Alejandra kissed me on the cheek. She aimed for my lips, but I turned in just enough time as she aggresively came at me. She smiled and grabbed below my belt, acting as if it were an accident, then turning to walk away. Wearing a small top and shorts that would make a modest mother scream, Alejandra is a woman ignored and overlooked by many people who live here in Jaco, Costa Rica.
But first let me rewind to add some context as to how I know Alejandra.
I met her the first day we arrived, while waiting on our host to pick us up at the local bus station. She was wearing a bikini and walking as if she was in a hurry. I’m by no means great at Spanish, but engaged her in conversation because she looked so troubled. I made small talk and noticed that she was fidgeting and could not stand still. She even appeared disengaged in the conversation, and kind of seemed eager to exit our discussion. But I was not going to let her get away so easily.
(The following dialogue is translated to English for obvious reasons)
Me – “Alejandra do you know who Jesus is?”
I noticed that she got deathly still and began to pay attention for the first time since we started our conversation.
Alejandra – “Yes I believe in God, but it doesn’t really affect my life. I know of Jesus.”
How many of us would have a similar answer today if you were asked if you know Jesus?
Knowing that this area is very religious, I explained that there was a big difference between knowing about Christ, and truly knowing and receiving Christ.
Me – “What are you looking for? What do you want?”
Alej – “Peace and to get away from the bad men in my life.”
I continued to talk to her and learned by the context clues that drugs have been ruining her life. Crack/cocaine to be specific. I re-introduced Jesus in the conversation and how He is the only one who has the power to set her free and give her true peace. He is what will satisfy her.
Me – “Alejandra, are you tired of running from God? Are you read to put your faith and trust in Him and give it all up?”
Alej – “No, I’m fine.”
Immediately as she replied saying no, she started pacing back and forth and looked as if she disengaged again.
Alej – “Give me money, I need food.”
Me – “No, but you can have these apples in my bag.”
Alej – “Never mind I’m not hungry.”
She then proceeded to walk off just as quickly as when she walked up to the bus station.
I prayed for her with our group, prayed that a seed was planted in her heart and that it would not be stolen away. Jaco is a small tourist town. I have been here for one week, and I have seen Alejandra every day since. Some encounters she is very promiscious (as the introduction illustrates) and sometimes she is just very broken. Twice she has stopped and focused long enough to listen as I tell her more about Jesus, and one time she ran from me screaming as I mentioned His name. I have seen her in the morning where she goes to a park to shoot up, at night when she’s selling herself, and during the day when she’s coming off of her high and tends to get really vicious.
My friend and I have given her food and drink. We continue to ask her how she is doing while transitioning back to Jesus every time we see her. My heart is burdening for this woman and I love her, but my heart breaks for her because she is stuck in a vicious cycle right now where she is a slave to many things. I don’t know how long it will take her to break this cycle and get off of her feet as a prostitute who is strung out on drugs. First, she has to want to break the cycle and receive true healing and peace through Salvation, which only comes from Jesus Christ himself. And secondly, she will have to take on responsibility for her actions and daily fight for her life back.
I’m only here for a month, I can’t save her. I can’t give her a 5 step plan on how to get out of this lifestyle. I don’t know what to do or who to connect her with, but what I do know is that I can give her more and more of the Truth every time I see her. I can provide food and water for her. And I can pray for her and offer to pray with her every time we cross paths. And I’m praying that God will take this woman and transform her heart no matter what sacrifices it may entail.
Please pray for Alejandra, pray that God penetrates her heart; and like the ‘prodigal son’ she too can bounce back and quit wallowing in the mud.
Also I want to challenge everyone else to stop and pray with, feed, or just acknowledge and shake hands the next time you see someone that is homeless. It is so easy for our hearts to become numb towards those that are hurting. Sometimes it is overwhelming because there is so much hurt in the world, we are afraid that we are too small to make a difference or that we cannot handle the heartbreak of truly loving someone who is broken. Whatever the case may be, I pray we all remember Christ’s words when he says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matt 25:40
