This past Wednesday Pastor Julian took us
to Alto-Turjillo for home visits. My teammates and I were each assigned to go
to homes with someone from the church. With my limited Spanish I wasn’t sure
exactly how much I was going to be able to help. On our way, I asked Raquel,
the local woman with me, if she was a friend of the person we were visiting.
She said yes. I learned that they were not Christian but were non-practicing
Catholic. When we sat down with Charo and her two sons Tony (13) and Rodrigo
(7), I began to hear and piece their story together.
One month ago Charo’s husband was murdered.
He was shot by a 16-year-old boy on a bus. (Sidenote: I didn’t learn the
details until after we left their home because the whole time I thought they
were telling me that he shot himself.) Instantly my heart was broken for this
family. I also learned (after we left) that her son Rodrigo was there and
witnessed the whole thing. Breath. It was all I could do to breath.
God, how are we going to convey Your love
to this broken family? How are they going to react to us telling them about a
God who loves them? I can only imagine that they feel so abandoned by You right
now and are probably having a hard time believing in Your goodness. But I know
You are
good and You want to show Your love to your children. Give me the words God.
Open their hearts to You and Your love.
This was my prayer as we sat at the kitchen
table. Raquel was talking to Charo for the most part and then she asked me to
share my testimony. So I read my testimony (yes, translated in Spanish) to the
family. Raquel began talking again and a few minutes later asked me to pray.
Thank goodness God speaks all languages! While they didn’t understand the words
I was saying, I can only hope that God used my prayers to touch Charo and her
boys that day.
After prayer we spoke more casually. I
spent a lot of time talking with Tony and Rodrigo. They are typical boys that
like sports and computer games. Tony is very smart and likes Science and
Rodrigo loves writing. These two boys will now navigate through this life
without a dad to guide them. But they have a heavenly Father who is pursuing
their hearts. Please join with me in prayer that they will find rest in Him and
that men of God would come into their lives as mentors and father figures.
As I left that day my heart was broken but
so hopeful. I don’t know what they thought of what we had to say, but I know
God is moving and I trust that He is good.
I am hoping that I will be able to see this
family again before I leave and will keep you updated with anything that God
does in their lives.
Many Blessings,
Kim
