This past Sunday, 24 of us piled into a 15 passenger van to be rewarded for good grades with lunch and ice cream at the beloved Guatemalan fast food chicken restaurant, Pollo Campero. It was a great afternoon that each of the 22 kids treasured and were grateful for. We got to walk around the mall, enjoy lunch/dessert together, and some of the younger ones even got to play in the jungle gym at the restaurant.
All the kids were excited to go. It was a big deal to them! And they SHOULD be proud of themselves for achieving above an 80% average for the first half of the school year. The girls put on make-up, they wore their prettiest clothing, and some brought their nice purses with them too. The boy were handsome. Hair gelled and combed back, with belts, nice black school shoes, and tucked in button-ups. I almost felt underdressed in my v-neck t-shirt!
It finally happened. My first spot spotting in Guatemala. The first time I’ve been approached by someone because they noticed my unusual skin condition and they think they have the solution for me. I’ve had a South American try to take a demon out of me. I was invited to a church down the road just so that the pastor and his father could pray for God to heal me like Jesus did the lepers. I was told I didn’t scrub myself well enough after a mud race. And I’ve gotten a child in trouble with his parents after he left art camp covered in brown washable marker spots, as he was only following my lead. Some make me laugh when I remember them. Others leave me in tears days, weeks, and even years later. I could keep going with stories upon stories, but I’ll stop there, for your sake and mine! I know a lot of people have said they’d love to make a movie of their own life, but I’ve gotta say mine would be pretty entertaining and an emotional rollercoaster (I might be slightly biased)!
While taking the kids with the highest grades out for lunch, we went to the mall next door, went upstairs, and found the ice cream stand we were all looking forward to. One missionary was up at the counter helping the kids order their dessert. I was about 100 feet away, helping guide the children to sit over at the tables and couches on the opposite side. They slowly made their way over, one by one. I sat alone at a table waving to each one so they know where to sit. I’m looking over towards the ice cream stand and I hear a voice coming toward me…
(paraphrased: conversation was in Spanish and I might’ve left out, forgotten, and/or misunderstood a few things)
“Can I sit here?”
“Yes, go ahead!”
“Do you believe in Jesus?”
“Yes”
“Do you search for him?
“Yes.”
“Have you accepted him into your heart?”
“Yes.”
“Can I pray for you?”
“Yes….”
(says a short prayer)
I wasn’t really sure where this was leading. She almost had that sales woman voice, maybe getting ready to deliver me a business card, a sales pitch, or a free sample? But, to be honest, I didn’t pay too much attention to her prayer after the few words I did hear, because I now realized where this conversation was headed .
“Why are you like this?”
“I was born like this.”
“That doesn’t matter. Do you believe in God?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure? If you have faith, these things will fall right off of you and leave you with the skin of a new baby.”
“I believe in God.”
“Can you go to the supermarket and get a bottle of oil?”
“No”
“Where do you live?”
“At a children’s home”
“And you are the only adult?”
“No.”
“Who else is with you?”
“The lady over there.”
“Can I talk with her?”
“No. Please, you don’t need to”
“So why can’t you leave to go to the supermarket to get the oil?”
“I don’t want to.”
“Why? But you believe in Jesus, are you understanding me?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want to get rid of those?”
“No.”
“But why?”
One of the teen girls finally saved me and asked if I wanted to get some ice cream. I couldn’t have walked to that stand quicker. Not only because a delicious cone was calling my name, but so I would also feel comfortable in and proud of the skin God gifted to me.
While she was asking me these questions, I could easily understand what she was asking of me, but I was unable to put my thoughts into (Spanish) words… Until I started walking away. Even though I finally put enough words together to be able to express to her what I was feeling and thinking, I just kept walking away. God gave me this skin for a reason. I was created in His image and I want to stay as I am. Some may see it as a sickness or a badge of bad luck, a curse, or a sinful nature, but I see I as an aid to speak of His creation. People see me for the first time and ask me about my skin? The door is open! It was God. He created me perfectly in His image. Of course, it’s easier for me to say that all in my language, in my own blog post, but I wish I was able to share those thoughts with the woman and the kids who were within listening distance.
(Apologies for the rant, the only chances I get to speak of my own thoughts/experiences are either in this blog or the few video calls I have once a week. Rant over!)
Oh, remember that time I said I wasn’t sure when my next 4 am airport departure would be? It’s tomorrow!
A quick shout out/thank you to all of my supporters out there. Thank you to all those who join with me in prayer, financially support me, or have inspired me to take up God’s calling in my life. Last week, I was filled with some worry in making a plane ticket purchase. Yes, I had the money to purchase a round trip flight, but I know I will have to purchase two (at least) every year. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see all my supporters in the US as often as I can, but $1,000 is a lot to drop on plane tickets yearly. I purchased a round trip that was less than $500, as it was one of the lower prices with the greatest outcome. I checked my bank account a few days following, and not only was the cost of my round trip covered, but almost half of my next flight will be covered by my financial supporters. Just from those who gave in the month of July. Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU! I couldn’t do any of this without your support, prayers, and love!
(har)Perseverance on a mission 