Our last night in Chile
Written in Mendoza, Argentina
11/20/17
We have been in Argentina for exactly one week today, with our entire squad, and there are many things I’d like to write about, but before I can start blogs focused on what God is doing in Argentina with my team and with my squad, I need to share what happened on the last night in Chile.
So we had been at Debrief in Viña Del Mar, Chile, right by the ocean (beautiful!) and had a few days to regroup, rest, and process. On the last night, I went with a few of my squadmates to get a bite to eat and just share about our different experiences on our first month of the race. We had a really great time just listening to how the Lord was moving in each place, what the different ministries were like, and what was each person’s favorite part of their month. Very chill. It was about 9:30pm and since we were leaving for Argentina the next day on an 8 hour bus ride, we decided we should go to the local Lider Express (like a neighborhood Walmart) before it closed.
It was only about a 7 minute walk, so we started on our way, passing bars and people still out and about. We turned a corner and I saw a man and woman walking in front of us on the sidewalk, and the woman had a cane to assist her. She looked like she was in her 50s maybe. There was about 7 of us, and of course we moved to the side to pass the man and woman without collision. As I am passing her, the Holy Spirit literally tugged at my entire body to go pray for her. I try to shake it to keep from holding up my group, and He says again, very clearly, “Go.” So I turn around and in Spanish ask her how she is doing and if she had pain in her body. She responds that she has pain in her knee and hip while pointing to the areas that have pain. I asked her if we could pray for her and she initially said no. She was very kind, and as she said it she looks at our large group of 7 people who are staring back at her- that’s not intimidating or anything…
So at this point, I realize she is intimidated and maybe even scared, and ask her if its because there are too many people. As I’m saying this, 3 of my friends walk around the corner, understanding she was uncomfortable. She just kind of looked at me, so I asked her again if I could pray for her, and she willingly and eagerly says we can! So we each put a hand on her knee and hip, after confirming it was okay to put our hands on her. After the collectible “amen,” my friend RJ asks her if there is still pain in her body, and she responds that her knee is really hot. CRAZY! Then she turned to the man she was with and my other friend Jenny said she overheard the woman tell the man in Spanish that she hasn’t been able to move her knee in years..AS SHE IS MOVING HER KNEE!She began thanking us and we just point up and tell her how it was God that did it. Now she is smiling and nodding her head yes, as if she knew that already, which was such a beautiful moment.
We ask if we can pray again and she points to her lower back. So, we pray again, and Jenny feels her spine move as her hand is on her back. Again…crazy! And awesome! Afterwards, she asks our names, looking like she is going to cry and without the smile leaving her face. We hug and then head our separate ways, wishing one another blessings and a good night.
We weren’t “doing ministry,” We were just walking to the store. I believe this is just the beginning of what He will do when we choose to walk with Him anywhere and everywhere. At the grocery store, at our jobs, in our family, with our friends, at your kid’s soccer game, at the gym, on the airplane, anywhere and anytime. How crazy would it be to think that God is limited to a building and just for Sundays? And what’s the worse that can happen- someone says no to prayer?? So what. At least you loved them enough to lay aside what they might think of you, because you know that the love of the Father is more important than your reputation. Be encouraged! Be bold! (I am saying this to myself as I am typing it out, too.)
Am I crazy?? Feels like it sometimes, but it’s the best kind of crazy to be. AND if we actually look at what Jesus says about stuff like this, I think we would see He wasn’t just a nice guy that set a good example for people, but He is about bringing the kingdom of God. In the gospel of Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus is teaching the disciples how to pray and says some pretty radical things. Maybe you were like me and only memorized this prayer to pray before sports games, or maybe you were raised in the church and memorized it to keep up with the rituals and religion of things, or maybe you saw it that one time your were reading your bible, or maybe you’ve heard a whole sermon on it, or maybe you’ve never heard this at all. There is so much gold in how Jesus teaches us to pray because God in human form is literally telling us what to pray for and how to pray.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory. Forever. Amen.
Our Father, – okay woah. He is OUR Father. We are children of God, gaining His inheritance. An inheritance more precious than silver or gold. AND He loves us like He loves Jesus. Not some unapproachable judge watching us in the sky, waiting for us to mess up and being disappointed in us all the time. He’s a FATHER. He desires the very best for us and wants to have a relationship with us.
who art in Heaven,- who is seated on high, holding His righteous and holy place
hallowed by thy name- let His name be glorified and magnified in His power.
Thy Kingdom come,- RIGHT HERE!!! Let heaven come down to earth. The perfection, the goodness, the power, the holiness of God. HERE. Not when you die, but now! Heaven on earth. We can have access to God now.
Thy will be done– not what we want to do or what we think is best, or even the will of the enemy, but God’s perfect will…let it happen. Surrender to His plans
On Earth as it is in Heaven.- again…the power of God can come now if we ask for it. We don’t have to wait to get to heaven to see God move in wild ways, to see people be made new, to see people be set free.
Give us this day our daily bread – dependence on God for our daily needs
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.– Jesus knows we aren’t perfect, and we will mess up. God’s taught me a lot about asking for forgiveness/ repentance. I think it has had a negative stigma for some, but He’s taught me that it’s about coming to Him, with sincere hearts, knowing we’ve messed up, and He immediately meets us with forgiveness and love. He doesn’t throw it back in our face later. He literally accepts it, wraps His arms around us, and says, “You are forgiven. I love you. That’s not who you are.” Then it’s not so terrible and shameful. Life has taught us that asking for forgiveness is hard (and it is with humans sometimes), but His forgiveness is really just another opportunity to receive His grace, love, and mercy. Making Him even more irresistible. Jesus knows it’s hard to lay our pride down, and He tells us we can ask the Father for help with that.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil- temptation is real, y’all. Satan knows what those shiny things are that catch our eyes. The subtle habits that bring us comfort because that’s how we’ve learned to cope. It’s a real thing. I feel it every single day. But we have a Helper, who always gives us an option out, if we ask. He’s promised us that.
for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen.– At the end of the day, it’s all His. He has authority and power to do anything. Forever. I mean come on, He created time itself. Lightness and darkness. Oceans and land. He’s the real MVP…and He LOVES us so much!
Again, some may think I’m crazy, but I don’t care. If God can use me to bring His glory through doing dishes, playing tag with a kid, trying to have conversations in different languages, giving someone a hug, praying for the sick, loving people that may get on my nerves sometimes, being silly, whatever, then I’m going to do it. At least that is my desire for the rest of the world race, and then the rest of my life here on earth. Let me be clear that I am not perfect, I will mess up, and I will definitely get things wrong sometimes, but I’m going to at least put myself out there to be used by Him. I think it’s worth it, after all He’s done in my life…it’s worth it for sure.
He loves you. A lot. Don’t forget it. 🙂
