Let me tell you a story from Tumpa, Peru. It is a story of our God’s sovereignty and love! One of the Lord’s heart for one family in the mountains of Peru. A story of how the Lords places the desires of His heart into those that He calls to be His hands and feet!
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
(Ephesians 4:1 -Ephesians 4:6)
As a few of the girls and I were ending a long day in Tumpa and heading down the dirt road back to Mushu, i few men on the corner called out, “Are you doctors?”
I answered, “No, but I know the One who is the greatest physician, I am a missionary for the Lord Jesus Christ.”
We were then led down the road to meet Louisa, an elderly lady with cancer. We laid hands on her and prayed for her and her family. We had no idea then the eternal impact we were being used by the Holy Spirit for.
“Fix our eyes on not what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen in temporary, but what is unseen in eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Soon after meeting Louisa, we met her husband Emilio… and the love story continues. Truly, the Lord placed his heart for this family directly into the World Race, and into me! Over the next few days many of our team members were individually let to meet Emilio and Louisa, to pray for them, to share our lives with them.
The following Saturday, less than a week after meeting Louisa, we headed into Tumpa to see this couple that had stolen our hearts. When we got the news that Louisa had passed away over the weekend.
I had an overwhelming sense of, did I do enough, now its too late, could I have done more…
Then I learned that Chad had spent an hour and a half just 3 days before with the Louisa, and that Louisa had heard the Gospel and accepted Jesus Christ! I had nothing at that moment but joy, I know that my sister Louisa will spend eternity with our heavenly Father. As I looked down the dirt road of Tumpa, I could imagine Louisa standing on the streets of Gold. Singing with our angelic hosts. Arms wide open, waiting to greet us again.
I looked up, and say Emilio walking towards us, down the dirt road of Tumpa.
He greeted us, as always, with a smile and a holy kiss. His first concern was for us, how were we doing? He was truly joyful to see us. To greet his brothers and sisters in Christ.
I beleive it was the joy of the Lord that gave him peace in this time. I see how much the Lord loves this man, this family…
From the first moment we stepped foot in T umpa, it was all divinely appointed. Her son asking us to pray for her, many of our team members being burdnened for Emilio, spending time wth him and truly being able to call him friend and brother.
On the day of the funeral service the family asked that we help them with the funeral procession and we were invited to say a few words at the grave site. We were able to collect a love offering to support Emilio and his family with funeral costs. Our pastor suggested that a funeral here would cost the family about 300 soles… the Lord put it heavy on my heart that He would provide this amount through us. I made one announcement to the team and without hesistaiton people gave, we collected $310 soles for the family. Another lesson for me, and example of the how the Lord provides for us, how He puts his desires in our hearts. It was his desire to provide for Emilio, we were simply the willing vessle!
We were brought here to love this family and to lead Louisa to her father, to lead her home.
I am in awe at how the Lord used us, at what a priveledge it is to be on the World Race this year, to be Gods hands and feet, his heart.
My prayer is to live a life worthy of Christ death, to love the ones he loves, Emilio, Louisa, the people of Tumpa, Peru….
We are One Body, One Spirit… what a reunion we will have on the streests of gold in heaven!!!
