My team and I were walking down the streets of Granada, Nicaragua as we admired the colorful buildings, the gorgeous architecture, and the busy market in front of us. We searched through souvenirs and trinkets that would forever remind of us the place we were in. The girls and I ooed and awed over vibrant bracelets while striking up conversations with the local business workers. As we looked over, we saw our teammates, Andrew and Michael, talking to a man in a blue shirt. This man was having a conversation with them, but he was not using any words. Only sounds and grunts came out of his mouth. I saw the man swing his arms as if he were swinging a bat, and knew the man must be talking to Andrew about baseball, which is one of his big passions. That was that – a simple conversation in the marketplace. We never thought we would see this man again.
Later that day, our team was once again walking down one of the main streets in the center of town. The man in the blue shirt spotted us from a distance, and ran towards us. He saw Andrew, and instantly embraced him as he remembered their connection earlier that morning. The man, without using any words, pointed to his heart. He then made a prayer sign, and pointed to God. We realized he was asking us to pray over him as we discovered that he was deaf and mute. He could not hear anything we were saying or talk to communicate. So right there, we laid hands over his heart and ears, and prayed for God’s healing.
In the evening, the man (Juan) brought us to a restaurant and showed us what food would be the best to try. We ate with him, and asked him to join us for the meal. At the end of dinner, we had a lot of leftovers as there was a lot of food. Before the waiters could clear our plates, Juan stopped us and gestured to the people laying on the streets. He wanted us to give our food that was leftover to the homeless, and we asked him to show us who needed it most. So we got up, walking around town, and gave our food to whoever he pointed out to us. As we walked down the street, Juan showed us who was homeless. But beyond that, he knew the story of every single person sitting on the streets. Here is a man who cannot speak or hear, but could communicate better than I’ve ever seen anyone communicate before. The expression on his face and his movements should speak louder than words ever could. After all the food was gone, he pointed to a woman laying against a wall who had a clubbed foot. She was by herself, and was obvious that she was not able to walk in the condition she was in. He made a prayer sign and pointed to her. “Oh, you want us to pray for her? Okay, we definitely will keep her in our prayers,” we said. But Juan pointed down telling us to prayer for her in that moment. So, we all laid on the ground with the woman and began praying over her foot. The woman held on to Michael in a sweet embrace, while Andrew rubbed ointment on every inch of her foot. Again, we prayed for God’s healing. She kissed our cheeks as we left, and we prayed for God’s protection over her as well as people to come into her life that will help her heal physically, mentally, and spiritually.
I was instantly reminded of the chapter in the bible where Jesus heals the blind man. Jesus rubs mud on the mans eyes, and he is healed after washing in the water. Later on, people around saw the man. They asked, “wasn’t that the man who was on the streets begging? Wasn’t he the one who could not see?” Another person said, “No, this must just be a man that looks like him.” But guess what, the same man that was on the streets, begging, unable to see, was the same man who stood before them completely healed by Jesus Christ. THAT is what I pray over Juan and the woman against the wall. I pray that in God’s timing, people will look at each of them and say, “Wasn’t that the man who couldn’t hear or speak? Wasn’t that the woman who no one loved and was stranded on the side of the road?” God has the power to heal, not only their physical selves but their hearts as well.
Juan later shared with us his life story. He apparently also lived on the streets as a small boy, no food, no shelter. He would sniff glue to fill his stomach because food was not an option. He lived this way until a missionary man with a bible found him, and took him to a feeding center. This man taught him ASL and how to sign to communicate. This forever changed his life. He now has a house, and sells bracelets in the market. Although he doesn’t know it, I think he has changed our lives for the better. He doesn’t use his hearing or speaking as a handicap, but rather has learned how to use it as a gift. Our team was not expecting any of the events that happened that day, but Juan literally led us around town bringing us to people who needed food, needed prayer, and needed Jesus.
How amazing that a missionary years ago planted a seed in Juan that has now changed his life forever, as well as the lives around him! That missionary might not even know the effects of his one kind act, and how that small deed has changed a life. It gave me hope for my purpose here on this trip, for this month, and for this whole year. We might not see transformation in a moment, or even at the end of each month. But maybe we have the ability to plant a small seed in someone, that could later transform their whole life for the better. Possibly, someone years from now will see the fruit of our labor now. This was an incredible reminder and hope for the rest of our journey here and at the end of all of this.
So, I want to encourage all of you to invest in the people around you. Even if you feel like your words are inadequate or you have a hard time listening to others, God will give you a way to communicate. Transformation doesn’t happen over night, but keep planting small seeds that might not grow right away, but will over time. Get to know the people around you, on YOUR street, in your neighborhood. How can you be praying for them? Get to know their stories and about their lives, and truly invest.
***On a side note, Juan took Sarah and I today to a restaurant that was made years ago by a man named Antonio. He started this business to offer a job for those who are deaf, mute, or blind. It started with just a few workers, and now there are over 30. This is an AMAZING ministry that allows those with a handicap to feel a part of the community and not be rejected by those around them. On each table in the restaurant, there is brail for the blind to be able to read the menu. There are sign language cards posted on the wall as well. Next to the restaurant, is a workshop where the workers make hammocks. This is another job opportunity for them, and the money made goes to keep the business running. Simply amazing!
On another side note, our teammates invited Juan to a worship night that we were having with our whole squad. He sat in a chair with his hands wide open and tears running down his face as we sang songs to heaven. He couldn’t hear the words, but I feel like he felt them in his heart. Our entire squad came together in unity and laid hands on him in prayer. I don’t know God’s plans for Juan, but I pray he is used for the kingdom of God and will continue to grow and transform.
(Just so everyone knows, we are here in Granada until Wednesday morning. We have been here on a debrief to rest and check in with the leadership team. Next, we will be heading to Chinendega, Nicaragua where we will start out ministry for the month. This month, the whole squad will stay together and not diverse within the country. We will be working with a ministry called Vision Nicaragua. You can learn more about their ministry here: VisionNicaragua.org)
