These boys live in a village high in the mountains of Guatemala called Santa Clara. They are considered outcasts because they are not members of the church. In this culture, those in the church are cared for, but those outside of the church are excluded."Purple Shirt" and his buddies are leaders in this village. The other children follow them and look up to them and mimic them. He and I did not hit it off well. He was disuptive and obnoxious and sneaky. He was defintely interferring with my plans. My crafts were important, right?? I showed no mercy with him. He was in my way and needed to leave.
We struggled with this group of boys all week. In the evenings we brainstormed ways to reach these kids. Nothing worked. I gave up on them.
Our last day in Santa Clara came with heavy dark clouds all around and a very short amount of time to spend with the kids. We arrived to 350 kids waiting for us. 100 in the church and 250 in the street and on the hillside. It was expected and accepted that we would spend our limited time with the "church kids". But as we sat on that bus watching the outcasts watch us, God said otherwise. See them all. Love them all. Teach them all.
So, we prayed for God to hold off the imminent rain and made a plan: We would teach the Salvation Braclets to those in the church giving them each one of their own. Then we would flip and do the same with those not of the church.
God held the rain and all 350 kids heard the story of salvation and received their very own bracelet. "Purple Shirt" found an out of the way spot with a member of our team and slowly and carefully went over each color explaining the meaning. He understood!
God used this boy to show me nothing is impossible with Him. This boy, with God's Power leading him, can lead this village for His purpose and His glory. My job is not to deem hopeless, but to share this amazing news with anyone and everyone. No one is hopeless. God's hand is not too short.
It was a good day in Guatemala, in a little obsure village high in the mountains, as I watched Purple Shirt smile and hold up his bracelet.
O sing to the Lord a new song, For He has done wonderful things. Ps. 98:1
4 comments:
A wonderful, humbling experience. God's teaching through you may change purple shirt forever. He got it! Thanks for sharing.
This is a wonderful story. I can just picture him holding up his braclet. God is good and greater than language barriers, so glad He spread the Gospel through you all that week.
Chris
I have known some purple shirts at the high school level. They mean business. They are begging for love and attention. Thank you for this beautiful story.
I ask all of you to pray for Purple Shirt. We may never know the way God leads him and all because someone cared.
Thank Melissa for caring.
Love, Aunt Mary
just when you think that God can't. He shows up and says I can.. Good story.. Lane
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