I thought we were just going to haul some rocks.
Simple task.
Go to the beach where we’re going to pick up some rocks, shovel it in the back of the pick up truck to bring back to the compound….
When we got to the spot, we were greeted by this shirtless dude. He was one of the workers there (he breaks rocks into smaller pieces) He had a bright smile, received us with great joy as if we’ve been friends for years. Didn’t think much of it. He did know our driver Shama (who is also one of our translators, and also a disciple!)
Shama turned to me and said that this man speaks Spanish. So I started bringing out my broken Spanish and greeted him with a smile and a “como estas?” (How are you?) “como te llamas?”( what is your name?). His name was hard to pronounce but it’s almost like Waldron.
We immediately got to work and started filling up the back of the pick up truck. After the first round, the truck left us at the beach to drop the rocks off. We were riding at the back of this small pick up truck and it wouldn’t have carried all 10 of us, plus all the rocks in it. So we waited by the beach.
Some of our team mates wanted to go for a swim while we waited. Waldron graciously told me in Spanish, to tell my teammates to be careful and don’t go out too far because those waters were dangerous. So I kept talking to him, wanting to practice my Spanish and Interested in where he learned it.
This conversation would probably look so funny to a native Spanish speaker. Two individuals trying to communicate with broken Spanish telling each other about their lives…. but we were both enjoying the fact that we were some how able to communicate.
But I eventually asked him if he knew Jesus… and this dude went off!! His faith blew me away.
He lived and worked in the Dominican Republic for four years (that’s how he learned Spanish) but he got deported In 2011 for not having papers. The same year, his wife divorced him, he doesn’t know where his 5 kids are, but In that same year, November 6, 2011 (he was very specific in remembering this date) he received Jesus as his personal savior. He works Monday to Saturday morning till the sun goes down breaking and hauling rocks. He is 38 years old and I told him he looks young and strong, and he said “because the lord gave me a tough job, it allows me to look young.” He is full of life, joyful and giving the lord praise for all that he has. He had such a thankful heart, and it amazed me.
I was so blown back by this man’s faith who has close to nothing yet he sees the blessings the lord has for him. He was so grateful for the Little’s things, and I was so in awe of this man’s pure joy in the midst of his struggles. “Knowing that the lord is with me”, he said, “that is enough!!”
Before leaving, I asked if we could pray for him, and our squad was privileged enough to lift this guy up to the lord. Right there at the beach, around a pile of rubbles where he worked. Just at the simplest of all places, we were able to show love to this amazing man of God. He was very excited to receive the prayer. He said he loves us and he thanked us.
It’s so humbling to know that in the forgotten parts of this world, the forgotten people, those who have close to nothing, are the ones that give the most glorious praise to the lord.
Father thank you for these surprises. These amazing gifts to share faith with those who I would never think I would ever come in contact with. Thank you for the gift of language. Thank you for continuing to show your glory in ways that keeps blowing my mind. Thank you that your son Jesus is glorified in the places that we wouldn’t go. Continue to change my heart lord. Help me to see and love people the way you do.
