Jesus changes everything-there is no greater mystery-that God would come to rescue me- the kindness of my Savior calls

This week the Holy Spirit has been stirring in my soul (As He always is, but this week was really specific) 

Two things are heavy on my heart to ask the Lord every day:

-Jesus, where are you? How are you working? Please let me SEE you.

-Jesus, how do you want to be SEEN through me?

I have completed five months in the DR- five months of learning, learning, learning. I have learned wonderful things but somewhere along the way, I’ve become really concerned about being …

A good missionary

A good Sponsorship Coordinator

A good school nurse

A good team host

A good Spanish speaker

A good student of Dominican culture

A good young single woman

A good friend

I’m not saying that any of these things are bad or shouldn’t be focused on, but I am reminded that they don’t matter on their own unless I am first concerned about FOLLOWING CHRIST EVERY DAY IN EVERY WAY.

So I’ve been asking God those 2 questions this week…

-Jesus, where are you? How are you working? Please let me SEE you.

-Jesus, how do you want to be SEEN through me?

And He has been answering in big ways. Please hang with me and keep reading as I try my best to put into words one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve ever had.

Meet Elito. He’s a fourth grade boy at the care center. He is not enrolled in sponsorship, so he is not one of the ones that I meet with and I don’t know if I’ve ever even had a conversation with him before yesterday. He is not in any of Karen’s classes either and she doesn’t know him well. A few days ago Karen was talking to some other kids about being a Christian and he joined the conversations saying, “I’m not a Christian but I want to be!”

 

This Friday, Karen and I were upstairs in the care center helping kids get downstairs for Bible class when Karen pointed out Elito. We started to talk with him and again he brought up that he wanted to become a Christian. Karen told him, “You can- you just need to pray”. He said, “When?”

Right away, we asked him if he wanted to pray with us right then and there and a huge smile flashed across his face and his eyes lit up. We found an empty classroom and there began the prayer that would change his life forever…and mine too.

I asked him what he knew about Christ and explained a little more too. God is holy and perfect. We are sinners who are separated from God because of our sin. There is no way for us to reach God on our own. Because of God’s great love, he sent his own Jesus to this world, to live among us and die on the cross for our sins- carrying our punishment and paying the penalty for us. But he didn’t stay dead- on the third day he rose again from the grave!

God loves Elito. God sent his son Jesus for Elito. God wants a personal relationship with Elito. What a joy to share with Him about this incredible love. Through Christ, Elito can have a personal relationship with God and will spend eternity with Him forever.

Karen started the prayer with Elito repeating each line after her and I continued and ended.  After the prayer I tried to look at him with blurry eyes full of tears- affirming him and telling him that he is a new creation! From this day forward, he is a follower of Christ-forever in His Kingdom! I reminded him that this doesn’t mean that life will magically be easy, but that JESUS WILL ALWAYS BE WITH HIM AND HE WILL NEVER WALK ALONE. Can you think of a greater hope? A greater promise?

After the sweet time with Elito, Karen and I stayed in the classroom and continued to pray. I’m just going to write some of those thoughts and prayers that I poured out to the Lord- you can join me in praying them.

God- you always answer prayer! And almost always in ways that are way bigger than I could ever imagine. I asked you to show me how you were working and you show me a child who has heard your voice and is ready to be saved! Some missionaries labor on the field for decades praying and waiting for the privilege of leading someone to Christ. What a gift you gave me, God. I will never forget this moment. Of course you are working- your Holy Spirit is moving among hearts here and all across the globe. This boy’s conversion had nothing to do with me – I didn’t even know him before today! It had everything to do with you. Your Gospel is so POWERFUL. Your Gospel is so CLEAR.

God please strengthen Elito. Grow his faith every day. I pray that you would break down any roadblocks to him coming to the care center. I pray that he can be with us for years to come, learning your word and your love. I know that this community is dark, but he is now a light. Strengthen him when he is tempted or discouraged.

May Elito grow to be a man of God who fights for what is right and loves with the love that Christ gives. I pray that the transformation in his heart and his life will be so evident to those around him that his friends and family will ask him what has changed in him. I pray that he will share your Gospel with those around him who don’t know you yet. I pray that Elito will commit his way to you Jesus and that you would reign as the Lord of his life.

And, I pray that many more children just like Elito will come to know you SOON!

Thank you for praying with me. I am so humbled for the privilege that God gave me. I pray for you also, that wherever the Lord has you, that he will use you to share his Gospel. Maybe you don’t know Jesus yet. Deciding to follow Christ was the best decision I have ever made. Jesus changes everything. Elito’s life just changed. What are you waiting for? The kindness of our Savior calls…