On Saturday, the whole squad went to "the center" in Tegucigalpa, and there is no way I could have prepared myself for this day.
We walked through the crowds of people, and a few of us found ourselves drawn to some steps where many homeless people had gathered. After standing there for a moment, an old man, high off of what smelled like paint thinner, walked up to Kaci and me. He couldn't really hold a conversation at the moment, and he just kept pointing to his scabbed head, his side, and his bleeding, gimp leg. All of a sudden, he burst into tears and lifted down the sleeve of his shirt to reveal that his shoulder had popped out of place. This man was obviously in a lot of pain.
He then feebly hobbled with his cane to the steps and proceeded to lay down. As he collapsed backwards, Kaci had no other choice but to hold him. With Kaci cradling his head and me holding his hand, we prayed over this suffering man, for there was nothing that we alone could do. Andrew then walked over and offered the man some of his water. Though he choked down a few sips, he kept sobbing and pointing to everywhere that his aching body hurt. Again, he took some water, but this time he chugged about half the bottle as water poured out of the sides of his mouth. Suddenly, he doubled over, leaned his face down, and began to throw up the little food that was in his stomach. There wasn't much we could do, so we basically just watched as this adult man continually threw up right in front of us. I felt helpless, and all I could think about was that things in his life had been so horrible and dark that here he was, puking in the arms of a couple of foreign teenagers. There was so much pain behind every force of his heaving body, and it was like he was trying to get rid of everything that caused him this pain.
Though it is far beyond our understanding of why one man could be in so much physical and emotional pain, God has a plan for that man. I was reminded later that day that God is ALWAYS just, and His plan IS perfect, despite all of the world's suffering.
"He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he." Deuteronomy 32:4
The worst part of my day, though, came when a few of us went to pray for a boy. This 19 year old boy, with thighs as big as my wrists and wearing nothing but a diaper and a Honduran soccer jersey, lay in a cardboard box on a street corner. His feet and legs were permanently curled up and contorted in the most uncomfortable looking position. As his mom sat next to him and rubbed the legs of her handicapped son, we knelt down to pray for him. This image was so mind-boggling and surreal that I almost couldn't even comprehend what I was doing at the moment. I looked across the street from me, and the Mcflurry sign in the McDonald's caught my eye. I looked behind me and there was a clothing store displaying knock-off designer purses. I looked at all these people walking by, literally just staring at this boy as they hurried to reach their destination, and again, I just felt hopeless and helpless. As we prayed, though, the boy got this huge smile on his face, like somehow, through God alone, he understood what we were saying.
I was not even remotely prepared for these two encounters, much less the rest of the things that were going on in that square. In one tiny area, I saw a drug dealer, a pimp, a prostitute, a blind woman, a handicapped man… the list goes on and on. It didnt even matter what they were doing wrong or if they were doing anything wrong; it just hit me that so many addictions and struggles thrived in this one place because so much suffering thrived there.
The people came up and talked to us about anything and everything simply because they need someone to talk to, someone to love them, and someone to tell them that they do matter. God did a lot of work in lives that day. He definitely revealed His power to break addictions, to heal wounds, and to heal broken hearts. We just have to trust that through Jesus suffering can be redeemed because through Him, "The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor". (Luke 7:22)
His love never fails.
Oh Laura…sometimes we can only pray and trust what God has promised us….we must stay in His Word to be…as He says more than conquerors…it is alive and keeps us pressing on to do His good will! One day we will be with Him and… none of this pain and suffering! You blessed those people with Jesus today! You blessed me too! much love and missing you! Charleton
Wow. Thank you, Laura.
You are an amazing writter . I have so looked forward to your posts. This one today was especially meaningful. The Lord is using you in such a special way. God Bless!
Laura, I walked with your mom yesterday and was moved to read your blog. Praise God ! You are experiencing the “abundant life” for sure, as hard as it may be! God’s power seems so real to you now and that’s so exciting and must be life changing! I’ve been reading how Jesus was moved with compassion as you have been. Wow! I’m forwarding this site to Jay,Caitlin, Halley, and Chelsey so we can all be praying for you . God’s also using your writing talents to encourage others, for sure! Tell Carson “Hey”! We’re praying for you all! Love, Jolyn and Morris gang;) You made my day, girl! He is so GOOD!
WOW and God bless! The work that y’all are doing is incredible and so meaningful to so many. You are in our prayers. We love you!
dear Laura, im amazed by all of your blogging! i am soo proud of you! I ask Carly about you often:) Love you, Cheryl
It’s so awesome to see God breaking your heart for what breaks his…. for being your eyes and leading you to his suffering people. Sometimes prayer, a smile, just listening, and even a reassuring hug is all someone needs. You are planting seeds, God is doing the rest. Love you girl!