9.30.2009

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So, I have a story, again...

We were providing shoes for people without any...to be brought up to speed read the previous post. I was going along, tryig to offer a smile to everyone who entered, washing their feet, trying to not let them feel awkward, making as much conversation in my broken Spanish as possible. I would ask each of them if they know Jesus loves them. Many of them would answer with a firm yes...then many of them would answer yes, but not as firmly. So I would make sure I told them, "Cristo te ama MUCHO!" And look them in the eye and smile...

One man in particular grabbed my heart that day...I was going from one person to the next, my back was hurting from being bent over and I was trying to hurry while still getting their shoes on them and telling them Jesus loves them. This guy made me slow down...to REALLY make a connection and let him know his worth. Not the worth I place on him but the worth Christ places on him. He came in and sat in the seat in front of me and I literally had to stop, step back, and take a breath, get my mindset right (meaning I prayed) and then go back...now while I did this I was scoping out the shoes I would place on his feet and got a pair of socks...I didn't want him to feel bad or know that I was a little bit shocked by his appearance.

As I walked back to his chair I smiled and God enabled me to have a conversation. We talked about Jesus, church and his job. He does not have much work. Being a one armed man in Honduras where the jobs are mostly physical labor, makes working difficult. He walked for what I am guessing must have taken him at least 1-2 hours to get the shoes I placed on his feet. While washing his feet I took my time. We only had wipes and he is the first person that I literally thought, I wish I had pedicure supplies...I wanted so much to communicate my care and GOD'S care to him. Below are the pictures...below the pictures, the story continues...




So, the day of shoes came to an end and we were tired...afterward we drove for about 2 hours back to the mission where we were staying...my mind staying focused on this man many times throughout the evening.

The following morning we traveled to a hospital in Tegucigalpa that is for those with low income. We visited the orthopedic children's section and the children's oncology section. In the first room we visited there was a little boy. He was 5 years old and had his hand amputated. The thing about him was that he had such a light in his eyes and HUGE smile on his face! I gave him a dinosaur and Charlie, a fellow traveler, gave him a little boxcar to play with. The circumstances in which he lost his hand weren't important to me at the time because all I could think about was the man from the day prior. I pray for this little boy daily now. That God could provide a way in life for him to be able to make it. The road will be hard and knowing what I learned from the first man, I know that this little boy most certainly has his work cut out for him. Join me in praying for him as the Lord leads you...maybe it is a one sentence prayer right now and maybe God will place him on your heart more often. Whatever the situation, I know God will work in His life and His glory will come from it!



Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. "Make level paths for your feet,'" so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Hebrews 12:12-14


1 comment:

J.L. Neyhart said...

I was both humbled and encouraged as I read your blog.
Thank you for sharing what God is doing in your life and through you! It is beautiful!