Life is a little weird when you follow Jesus.
At the beginning of the month, my squad mate had a vision from the Lord. Her and I were supposed to go south east to a certain neighborhood to share Jesus with people. He also told her that there would be a spirit or demon that Jesus would cast out of someone, and that someone needed healing.
God told us to wait until the end of the month because He wanted to teach us about persevering and finishing.
Today was that day. We prayed and started walking toward the neighborhood. Not long after we started walking, our path collided with that of an older man in worn out clothes. In Spanish, I asked how he was, and he told us he was doing fine. I asked his name. He didn’t speak. I told him my name. He didn’t speak. More questions, more silence.
The only response I received was, “No, I’m good,” when I asked if I could pray for him.
“So that’s what kind of day it’s gonna be, huh?” I asked myself. We arrived at the neighborhood after minutes of silent prayer for the man. We bid him a good day as he kept trudging. We sat on a small retaining wall in the shade, perhaps a bit discouraged, and waited patiently for God’s direction.
Alexis and I talked a little, and asked God why He told us to come here. He told Alexis we were here for a woman. We felt a heavy darkness over the neighborhood, so we decided to walk around the block in prayer.
As we neared our second turn, I asked God, “Seriously, what do you want us to do here?” Apparently He answered my question to Alexis.
“I feel like I’m supposed to give away my shoes today.” As the words left her mouth, we rounded the corner. In the distance I could see a little white head of hair and some bare feet sticking out of the grass against a wall in the shade.
“I know why we are here.”
When we made it to the old woman, I greeted her in Spanish. Like the man before, she said nothing. In my head I began to realize what was going on. The whole race, I’ve come across many people who didn’t want to talk or have conversation, just like the man from a few minutes earlier. This, however, was not that.
I began praying while I was asking the woman more questions. She wouldn’t speak to us, look at us, or acknowledge us. She just kept spitting in a styrofoam cup. Her clothes were a bit dirty and tattered, and she had with her grocery bags that were filled with more grocery bags. On her face and in her eyes, I saw a familiar sight. I was looking at someone possessed by a demon.
I asked why she wouldn’t speak. No answer. Muted by the demon, she just kept spitting and shifting her eyes with malice. I told the demon to leave her by the name of Jesus Christ. Alexis and I prayed for deliverance and healing. We sang amazing grace. She did not speak. We sat in silence and continued to pray.
I explained to the woman that Alexis wanted to give her shoes. So she took off her shoes and laid them at the woman’s feet. I asked if I could hold her hand to pray for her. Still no words, but she spit in my direction instead of the cup. I offered her my hand and closed my eyes to pray.
After a few moments, a bunch of rocks hit my head. I stood up in shock and confusion. “Why?” I asked her. She picked up another handful of gravel and dust and hurled it at my head again. With the frustration of a parent whose child is misbehaving, I asked again “Why?”
Then I sat back down next to her. I would let her do what she needed to do. I looked in her eyes as she picked up another handful to launch at me. “Lo siento, y te amo.” I told her that I feel for her and I love her. The fistful of rocks slowly rested in her lap. Her eyes shifted away from mine but seemed to show pain. I began to tear up, feeling the weight of her pain, I wanted to weep for her and tel her she is free. “I’m sorry and I love you,” I repeated in Spanish. I told her that Jesus Christ loves her and wants to help her.
We continued to pray. She continued her silence with eyes on the verge of tears. I sat there wishing I could speak more Spanish. I had to trust in prayer and the Lord’s faithfulness. We could see that her heart was moving, we could see that Holy Spirit was speaking to her. We felt like it was time to go.
I repeated again, that I felt for her and loved her, gave Alexis my shoes to wear, and we started walking home. In the Dominican Republic, the asphalt is hot and full of broken glass. I praised God for my rough and calloused feet from usually never wearing shoes. Alexis and I couldn’t help but laugh at the craziness that had just transpired. We were so filled with peace. We didn’t get to speak the gospel to this woman, but we sure got to show it to her.
And it all started with a step of obedience. Going where God told us to go.
I began to understand what God wanted to teach us about finishing and perseverance. To love someone when the stone you. To imitate Jesus when they aim to harm you. To give away your shoes to someone who tries to hurt you. To wear out your feet because they needed to carry the good news of Christ’s love.
Life can be weird when you follow Jesus.
Sometimes your love is met with hate. Sometimes your prayer is met with a handful of gravel to the face.
But no matter what comes your way, you have to persevere.
You have to endure.
You have to finish the race the Lord has placed before you.
Later that day, I was in an über ride to get ice cream. Our driver had just decided to follow Jesus two months ago. We prayed for him and God encouraged him with a prophetic word. He was so encouraged and filled with joy that he got to meet four other Christ followers. He wants to go out and share the gospel with his people.
God never stops being faithful.
The least I can do is keep persevering.
