This past weekend was our off day from ministry and a few of the guys decided to go in search of skateboards. But there’s not much of a skate culture in Guatemala, or at least not in the part of Guatemala that we’re staying in. So, that search led us to Guatemala City. After a two hour ride on the chicken bus, and another hour walk towards our hostel, we set off towards one of the only skate shops in Guatemala. It was sad to see that the cheapest board they carried cost over 1200 quetzales—more than a board would cost in America. We left with empty hands.
Since we came to Guatemala City with the sole intention of buying skateboards, we wandered aimlessly for a bit as we debated what we could do with our weekend in the capital. We eventually sat down outside of a Burger King so we could use their WiFi to find other attractions. That’s when we met Jose.
He was selling street art. He had taken old beer cans, and cut and shaped them into flowers. It was actually really cool, really pretty art. He asked if we wanted to buy any, or if we’d give him any money for food. We offered to take him out to eat instead; he gladly accepted. What followed was a long conversation about life and faith.
He told us his story. He had grown up in Honduras, heavily involved in gangs and addicted to drugs. When he was 19 years old, looking for his next high, he opened his drawer in search of paper to roll a joint. He found a bible. “I’m sorry God,” he said to a god he didn’t believe in as he prepared to tear a page out. But for whatever reason, he stopped and read the pages instead. He read about Jesus, about new life and freedom. That’s when his relationship with the Lord began.
He moved to the United States when he was 25 years old. For the first 5 years, he lived sober in Texas. He was part of the worship team at his church and began street evangelism to drug addicts. As we talked it was clear that he was really educated in his faith. He knew about baptism by fire and water, he knew doctrine and theology more advanced than the average Christian. But he was also very remorseful as he spoke, like he was remembering and longing for a past life.
After living in Texas, he eventually moved to Florida, where he fell back into addiction. He lived there until 2016 when he was arrested and deported for a DUI without a license. He moved to Mexico, and eventually back to Honduras. Because of the violence and unrest in Honduras, he’s now made his way to the streets of Guatemala City, where he met us, as he sold his beer can street art.
It was a weird moment. It was beautiful and hopeful as we had the chance to share testimonies of freedom and talk to him about grace. He said he doesn’t doubt God’s existence, but he doubts that he could come back to God. There’s an immense amount of guilt and bondage that’s keeping him from returning to the Lord. He doubts that the Lord still wants him, that He still speaks to him, but Jesus sent four missionaries around the world, to an overpriced skate shop, to the side of a Burger King, just to bring him a message of grace and freedom. It’s incredibly hopeful to see that the Lord doesn’t forget lost sheep. Grace is always still extended.
But it was a really difficult moment too. My heart is heavy for Jose. I know that he didn’t walk away from our conversation a changed man. We planted and watered seeds, but they’re a long way from producing fruit. There’s freedom in knowing that growth isn’t my responsibility—it’s up to Jesus to cause growth (and His hands can be trusted), but it’s also up to the soil whether it accepts it—but it’s difficult to plant seeds when there’s genuine uncertainty as to whether they will bear fruit or not. I’m relieved that outside of my own relationship with the Lord, eternal decisions don’t fall onto my shoulders. But walking alongside lost sheep is spiritually and emotionally heavy.
I think Jose’s street art—the transformation of beer cans into flowers—was fitting. There’s redemption in turning old beer cans into art. And the message we got to share with him was one of grace and redemption. It is really representative of how the Lord works in us. Which is cheesy, but it’s also really true. Redemption is an integral part of the Gospel. I know I’ve been redeemed. And I’m praying for Jose that he’ll accept the grace that the Lord is always, constantly extending.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe” Psalm? ?107:1-2??
