April 21, 2015 (Day 3)

You ever have God just blow your mind?............well that's pretty much what happened to me today. Absolutely life changing experiences that have caused some new desires that I believe the Lord has placed on my heart but we will get into those later.

 

Our first experience today was an AIDS/HIV orphanage. The name of that is synonymously used with death but, I received life today in my spirit. I was nervous about teaching the children a little bit then having to use my Spanish in front of so many people but sometimes you just have to walk it out. The first class we experienced was preschool and I promise I would've taken "ALL" of their children home. We all went around introducing ourselves by name and age. When it was my turn, Connie told them my birthday was tomorrow and they started singing "Feliz Cumpleanos" or "Happy Birthday" and one little guy asked me to come back tomorrow for my birthday. It was just amazing to experience the energy and freedom that they had as children. Our next group of children would be the 2nd and 3rd graders which we had the pleasure of teaching them the days of the week in English. These kids are soooooo sharp! The moment we started teachings, they were like sponges soaking it all up. I was sitting in the back of the room and 4 young men got my attention: Jorge, Anthony, Kevin, and Johnny. They literally stole my heart. 2 of them were actually watching us with the preschoolers and saw that we gave them flash lights so they proceeded to ask me where we there's at. It was so comical because they knew I spoke Spanish and they laid it on me thick. This was in between them passing my sunshades around acting like they were famous people. It really ministered to me the joy and carefree lives that they lived in spite of they're circumstances. Many of these children have been abandoned by family, the ones that are "supposed" to love us the most, diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, aware of the possible consequences associated with that virus, yet still enjoying life! Class was finished but the day was far from over for them. Recess and lunch were up next and did we have a ball!! During recess I met an amazing young man, that along with the other 4 I will never ever forget, Henry. Henry was 11 and some both Spanish and English, so as you can imagine he was a translator for many. This young man was simply amazing yet so gentle, loving and compassionate. I remember just sitting on the ledge watching the children pray and he put my foot on his knee and started tying my shoe. Read our dialogue below:

 

Me: No you don't have to that. They're fine I like wearing them like this all the time

Henry: No it's ok.

Me: OMG! You know how to tie a shoe?

Henry: Si (Yes)! (as he proceeds to tie the other one)

Me: Gracias Henry!

Henry: De Nada!

 

The orphanage was an out of body experience for me because I was trying to figure out why the young boys were flocking to me. They would lay on me, put the head in my arms, wrap themselves in me, play with my beard, and over all very affectionate. Our contact with the organization later explained, these children rarely see a man and a lot of them have never because they're parents did not want them. For a young man, it's especially hard when you don't feel accepted by your father. From personal experience I could definitely relate to them and this made me love them even the more. I just cannot not explained to be able to be used by God to possibly help them heal a wound or fill a portion of a void left that once was mine to bear. These boys will age out of the orphanage by age 12 into another system within the Guatemalan government that will then place them with their families, if they are wanted or to another orphanage for older boys until they age out of there at 16 or 17. One of these boys will be 12 in just 4 months and I'm believing God His best on that young man’s life.

 

Leaving was one of the hardest things to do but I had to trust that just as the Roman soldier understood he could send a word and his soldiers obey, just like Jesus would do (Matthew 8:5-9), I can send the word and know that it shall not return void but do exactly what I send it to do in these young boys lives. We were debriefed prior to regarding what verbiage to use and you don't say "see you later" because for many of them they believe you won't because A) the virus/disease may take their life or B) you'll be just like any other person who has already abandoned them. It's best to say "goodbye" but I couldn't even bring myself to formulate those words.

 

After the orphanage we went to a local village, where the community pastors would lead us to different homes to pray for families, little did I know my life would forever be changed. The poverty in this region is something that can only be explained with a picture. I couldn't begin to explain the conditions that they have to endure on a daily basis. The first house that we approach had a woman named Estella and her 4 children. Estella did not attend church but would send 3 of her children, the 4 was often sick. We walked into her concrete home (wall to wall, no carpet rugs etc.) and they began to explain the purpose of our visit. As I am writing this blog I am still in the moment as if it just happened. Estella began to weep as she squeezed the hand of her child. She said (in Spanish)" I just called out to God this morning and told Him that He forgot about me and my children." From there I was moved with compassion and the tears just began to flow. We all surrounded her speaking life, coming into agreement for God's best on her life and her children's life. I remember standing behind her with one hand on her shoulder praying in English and Holy Spirit quickly moved me to put both hands on her shoulders and told me to speak in Spanish because she needed hear me. I was the only male there that could speak Spanish. I spoke "Strength into her body" for all of her days. I began to continue and say that betters days for her family and herself were in front her and that she was never alone. Jesus is always with her and she now has family in the United States that would not be here physically all the time but praying for her every day!!! Even after we all prayed and hugged her with continued encouragement I continued to weep. I left her house and didn't say anything for about 10 minutes as the tears continued to flow down my face. The Spirit of God had arrested me and began to reveal that this moment was as a result of several moments before it. All of our decisions have consequences, whether good or bad. We hear a lot that we are someone's answered prayer but to know in your know of your knows that you were with confirmation puts soooooooooo many things into perspective. Estella and her children have sparked a fire in me that I have never experienced before and I know that there is no turning back. I am pissed at the enemy for attacking what God said is His and refuse to allow him to take anything else from me or anyone else around me without fighting the good fight of faith that Apostle Paul spoke about in 1 Timothy. It's a good fight because we "ALWAYS" win!!!