You know how sometimes in the movies there’s that one person who is incredibly loveable and who’s character is nearly flawless and everyone loves? That person who when after meeting them they seem to disappear and when you ask people about them they say they have no idea who are you talking about. That person who ends up being a secret angel and you had no idea.
I’m convinced I have met one of those people; her name is Flora and she is 79 years old going on 80.
I met Flora on my first official day of ministry here in Antigua, Guatemala. My 3 squadmates (Joe, Sarah, and Will) and I had expected to spend the morning visiting the hospital in Antigua and volunteering to work with the cerebral palsy patients, but after a series of events (which occured mostly in Spanish) we were instructed that plans had changed. Instead, we were going to visit the people in the local elderly home and spend the afternoon there.
On the World Race, plans are always changing. Schedules and expectations are two things which, as racers now in month 10, we have become used to throwing out the door and have learned to go through each day with attitude of flexibility.
We were let inside of the gate and sat down on a bench while waiting for a staff member. That is when I saw Flora for the first time as she pratically floated as she walked over to us. That first day spent with Flora consisted of listening as she poured her heart out about her fears, bad dreams and her broken heart over her three children who had died (specifically her youngest son who died just 2 years ago). We sat in the chapel and listened to her story and laid hands on her and prayed for her. Afterwards, she blessed us in return by dressing up in her fancy hats, singing songs for us, and dancing with us. She stole my heart.
Ever since that first day, I have tried to take advantage of every opportunity that I have to go and visit her and spend time with her. I have primarily been spending my time here in Antigua helping to do manual labor work on preparing a plot of land to build a new house for a man named Rapha who’s family (wife and 5 children) are going to be forced to leave their home on April 30th. *Please keep them in your prayers as they are still trying to find somewhere to stay while they build their new house*
But any day I am able to, I have gone to see Flora and the other wonderful people at the elderly home.
Every day that I walk through the gate I can’t help but smile from ear to ear when seeing Flora. When I am with her I often forget that we don’t even speak the same language because she never lets it stand in the way of communicating with me. She uses hand gestures, noises, songs, and facial expressions to let me know every thing she is thinking and feeling. But even more than her funny faces, her broadway performances for us and her dancing, it is Flora’s JOY that truly amazes me every time I see her. She is nearly 80 years old, she has been left by her husband, she has lived through the death of her three children, she lives in an elderly home where she is in the minority of mentally healthy residents, she has three roommates whom she doesn’t enjoy, and apart from a visit here and there from her niece or a friend she spends most of her days relatively alone. But she has JOY, man does she have joy. She is so full of life I can’t help but smile at every little thing she does. One thing you need to know about Flora is that if she is not talking to you or showing you something then she is most likely singing. I rarely understand much of what she sings to me in Spanish, but I understand enough to know that 9 out of 10 times it is about the Lord. Why? Because that is the source of her unexplainable joy.
She has helped to teach me even more about the truth that when we have a living and active relationship with the Lord our joy does not depend on our circumstances, it depends on Him alone and He is ALWAYS constant.
Growing up, I used to visit the local nursing home with my family a couple times a month to play games with, sing songs with or simply just to keep the residents there company. I can’t tell you how many people I met who felt that there life purpose was basically over and that they weren’t of much use to anyone or to the world anymore. So many elderly people (especially the ones who live in some type of nursing home or assisted living center) believe the lie that their lives don’t hold much value anymore. And so many young people greatly fear aging and one day becoming old because they also believe the lie that there won’t be any point or purpose in living anymore.
Shoot you guys, what a lie that is! Satan is fooling so many people! We need to stop believing that lie because that’s exactly what it is, a lie. Meeting Flora has proven that to me. Some people may have seen my Facebook or Instagram posts and thought something like, “Awe that is so nice that Bekah was able to meet that elderly woman and bless her by spending time with her, I bet she really appreciated those visits.” But the truth is, I am the one who appreciated those visits and was blessed, most likely far more than Flora ever was by me. She reminded me not to waste life walking around half alive, but to truly LIVE. She reminded me never to be ashamed of your joy and who God has made you and to dance when you feel like dancing or sing when you feel like singin. And most of all, she showed me that even at 80 or 80+ years old my life still has purpose and I can still impact people.
She may never even realize it, but Flora has had a great impact on me. I already get teary eyed at the idea of saying goodbye to her and not being able to go visit her anymore after April 24th. She doesn’t even speak the same language as me, but she has taught me far more with her actions than words could have ever done. Flora may have never thought she would ever make such a powerful impact on an American girl’s life from simply living in an Elderly Home in Antigua, Guatemala. But she didn’t live that way, she continued to live fully and loudly despite her circumstances. 
Your life ALWAYS has a purpose; no matter whether you are 5 years old, 25 years old, 55 years old, or 80+ years old. Your purpose in life and ability to impact others doesn’t depend on the age of your life, it depends on the way you live it. Don’t believe the lies, believe His truths.
