click here to read the first part of the story.
We are all gathered around our small family table. Everyone is silent. No one knows where to begin. The Kiatera girls, along with Tommy (our contact) and Oscar (the translator), are finally sitting face to face with Marlyn (the boy who stole our belongings). We have prayed for this opportunity, but how do you begin to share your heart?
Suddenly the silence is broken by Tommy who looks directly into this young kid’s eyes and says, “What you did was wrong. Linda and I helped you and you stole from us, you stole from our friends. What you did was wrong, but I forgive you. The Lord has forgiven me so much and I choose to forgive you. He has been good to me and so I choose to be good to you. The $1000 cordobas that you stole from [Krystle] I will repay that debt for you. I am showing you love and mercy. Do the same for others.”
What a beautiful picture of the Lord’s grace! Yes, the Lord requires justice; the debt of our sins must be paid. But God, in his abounding mercy, paid our debt in full through the death of Jesus on the cross. Praise be to the Lord for His mercy and grace!
Then we each got a turn to offer grace and forgiveness to Marlyn, to share the Lord’s love with him, and at the end to gather around a pray over him. As we finished praying, he left our home with tears in his eyes. We prayed that today he would truly experience the Lord’s grace and love for him and that the tears on his cheeks would be the beginning of washing away his old life.
Please continue to pray for Marlyn- for real change in his life and that he will come to relationship with Christ. Also, please contine to pray for this community that we love so much.
