Last Thursday, I started on the left foot (as they say here in Costa Rica in place of the wrong side of the bed). My alarm went off but somewhere in the snoozing process I turned it off instead of pushing snooze. Therefore, I woke up at 6:45am, when I have to leave my house at 7:10am to meet the van that takes us all to work. (I can’t call and say I will be 30 minutes late because then 5-10 other people would be 30 minutes late and the only other way of getting to work is an expensive cab ride.) That morning, I also had a heavy heart and wasn’t really excited about the day.
I had scheduled 5 individuals (spiritual counseling sessions) for the day and just didn’t have the strength to speak or process Spanish less alone counsel the girls. Thankfully, God knew my weakness and I had no other option but to rely on Him. I was relived when my boss told me I couldn’t work with 2 of the girls that day due to them having other individuals that same day.
I started off with Maria Isabel, a hyper 14 year old, who has been here for about 2 months. This was her first individual with me so we began with the basics of Christianity. When she came to Renacer she believed in God but really had nothing to do with Him and wasn’t interested in learning about Him. During our time together in the Bible studies her interest has grown and she has looked forward to Bible study! Praise God.
We reviewed the Roman Road and what Jesus did on the cross for us. Then I asked the crucial question, “Have you asked Jesus to be your savior?” She replied, “No, pero lo quiero.” (No, but I want Him.) I asked her if she wanted to pray her own prayer or if she wanted to repeat one after me. She surprised me and said she wanted to pray. It was so beautiful to hear her heart’s longing for Him and her words of asking Him to be her savior. Praise God! Please pray as she continues to grow in her new faith.
Later that day I had another individual with Grethel who has been at Renacer for almost 4 months or so. Our last conversation she stated she was not a Christian and wanted to do more searching into it. So I followed up with her.
First, there’s the forgiveness issue, that almost all the girls struggle with. “Can God really forgive me of all these sins I have committed? I did drugs, fought with people, hurt people, sold my body, and so much more. How can God forgive all of that?” Second, there’s the struggle of the old life of sin verses the new life of holiness that God gives us. She told me that she does want to be a Christian and wants Jesus as her savior but there are just some things she doesn’t want to have to give up. We spent a lot of time in these two topics.
Grethel is unsure of what to do next, but she is processing it and hopefully spending time with God on these things. In Bible study she pays close attention and has great insight. Please pray for her as she is sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading but stuck with the enticements of the world. Please pray for as she seeks God and a relationship with Him. Pray that she will find Him much more valuable than what the world can offer her.
At the end of that day all I could do was sit back and say “Thank you, God, that was all You. Thank you for making me weak and having to rely only on You. Thank you, that you have called such an unworthy person to have such an incredible job of sharing You with young, broken lives. Thank you, that I get to have a front row seat to Your work.”
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