Ya never know who you’ll run into at 4am

When we first arrived at our hostel in Nicaragua, part of me was wishing we could’ve stayed there for the month. We walked out back to find a pool (yes, a POOL!), countless hammocks and to top it off, there was a mall a few blocks down that had every type of fastfood we’ve even thought about over the last 9 months…well, minus Taco Bell. That’s okay though, I don’t mind a bit more anticipation for that one J 

 

We arrived at our bus stop for Honduras the next morning at about 4am which is where Tracy and I met a man named Howard. Howard has been living on the streets since he was 8 years old when he started helping people with their bags as they arrived for their bus. Over the years, those streets became his home. He talked about the difficulties that this lifestyle brought on, but he didn’t do in a ‘I need your pity’ type of way as we so often do when we’re talking about anything remotely difficult. He was talking about it in a ‘this is my life, and I’ll take it for what it is’ type of way. He talked about how there’s no food, so people have to do what they have to do to get it.   Howard has been to jail 38 times for different things…some of which include assault, stealing and trying to take his own life. Something big is planned for Howard’s life, and I’m not sure he even knows it. 

Before we mentioned anything about what we were doing in Nicaragua, he asked if we were Christians. We said that we were, and he said that he was too. He went on to say that Jesus is the only way. 

 

As we continued chatting, a man limped by and sat down on the curb across the street. Howard began to tell us how this man was an ex-gang member. As we listened, he told us how he’s beaten up and murdered people. As I looked at the man on the curb, I couldn’t help but feel compassion for him. He was alone. I’m sure he’s a good man with a good heart. He just took some wrong turns along the way.

 

As we’ve travelled around the world, we’ve come across all different types of people. We’ve gotten to know alcoholic’s, drug addicts, HIV patients, homeless, orphans, widows, pastors, security guards, students, people of all religions, people with no religion. One thing that I’ve learned during the past 9 months is to look past the exterior. Look past what only my eyes can see and see the person that God has created. The person that He has created in His image. I’ve learned to see people for who they are and not what they are doing, have done or will do. That doesn’t really matter. It’s not our job to judge them. It’s not on us to figure everyone out that we meet.
 

We are simply here to love them just as Christ loves us. That’s going to look different much more often than it will look the same.

I wonder how often we judge people before even saying hello. How often do we dismiss people because we think we know what they’ll be like? If someone lives on the street, does that mean they’re not worthy of our friendship? We need to start loving people first, then let God take of the rest.  

 

After talking with Howard for a bit longer, Tracy and I prayed for him. As we were getting ready to board our bus, Tracy gave him a pb and j, and we were off to Honduras. 

 

Right after I got on the bus, I turned this verse…I believe it was for Howard…