Have you ever had an experience so powerful, the memory seems burned into your mind? Going into the village in Moka and meeting the smiles and hardships of those people is an experience which will stick with me for a long time.
But even beyond going into this village, working with this ministry gave me greater confirmation and insight as to why I’m here. Our host Selena’s grandma has an incredible story of how one interaction changed her life, her family’s life, and countless others. Selena allowed Sara and I the chance to interview here on her grandmother’s life and the community of Moka.
Selena’s grandmother’s name is Nercida Dominguez. For Nercida, her story of how she came to know Jesus has left a long legacy. She came to faith when she was 9 years old. Nercida experienced a lot of abuse from her family for her conversion, especially from her father. But Nercida’s faith in God was unfazed. She became a powerful woman in prayer.
In 2008 Nercida met a man in the hospital while she was visiting her sick cousin. Nercida prayed for this man and he experienced miraculous healing. Long story short, Nercida made a connection with this man, Alberto who then came to faith himself. His family also came to know Jesus. Alberto’s house was destroyed in a storm, and Nercida helped the family gain funding to rebuild. Out of gratitude Alberto dedicated the second story of his home to the church in Moka. To this day the church is growing and flourishing. Moka was once a closed off community to the gospel, but Selena recounted how the community has transformed. Many people have come to know Jesus, and the community itself has started to care for one another.
My favorite quote from Selena as she was recounting the incredible impact Nercida’s faith has made she said, “It’s amazing to see that if it hadn’t been for these people who ministered to my grandma when she was 9 years old… They have never seen my grandma [again] this group of missionaries, they have no idea, they are not going to find out until heaven one day. They probably forgot about her. But one day they led this nine year old girl to Christ, and she raised her children in faith, and these children have lead people to Christ, and those people have lead people to Christ.” The impact of these missionaries is far-reaching, and they don’t even know.” Selena discussed a concept know as the butterfly effect. Its more of a scientific concept of how a butterfly flapping its wings in South America can stir up storm winds in southeast Asia. When applied to the Kingdom of God, Selena was saying the impact a few missionaries made in one interaction with her grandmother started a ripple effect still continuing in communities like Moka.
I will never know the impact I’ve made around the world. But I know if I’ve made an impact on one person’s life and they then continued on and made impacts too. The impact from my small acts of faith will have been beyond worth it. Thank you for everyone who has supported, prayed, and encouraged me. You’re a part of my butterfly effect.
