One of the ministries we do here in Costa is street evangelism. This has always been something that’s intimidated me – just the idea of going up to complete strangers and talking about God.
On this particular day, our bus pulled up to ministry and I could see dark clouds. I was hoping it would rain and we wouldn’t be able to go out for evangelism because we always did it in the park. Well it never rained. The clouds disappeared and we set out for the park. As we crossed a street a block from the park, a parking attendant asked where we were from. Our translator, Quique, told him we were missionaries from the U.S. The man thanked us and even called out a “God bless you” as we walked the last block to the park.
Then we evangelized. Both groups had success and then we started to head back to the Hope Project for dinner. On our way back, we stopped and prayed for the parking attendant we’d met earlier. His name is Walter and he said we could come and pray for him every day. But Walter wanted us to pray for his son that day as well.
His son’s name is Raul. He’s been living with AIDS for 8 years now. Walter called him over and he was reluctant but eventually joined us. We asked if he could pray for him and Raul said that he wasn’t worth a prayer because he’d already been given a death sentence. And the fact this man genuinely believed he wasn’t worth a few minutes of our time and a prayer just BROKE my heart. Our two translators prayed for him in Spanish. I don’t know what was being said but I knew it was powerful and I was praying within my own heart too.
Afterward, I knelt down with Raul and told him that he was worth all the prayers in the world. The Lord reminded me of a Bible verse I really love that says, “You are worth more than many sparrows,” and I knew that I needed to share it with Raul. But I couldn’t remember where it was for the life of me! I asked everyone else and they couldn’t remember either. Besides, it was time for dinner and we needed to go back.
But not being able to share that verse was really bugging me. As soon as we made it back to the Hope Project, I grabbed my Bible and went digging for the lost verse. It didn’t take me long to find it, I’d already had it highlighted. It was Matthew 10:31. The passage goes like this: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” I went to Quique and asked if we could go back out to share this truth with Raul. Quique, who has one of the biggest hearts I’ve ever seen, agreed.
Raul spotted us before we even reached him and he just had the biggest smile on his face. I shared the verse with him and Quique translated. Raul pulled out his pocket New Testament and asked us to mark the verse in it for him but as Quique was writing, Raul just ran off. He came back a few seconds later with a full size Bible. He wanted us to show him the verse in that one as well. Raul read the three verses and asked what they meant. I explained some and Quique elaborated further as he translated. I didn’t understand everything Quique said but I did pick up on him explaining that God cares enough about us to know exactly how many hairs we have on our head and I watched Raul clutch his own hair in response with a look of amazement on his face. He flipped to the back of his big Bible where there were lines for writing and handed it to me along with a pen. Quique told me that Raul wanted me to write a note for him in the back and that he would translate underneath it. I told Raul that the most informed bidder paid the highest price for him – that’s how much he’s worth. And I told him to never forget that.
I hand the Bible to Quique so he can translate the note and as he’s doing so Raul keeps talking, telling us how he’s been in prison, how he’s been both stabbed and shot but survived, and how he’d turned to alcohol for comfort when he felt hopeless. But he also told us that he had changed and left that behind because the Lord had been molding him like the potter does the clay. He said something else that Quique didn’t translate. Quique got really serious and handed the Bible and pen back to me. I had no idea what was happening until I saw that both of them had their eyes closed and Raul was repeating after Quique. My first thought was, “Oh my gosh this man is getting SAVED!!!” It was so beautiful to witness and be a part of that I started tearing up. After the prayer, Raul hugged both of us and his whole being was just smiling so big. We parted ways when Raul had to go to back to work.
As Quique and I walked back to the Hope Project, I told him I couldn’t believe that God has used me for that – I never thought that I’d be the person to bring someone to Christ. Quique turned and said that as I told Raul he was worthy of being saved, Raul taught me that I was worth being used by the Lord. I thought I came to Costa Rica to pour out and give away but in doing so, I’ve actually received so much more than I ever could have imagined.
*** This story is being shared with Raul’s permission***
