So this is a story about a man we met last month. We met him within our first week in Colombia, and his story has stuck with me so much that I want to share.
So for our second night of Agua Panela, a guy on our squad named Joseph went up to a man named Cristiano in the park. Cristiano was crying and Joseph went over with a translator and asked what was wrong, and he said that he missed his family and felt so alone because of what his addiction has done to the people he was closest to. So, Joseph and the translator prayed over him and as far as I know, that was the extent of the conversation.
The next day after we did a morning prayer walk, lo and behold, Cristiano was walking up the street. Joseph was overjoyed to see him and wanted to talk to him. There were no translators around so I did my best to communicate with him. Joseph bought him some coffee and some bread and invited him to sit and chat.
He told us about his story. He had been on the streets since he was 17 and he had been addicted to drugs since he was 14. He is 30 years old now. He has a son, but his son lives with the mother and they live in a different city now. He has faith and believes in God, but he needed a community to affirm him of that since in the park where he lives, there were not many believers. He had such a love for Christ that was evident, so we asked him if he wanted to be accepted into the program, and he said yes, so they took him to have an entrance interview with the guy in charge.
We saw him at church that Friday night and he was officially in the program, but the program required you to stay there for a certain amount of time without leaving to be sure that you are committed. In Cristiano’s case, he was to stay for a month. That night, after the message, Harry got up and by the power of the Holy Spirit, he asked for anyone who had struggled with suicidal thoughts. Many men and women stood up, and one of them was Cristiano A group of us went up and prayed for him and it was a powerful night.
Then, we had Monday off, so a bunch of people went off to adventures, and when we came back, we heard that Cristiano had left and went back on the street. We were devastated. He had such a heart for God and it seemed like he really wanted to change, but the enemy still had a grip on him and pulled him back into his bad habits.
It’s been over a month since we met Cristiano, but he is still on my mind. The night I learned that he left I wrote a song for him, so that whenever I sing this song, I can be praying for him and praying that God is still protecting him and still has a plan for him.
Side Note: The words in spanish are words Cristiano spoke to me while we were talking with himhas, so I know his faith will get him through this hard time.
Lyrics:
The tears are warm on my checks
The love of your son overflows
Every day your grace will teach
He’ll learn the measure of your
And the road may be hard
But You are there through it all
Take his stone heart
And make it a heart of gold
“God knows your heart, God knows your pain
You’re not alone, don’t be afraid
God knows your mind, God knows your struggles
You’re not alone, don’t be afraid”
You roam the dark city streets
Searching for something you can’t keep
The love of the father follows you
No shame is too far from his view
And he loves your through it all
Though trials may tear your down
God’s bigger than this world
He’ll never let you drown
Every minute of every day
Every hour he’ll sing your praise
God will never turn away
Your love will guide his ways
Cada minuto de cada día
Cada hora cantará
Dios nunca volverá atrás
Tu amor mostrará la manera
