. I felt for a second that I was in her shoes and I was overcome in grief. And we prayed. Oh man we prayed. The Lord brought to my mind the bible verse “beauty from ashes”. I got to pray that promise over her life. And after we read the entire verse in Spanish, she started crying once again – she had never read that verse before and it brought her much comfort.
“To all who mourn in Israel he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.” – Isaiah 61:3
Sometimes we do not understand why suffering occurs, but we have to cling onto the fact that God is just has heartbroken for His people and that He promises good for us, aka a “crown of beauty” instead of “ashes”.
