We met Mario last Monday when we doing street evangelism with our Iglesia Salim friends.
When we first walked up to the group of young guys, I wondered about their stories. They were laughing and talking outside what looked like an abandoned house. We invited them to come to church, and Mario came last week.
This is his story.
Mario is twenty years old. When he came to Iglesia Salim the first night, he was drunk and possibly high on drugs. He is highly addicted to drugs and alcohol and is a member of a gang. The first few times he came to church, he would not come in. He stayed outside on the curb, but we were blessed that he even came.
At first glance, Mario looks like any other twenty year old until you begin to look closer. As you look into his eyes, you see pain and hurt that is indescribable. Natalie, my teammate, has had multiple conversations with him this last week, and this is the rest of his story in her words:
I wanted to know his story so I started with his tattoos. When people display something permanently on their body there is usually an explanation unless they had a case of bad judgment on a drunken night. I was curious about the tear drop on his face. When asked, he started to choke on his words. While sobbing he said, “Homicide”. Mario killed a three year old girl, three years ago. He lives with his brothers that are also a part of his gang. One has killed three and the other, one.
From his smile you would never know that he lives in a world of hurt. He probably drinks to temporarily numb his memory. He said he thinks of her often. We just weren’t made to carry those burdens.
PLEASE be praying with us as we continue to intercede for Mario. He lives in a world of hurt that is beyond what we were meant to handle. We learned that Mario remembers previous racers that had ministered to him, which is just confirmation to us that the Lord is pursuing him with a passion. This past Sunday, he actually came into the church for an altar call. I felt the Lord say that Mario had turned a corner, that by coming into the church and going to the altar, he had moved forward. Mario has not yet given himself over to the Lord, but our God is bigger than any addictions and ties that bind us to things not of Him!! So, please pray for Mario´s release from the things that keep him bound!!
