The Silent Preacher

Only because I wanted to save the BEST for LAST…


They call him “Luigi” – a favored nickname for the boy named Luis. For an 11-yr old, he is quite small, but don’t let his stature fool you, he has a lot of strength that he uses when he wants your attention.  

Jardin Del Eden - Salcedo, Ecuador

When we first arrived at the Jardin del Eden Orphanage in Salcedo, Ecuador, we were greeted by the directors Roberto and Anita. They were so happy to have us visit. They gave our team a tour of the facilities as children peeked from where they were working or playing.

When we arrived in the boys dormitory – that’s when we met Luis. One at a time, he came over to each team member and “pulled” them in a convincing manner to his room and then he hugged them. My nephew, CJ, was watching this happen as Luis came to him, pulled him to the entrance of his room and then gave him the biggest hug.  CJ laughed nervously, but the boy held on a moment longer as CJ returned the hug.

I had to fight back a tear or two. (One of the other team members said that she cried when she saw Luis hug CJ - she felt something was happening in CJ's heart).

Later in the evening, when we were settling into our hotel room for the night, CJ asked if I wanted to read what he wrote in his journal. That’s when I read his response (in my words to the best of my memory) to the hug:

I don’t feel judged here. A boy came up and hugged me who didn’t even know me. I felt something happen in my heart. I feel more open to God and to people.

You have to hear more about Luis’ story. You see, it was a few years ago that he was brought into the orphanage. He was found living like a wild animal in the woods with his mother (who was not mentally capable of caring for her son). He walked on all fours and basically fought for food and shelter. Because of his lack of care in the early years, he’s mentally challenged, has lost most of his teeth and does not speak. Up until about a year ago, he would not interact with people, did not like to be touched or to touch others.

CJ and Luis at the orphanage

Luis is a wonderful story of God's Redeeming Power.  God had redeemed this young man from the most deplorable situation and brought him into a place where not only the Father’s Love could breakthrough his heart, but he would be the one reaching out to others – pulling them to his room, hugging them - with no judgment – leading them to God’s love. 

I believe that God used this “wild” boy to breakthrough my nephew’s heart.

You see, 3 days later, my nephew (in his own words), “asked God into my heart”.  AMEN!!!

It reminded me of the Scripture in I Corinthians 1:27:

Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

Now I am not saying Luis is foolish or powerless, nor am I saying that my nephew is wise and powerful.  But what I am saying is this...God uses the most unlikely to create the likely.

Luis will most likely never speak. He most likely will never go to college or train for a job. And as far as being a preacher - he is the most unlikely candidate.  But he is a preacher of the Gospel – oh maybe not like you and I would think a preacher should be, but a SILENT PREACHER - sharing God's Love through his life. Well, at least he was for my nephew.

And to me, that’s all that matters! 

When I am Weak...

2 Corinthians 12:10:

That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  (NLT)

It was the 3rd day of my trip to Ecuador when IT hit.  I awoke with the most amazingly strong migraine in my personal history of migraines.  It was in my neck/shoulders and the forehead.  My eyes hurt.  The first thing I did when I got out of bed was pop the painkillers.  I wasn't going to let this get me. 

During breakfast, there were rumblings at the table of others who were having the same issue.  They were saying it was lack of water.  I drank almost 96 ozs of water alone the day before.  That doesn't include the juices, coffee and coke.  That couldn't be my issue.  Someone else suggested altitude sickness.  Possibly.  As we headed out on the worksite, I was still wrestling with the headache and now, nausea.  I started out in the pit picking through the rock and solid ground, but quickly realized I wasn't going to be of any use.  I resigned myself to sitting in the courtyard, watching all the workers busying themselves with the days tasks.  (That's me in the left corner near the dog in a blue jacket and tan pants).

As much as I wanted to work, I couldn't.  I could barely move.  I saw a group of the Pujilian students beginning to make beaded necklaces.  At first, I hesitated to go over.  My spanish was very minimal and I didn't have a lot of energy.  But, I felt like God was nudging me to participate.  So, I slid over and began helping one of the kids with their jewelry-making.  Some of the teens asked if I spoke Spanish.  I wanted to say, No hablo Espanol and move on, but I said, si, un poco.  The next few hours began a conversation of spanish ramblings with a Mariann spanglish mix. 

I didn't want to speak Spanish, because I wasn't good at it.  I didn't want to help with Jewelry-making, because it's not my strength.  I wanted to work - I like to work, I like to serve.  But God had something else for me.  Even in my waves of nausea and the continual reminder that I was not in "Kansas" anymore, God was doing a work in my heart.

He was showing me that He wanted to use me.  But not in the way I wanted or thought I should be used.  I don't want to fail or stumble.  I want to stand in my strengths, shouting "look at what I can do".  God wanted to shine in His strength - through my weakness.  Those students laughed at my spanish.  They laughed at some of the "mistakes" I made.  But they kept talking with me.  They kept conversing and attempting to communicate.  They too felt foolish using the little English they knew, but they did. 

But for a few hours, conversations over Justin Beiber and Selena Gomez, the musical likes/dislikes of Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, and mainstream Brazilian duos were discussed.  I may not have understood every word, but laughs were shared, likes/dislikes were discussed and God was connected the hearts of 2 different cultures.

If I had been feeling fine, I would have been in the pit most of the day.  I would not have spent time connecting with these teenagers and children.  I would not have accomplished the task that God had for me that day.

God was teaching all of us.

That night, the headache was gone.  The nausea had passed.  But a lesson had been learned: when I stand in my strengths, I stand alone.  When I stand in my weakness, God holds me up - His Will is done.

For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The question you must ask yourself today - what weakness is it that God is challenging you to step out in?  Maybe just maybe, He wants to show His strength in your weakness.  Maybe, He will do something greater through you in your weakness than you could ever have accomplished in your strengths.

The Irony of It All

As most of you know...I just returned from an 8-day missions/work trip to Pujilli, Ecuador. During our time there, we worked at a home on the outskirts of Pujilli that has become a boarding school per se for about 30 children from the mountains. We dug a 10x10x6 cistern, demolished and rebuilt a kitchen prep/storage area, demolished and began rebuilding a larger bathroom/shower area. We also spent time building relationships with the students (of whom mostly were in their teens). We also were given some time for tourism.

I wanted to share with you one of the biggest thoughts I had during this trip...

The first thing I noticed when we arrived in Ecuador (besides the excessively long line that took almost 2 hours to go through to be processed by customs/immigration; the begger children in the airport lobby selling gum or the large crowds of Ecuadorians waiting for loved ones who were arriving) was the absolute poverty and amazingly tight housing in the city. All these home so tightly "squished" together - all made of cheaply made cinder blocks and mortar. There was litter everywhere. Everywhere there was paint - it was dirty, chipped or scribbled with graffiti.

Yet - when I looked up, surrounding the entire city were these beautifully majestic mountains and green rolling hills. Thick, lush plants and vegetation spread throughout the countryside.

I was amazed at how all around was the most colorful and beautiful landscape I had ever seen yet at the same time - some of the poorest, colorless life. I was thinking on the irony. These people have been blessed with so much in the way of nature and landscape, yet their personal dwellings seemed so dingy and drab. There was litter on the ground and the streets. They had soooo much, but yet so little.

But then...

We head to the orphanage and the home in Pujilli, they had so little, but it was beautiful. They didn't feel the need to have material things, but to dwell in the beauty of relationship with each other and with God. Though their means were the same as others, they still had so much more. There was something different in those who knew the Lord and felt blessed by what they had than those around who did not - lost in either "religious tradition" or the mystical cults of the mountains. Those who did not have the Lord were seemingly lost in "lack" and dwelling in the "poverty" (physical and spiritual) of their lives.

Isn't it the same here? God provides so much for us - in nature, in life, in friends/family ... yet, we get so lost in what we do or don't have. We look for status and possessions to feel our worth. When we don't have - we live as if we don't have and dwell in our lack or need (or we pull-out the plastic card to give the illusion we "have" when our poverty is so great).

It's a tangible reminder of the Irony of the Gospel - to lose our life is to gain it; to become great we must become small; to humble ourselves and we will be lifted up.

Today I challenge you in your life to look at what you are and what you have and ask the question, "Is God the priority in your life?" When you realize all you have in Him - when you look up - you will be able to see beyond the immediate surroundings / circumstances of your life (which may not look so good) and you will be able to see the BEAUTY of what God has given you - love, family, friendship - LIFE!

Today marks 4 mos since our lives were turned upside down. Although I never want anyone to EVER go through this...I wouldnt change what God has done in my life.

It comes in Waves...

Recently, I had the opportunity to go to the shore with my 2 nephews and their friend.  We spent the day on the boardwalk, basking in the sun and playing in the Ocean.  One of the things that I like about the ocean is the waves.  Nothing like a little wave to bring out the kid in an adult.  I like watching for the tide pulling out and then the rising of the water as it turns to a wave and washes over you. When it's just right, it flips you, moves you, causes you to lose control.  I just get all giddy and joyful inside when that happens and I let it take me for a ride!

Yet today, I was hit with a wave, but not the "all giddy and joyful inside" kind.  I've been watching the waters of my emotions and life go out for what seems like awhile now.  There's been an anticipation that very soon, this wave was going to come rolling in.  I've been able to dodge it and run from it for a period of time, but sooner or later, I knew it would come. 

And right now, it's starting to roll over me.  I've been avoiding it by running in various directions.  I've put my affections on other things, allowing distractions to come my way.  I've even allowed my heart and mind to go astray from their "normal" path of life. 

But here comes the wave.  I was thinking wouldn't it be nice to forget those things that are hurtful, broken or lost?  For a moment I was thinking of our loss and how easily it seems we package things away.  Clarence is not forgotten, he's been tucked away as if he were a momento to be brought out in a time of nostalgia.  Then, it came.  A wave of emotion I haven't felt in a few weeks/months.  A longing for something that is lost, never to be recovered again.  I can't tuck him away as if he were a momento from a summer vacation or a photo to be scrapbooked. 

He is my nephew, a part of my heart.  Part of my heart will always be missing because he is missing.  Just because I don't speak about him doesn't mean I have forgotten.  It usually means that it's too difficult for me to deal with the emotion that comes when I do.

But for now, the wave is doing it's job - rolling over me, consuming me with its current.  I will allow myself to be moved and swayed by it.  I will allow it to move me where it will.

Just went to the place where I tried to talk my first person out of getting saved. Thank God she was llistening to God and persisted I pray with her.

Going back to the beginning is not always starting over but can be a time of remembering where you came from and why you're where you are.