Our mission trip was specifically designed for families with the sole purpose of introducing all of us to the various aspects of international missions. So rather than doing one large project we did several mini-projects but we took the same message and puppet performance. We visited several schools, an orphanage, and a feeding program sharing the message 'Jesus is our friend.' We were suppose to take that same program to the 'downtown' park but the predictable afternoon showers hindered our outdoor performance. However, we were told the rain does not hinder The Message and we were asked to walk the park, handout tracts, and share the Gospel (in Spanish!)
Donning the brightest of yellow ponchos we loaded up and headed to the park. (I have to insert here that I'm glad we did not know until the end of the week that there were several drug related killings at the park and a baby left in the trash by his unwanting mother.) My heart knew that sharing God with anyone is the right thing to do but honestly I dreaded this assignment. I would rather do dirty work, unappreciated tasks, hug a child, clean up the puppet stage...all of that was less challenging than talking to complete strangers about their salvation (in a foreign tongue to boot). As I volleyed my thoughts back and forth during the ride, I thought to myself...we're still in this new country and I need to keep my children close to me. With that determined, I settled on the idea of letting my children have this full experience. Why that's what we brought them along for, right? Let them share the tracts and ask the questions! Hubby and I could just supervise.
This may seem odd for those of you who know me and consider me to be outgoing, assertive, honest but for some reason, even surprising to myself, this is one confrontation that left me feeling very inept. I like to get to know people, develop a relationship, and then get personal. This 32 degrees approach was intimidating and unappealing. My thoughts remained private and I tightened my poncho and left the bus, watching my children sort out the tracts and leading the way.
Hubby and I followed along and smiled at each person that took a tract. Costa Ricans were a very curious and open people, taking the tracts, and finding a nearby bench (or at the foot of a tree) and read the pamphlets from cover to cover. We didn't have to find anyone, they came to us. Definitely a stark difference than the reception I would anticipate in a local park back home! The park was fairly empty when we started but then men, women, families emerged from every corner. We made a full trip around and landed in the middle...when it happened. A man approached us with a large smile and involuntarily my mouth opened and out came 'Tu atiendes alguna Iglesia?'---Do you go to church? With my Spanish/English handout, the conversation progressed from there asking if he read his Bible, did he believe in Heaven or Hell, Jesus Christ...He answered no to most of it. And then we broached on man as sinner, I explained that I was a sinner, my children were sinners, HE was a sinner. Bam: There was the brick wall! He indicated that yes, we may all be sinners in reference to Romans 3:23 but NOT HIM. I found myself repeatedly saying "Todos somos pecadores" We are all sinners! He would throw back his head and just laugh, and we would laugh. He could not agree so we parted and he sat beneath the closest tree and read his pamphlet.This was the first of three encounters where I opened my mouth, initially unwillingly but definitely Spirit-filled, sharing the plan of salvation. After we shared and walked the whole park, our host Pastor Pinkerton surprised us with a nice meal at the local Pizzeria. Just as we were entering the restaurant, hubby and I with another man on our team, started talking to a dad (his family was in the car waiting on him as they had just left church across the park). We had a great conversation with him. He knew some English but there were still some grey areas in our conversation. Basically he admitted to letting his good works get him to Heaven. He said he prayed the sinners prayer every night but in the end it boiled down to moral behavior. He was polite and very open to share with us.
Wet, hungry, and in need of a seat, we went into the Pizzeria. Our team of 24, not counting the Pastor and the bus driver, filled the entire place. Hubby and I took the last two open seats. I tossed my pamphlets to the middle of the table and gave out a big sigh as I eye balled a large welcoming Sprite before me. I couldn't help but ask myself, was all of that passing out, smiling, and the two non-productive conversations worth it? Was it the seed, a watering, later to be harvested? It's only His to know. I admitted a sense of defeat but thanked God that He showed me in my inadequacies He was perfect....He did all that sharing, it was not of me. Remember I wanted to coward behind the kiddos.It was just then, the bus driver grabbed the tracts and started to read them. He spoke no English, so I turned to Pastor and asked, "Does he go to your church?" He said ,"NO." Hmm. "Does he know Jesus?" I asked. Pastor replied, "You should ask him?" So, armed with my handout we went down the list of questions: church, Bible, Heaven or Hell, Jesus Christ, sin, forgiveness. Si, Si, Si. And then he answered the question: Do you think you would go to Heaven believing what you believe right now? No. Everyone at the table just sat quietly and watched the whole interaction unfold. Could it be that we walked the entire park looking for someone to share Jesus with and our own bus driver needed Him, too?? Long story short...our team, wet and hungry, bowed our heads as Pastor lead this sweet father of two boys to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. And me, still feeling inadequate and not trusting the choppy communication asked him again, " Si tu vas a morir, creese tu que vas al Cielo?.---Do you think you would go to Heaven believing what you believe right now? And to my delight, and His, he answered 'SI'--YES with a large grin! Thank you God for showing ME that even in our discomfort and inadequacies You accomplish much for Your Kingdom!!
Costa Rica is no different than the US. We are called to share here as well as elsewhere. And I've noticed the responses are the same in any language. If you are not a follower of Christ, you either deny a need for Christ OR work hard to secure a place in Heaven OR surrender your will to His and ask Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior.Dear Reader, where are you today? I pray your secure in your salvation, having been washed in the cleansing blood of Christ, receiving His grace fully. And if that is you, may I encourage you to share (with urgency) to those around you. It won't be comfortable. If you aren't sure that what you believe today will get you to Heaven.... Remember: TODOS SOMOS PECADORES....then contact me and we can share.
God is mighty to save!
No comments:
Post a Comment