“Beep Beep” My alarm went off after what seemed like a very short nap. Rubbing my eyes, feeling exhaustion sweep through my body, I turned off my alarm and opened the curtains. This was our last day in the city located in the mountains of Ecuador which had been our home the last few days. The sky was the clearest it has been all week and the sun already was shimmering across the lovely vivacious pink flowers right outside my window. After getting dressed, packing up and getting our nutrients for the day we all gathered in what we called the “upper room”. It was in this room that earlier this week the team practiced humility, servant hood and leadership as we washed each other’s feet and through tears prayed over each other.
This however a dear couple who had become so close to all of our hearts was sharing their story. The missionaries Daniel and Anna had a very special story of hardship, waiting on the Lord, and their life’s journey of finding treasure in the Lord and not in earthly things. “How long have you lived” Daniel asked a lovely teenage girl in the front row, “eighteen years” she replied. He then responded with the question “what have you done in your eighteen years?” and began an incredible challenge on living life with a purpose and passion of Christ; He reminded the captivated audience “each generation is responsible to bring the gospel to their generation.” In closing he asked the adult leaders to come forward, and asked the students who felt the tug on their hearts from the Holy Spirit to surrender their life for the purpose God had for them, to come forward and grab a leader. Shortly after this request, two of my beautiful young ladies I was privilege to have in my group came and grabbed my hand. After a long talk, tears, prayers and challenges, they both had told me that God was working in their hearts to surrender their lives to missions. What a huge moment. In their hearts they had heard the call of God and surrendered to, asking for voices of encouragement, wisdom and accountability for the task ahead. God has something special for this lovely ladies and it was a privilege to see the beginning of a great work in their precious hearts. This was a start of a beautiful day, seeing that it was only 10:00 AM at this point.
After the team photo, the group was split into 3 buses- orphanage, sight seeing and nursing home. I had no idea what was in store as we prepared to be the hands and feet of Jesus and love on the least of these. Heading to the nursery home I didn’t know what to expect but was excited to see what the Lord has in store. We parked and then walked a couple of blocks till we arrived at the location. Walking up the concrete stairs, the air was filled with the scent of laundry and cooking. We were greeted by several little old ladies, giving us a smile and a kiss. As I walked from the kitchen I arrived into a much larger room, where a woman with dark skin as leather, with little to no teeth sat hovered over a bowl cutting and eating bits of apple. I attempted to converse with her, but it seemed as if she was unresponsive. To the left other sat a hunched old woman, with gray hair, little and saddened eyes, who sat very still. I go on my knees beside her, gave a quick hug and once again tried to speak with my broken Spanish. She replied and I beckoned one of our students who spoke Spanish to come and help me understand what she was saying. Now, I was holding her hand smiling, nodding as if I could understand and grateful for the precious young man who was helping me. She first asked why we were here and then began to scold both of us for not wearing sweaters, just like a sweet grandmother. She kept caressing my face and hair, squeezing my hands and telling me that I was beautiful. She then asked us to play some music and sing I had to prepare and the program started, but dear Abraham stayed by her side the whole time, showing how much he truly cared.
During the time where the Pastor was addressing all of the gray haired, the manger of the home pulled two of the girls aside and asked them to follow her somewhere, so they grabbed ma and a translator and we followed her up a high flight of stairs. As we entered this small room immediately our nostrils were filled with a foul stench, as we saw this crazed elderly woman on a bed, covered with tissue of some sort, with a nametag on the wall above her. The kind manger explained that she is a mean bitter old woman, who cannot speak anything understandable. She was lost in her own world- a small room where she did everything and never left. I then asked her if she would like us to sing a song, as she gave the go ahead we began singings’; “Lead me to the cross, where your love poured out, bring me to my knees Lord I lay me down…” As we ended a huge smile hung upon her face as we once again individually wrapped our arms around her, giving a warm hug. This was a raw experience where I was overwhelmed with joy as I watched our students love the least of these.
After we joined the group they began to serve beverages and a cake we brought with us. With huge smiles a couple of the students asked for permission to bring that special treat to the bitter old woman in the room up stairs. It was precious to see them sharing Christ’s love by serving the physical substance but sharing with them about the only thing that can fulfill your life.
My eyes once again caught the old woman I had talked with before. I saw Abraham feeding her the special cake and saw that his eyes revealed a deep sorrow in his heart for her. Once again I got on my knees and held her hand. Then helped finish off feeding her the cake. She asked if I was married, and told me again how much she loved my hands and thought they were so soft ☺. The next sentence I couldn’t get, Abraham who was interpreting the conversation, had tears rolling down his cheeks. After taking several moments he told me that she had told him that she had no one. All her family had died, no one ever visits her and that she was all alone. She told him that we were a miracle of God, and she didn’t want us to leave. Her old, distant and sorrowful eyes were filled with tears as she tried to understand why we couldn’t come back and see her. She was saddened by the thought of being alone again. We hugged and kissed her, Abraham still shedding tears, mine flowing as well. As I asked to pray for her, through tears I asked the Lord Jesus to watch over my new friend one more time before we walked away. My heart was crushed by her loneliness, sadness and hopeless. We had shared Christ and told her that if she knew Jesus that one day she would see us in heaven. God burdened my heart for all of the lonely hearts in this world that live life with no hope. They need the only Hope and satisfaction, which is salvation in Jesus Christ. That was one of the many stories from the trip, which compel me not to keep the gospel to myself but to share the good news to others. May the Lord open our eyes to see the needs of people around us, and give us boldness and compassion to share HIM with them
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