Have you ever stepped into a situation, believing it was just another mundane moment to do the thing you like to do? Nothing super special, but still something you desire to do.
But, then something happens that transforms that ordinary moment into something extraordinary.
That something: GOD SHOWS OFF
I hope you have experienced something like this, and if you haven’t, I’ll be praying you get to- because there is nothing like it!
I’m going back.
Back to a day in Nicaragua that God surprised me with His goodness!
We had just finished a women’s bible study at the house of a family in the village of Pantanel. Some of our team split up into groups to prayer walk around the community, and a few of us joined our host for this Bible study.
The study ended and we were about to leave, when one of the young boys who lived at this house came up to his mother. He had been bitten by something a few days prior and our host knew my teammate, Jess, and I were nurses so she asked us to take a look.
We did, and could tell an abscess had now formed under his skin and it needed to be drained. He was in a lot of pain, the outside of his shin was swollen and red.
With the thought of being in a village with only a team first-aide kit, we had to consider our resources. Within minutes, someone had run out to get the supplies we needed.
Lollipop in hand, this boy knew what was about to happen. (And honestly I don’t know who was more nervous, us or him, because we knew this wasn’t going to be fun.)
It took 5 of us holding him down, Jess making the incision, and her and I together draining this thing and 10 minutes to complete the work.
We explained to our host, Jenn, how to take care of it for the next few days and she translated in spanish, assuring the family we’d be back to check in. Their living conditions weren’t ideal for keeping an open incision free of infection, but we believed he’d be okay.
A few days later we came back and although still red, the site wasn’t hard and the swelling had gone down. Jess and I prayed for protection over it for no further infection. While there we found out the father had sprained his ankle earlier that day. His wife had left a few days prior to do work in another country for a month and he was left in charge of their 5 children, one of which has Cerebral Palsy, requiring total care.
We prayed for the fathers ankle and said we’d return again to check on them.
Two days later we went to check in. Nobody was home, so Jess and I headed back to the truck. On our way out, I look up and see both father (carrying their daughter with CP) and son walking down the dirt path.
Neither limping. Neither in pain.
Both healed.
What started as a simple choice to participate in a women’s bible study, turned into an opportunity for me to journey through a week completely depending on the power of prayer, obeying the Holy Spirit, and trusting that God would take care of this family.
No coincidence.
Not by chance.
A divine appointment.
Here’s a real truth.
God could take care of us all by himself.
He could have healed the ankle and the bug bite without Jess or I.
But the cool thing is, He chose not to.
He chooses to include us, not because He needs to, but because He wants to. He’s that relational.
What if Jess or I had chosen not to treat the little boys leg or pray over the father’s ankle?
God only knows.
But I do know I wouldn’t have the story to share of the goodness only He can provide!
XOXO
Tay
