Four years ago, when I was interning in Haiti, a normal facetime conversation with my parents turned into one of the worst conversations of my life. Even though the connection wasn’t that strong, I heard what my parents said so clearly: “Ash, dad has cancer.” As you can imagine my emotions overtook me and I started crying on the guesthouse porch. Immediately after that call, I went to find my intern friends and my friend Katelynn comforted me in the fact that prostate cancer is not only extremely common, but it’s very curable. Fast forward three months, my dad had a successful surgery that leaves him healthy today. I honestly don’t think about that time in my life often. Although at first, it was scary, time passed, healing came, and things went back to normal.
Fast forward four years to April 13, 2019. One of our ministries here in Granada, Nicaragua is prayer walks. It’s exactly what it sounds like: we go out in small groups with locals and translators, and we ask the Holy Spirit to highlight people that could use prayer while we are out. While we were out on Saturday, we visited a few people before making it to our final stop of the afternoon. We walked into the yard of a family with multiple adults hanging out and several kids running around. After talking for a while, we found out that the dad of the family was inside and he had prostate cancer. Shortly after we prayed for everyone, I felt strongly called to go inside to pray for the man, Jose. My translator walked in first confirming it was okay that my three squadmates and I came in to pray. Without hesitation, his gentle but painfilled face responded with a head nod. I immediately sat on his bed and held his hand.
I asked a few questions about how much pain he was in. My translator replied, “a lot.” I prayed for the pain to leave his body. I cried. I asked the translator if any of his pain seemed to leave. Jose replied “I am in so much pain it hurts to breathe. It’s so hot, and I’m so uncomfortable.” I cried more. I prayed for provision, for God to provide material things for this man but also more healing in his body. His breathing seemed to get better, but with more conversation, I learned what was more heartbreaking than the rest. He has been sick for ten years. And it seems like they don’t have the money for him to see a doctor and get treatment. I cried more. Jose expressed that because he has been sick for so long, he’s lost hope of ever getting better. I prayed that God would restore his hope and give him a new revelation of love.
I asked questions about how their family is doing. I asked if we can do anything to help? Food or water? He replied, “our water here goes out every day.” Even running water isn’t promised — more crying. As we were getting ready to leave, he said the sweetest thing that wrecked me. “When can you come back?” Some days on the World Race are the most ordinary days. Yesterday was not. I’ll look back on yesterday as a day that wrecked me.
I asked my host when I got back yesterday how to respectfully go about doing something for this family. My host believes (and I agree) that doing something to make this man more comfortable would be beneficial. I’ve been intentionally praying about what God would like me to do. I’m going to go back as often as I can and continue to pray, but I would love to bring water and possibly a few items to make him more comfortable when I go back.
If there’s a silver lining in this story, it’s this: My dad, will be here in Nicaragua in 9 days. And you can bet that I’ll be bringing my dad to meet Jose at the first chance I get. Thanks God, that you’re already creating appointments for my parents to see you move.
First, I would sincerely appreciate that you join with me in prayer for healing in Jose’s body. Pray for complete healing of his cancer and the pain in his body. Pray that God would reveal himself and restore his hope. Pray for provision for his family and for strength for his family members who take care of him.
Second, prayerfully consider helping this man through a financial gift. I’m not asking for much, but I am asking for you to consider how you can help Jose and his family. You can help financially through Venmo or PayPal. Please contact me if this is something you’d be willing to do.
Thanks, friends, and family for reading. I pray God moves your heart and that you recognize the opportunity we have to love a brother in Christ.
