January, 2016: The testimony continues from Honduras.
A couple days later I met her older brother, a teen keyboard player and worship leader, who told me that their father had been murdered a few years earlier, and that his sister was going through a very tough time. He implored me to pray for his sister, which I agreed to do. Being very touched with their close sibling relationship and their plight, I prayed for them both for the next year. Among many other things, I prayed God would bring a good stepdad to care for them.
I didn’t know for sure if I would go again to Honduras this year until the last moment, but felt the strong leading to go and committed just days before the trip began. When leaving the house, I saw an unused iPod and iPhone on my desk and felt the Spirit say to take them to the kids as a gift, the phone for the girl and iPod for her brother. If indeed I should even see them again, I thought to myself? I’ve been on ten or more short term mission trips and things like this aren’t usually done and are discouraged for obvious reasons. I’ve never done it before. But I didn’t want to reason away what I was pretty sure I’d heard, and determined to follow the Spirit’s leading as He unfolded the circumstances.
Just when it looked as if there wasn’t going to be a chance to meet these siblings the Lord brought the opportunity seemingly in an instant during lunch at the pastor’s conference. Before going to lunch, I noticed the items in my suitcase and counseled with a brother on our team who had been to Honduras many times and had a good report with these teens, about the appropriateness of these gifts. His counsel was, if the Lord told you to do it, do it. Just give them in as much privacy as possible and perhaps ask that they not make it widely known. It was counsel that seemed spot on to me. At lunch, I sat at another table with leaders and new friends, but toward the end of mealtime noticed that Tim was sitting with the siblings and two others directly behind me. I recognized this as the Lord’s timing, excused myself from my table, and joined them for a very precious and mostly private time of sharing about their lives. With the older brother translating for me and also joining in the conversation, I learned that their mom had remarried a dentist. I asked if he was a good dad to them, and both said yes, with them adding, “He’s very honoring of our mom, and he takes good care of us.” I inwardly paused and silently gave much glory and heartfelt thanks to God. :) God answerer's prayer, for His care for orphans, and His is faithfulness to his word. There was talk about a boyfriend, some joking but serious counsel about going slowly in relationships, as I supported her brother’s counsel to her, and added that she was most beautiful and loved. I reminded her that this year I still see a little sadness in those beautiful eyes, but only a fraction of what I saw last year. And I reminded her that the Lord was in the process of taking it all away. She smiled with her big, silent smile that could light up a room, and certainly lights up my heart.
A couple days later I met her older brother, a teen keyboard player and worship leader, who told me that their father had been murdered a few years earlier, and that his sister was going through a very tough time. He implored me to pray for his sister, which I agreed to do. Being very touched with their close sibling relationship and their plight, I prayed for them both for the next year. Among many other things, I prayed God would bring a good stepdad to care for them.
I didn’t know for sure if I would go again to Honduras this year until the last moment, but felt the strong leading to go and committed just days before the trip began. When leaving the house, I saw an unused iPod and iPhone on my desk and felt the Spirit say to take them to the kids as a gift, the phone for the girl and iPod for her brother. If indeed I should even see them again, I thought to myself? I’ve been on ten or more short term mission trips and things like this aren’t usually done and are discouraged for obvious reasons. I’ve never done it before. But I didn’t want to reason away what I was pretty sure I’d heard, and determined to follow the Spirit’s leading as He unfolded the circumstances.
Just when it looked as if there wasn’t going to be a chance to meet these siblings the Lord brought the opportunity seemingly in an instant during lunch at the pastor’s conference. Before going to lunch, I noticed the items in my suitcase and counseled with a brother on our team who had been to Honduras many times and had a good report with these teens, about the appropriateness of these gifts. His counsel was, if the Lord told you to do it, do it. Just give them in as much privacy as possible and perhaps ask that they not make it widely known. It was counsel that seemed spot on to me. At lunch, I sat at another table with leaders and new friends, but toward the end of mealtime noticed that Tim was sitting with the siblings and two others directly behind me. I recognized this as the Lord’s timing, excused myself from my table, and joined them for a very precious and mostly private time of sharing about their lives. With the older brother translating for me and also joining in the conversation, I learned that their mom had remarried a dentist. I asked if he was a good dad to them, and both said yes, with them adding, “He’s very honoring of our mom, and he takes good care of us.” I inwardly paused and silently gave much glory and heartfelt thanks to God. :) God answerer's prayer, for His care for orphans, and His is faithfulness to his word. There was talk about a boyfriend, some joking but serious counsel about going slowly in relationships, as I supported her brother’s counsel to her, and added that she was most beautiful and loved. I reminded her that this year I still see a little sadness in those beautiful eyes, but only a fraction of what I saw last year. And I reminded her that the Lord was in the process of taking it all away. She smiled with her big, silent smile that could light up a room, and certainly lights up my heart.
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