I knew this would happen : Emerson

It seems that every time I go on a missions trip or every summer at camp, one kids grabs a hold of my heart. Being here for three months, I knew it was bound to happen here, just like it has in the past. Gabby, Colten, Zoe, and Hyatt are a few of the kids who grabbed my heart and still have it. I think about those kiddos regularly and how bizarre it is these pint sized people consume my thoughts and my prayers often. 

I love that Jesus uses children to show me his magnitude and glory. 

The first time we headed to the Cerebral Palsy hospital I knew exactly what was going to happen. I was going to fall in love with another precious being. I did. 

His name is Emerson and he is two. 

He has brown eyes and dark hair. His teeth are rotten but that doesn't rob his smile of joy. His hands are always clinched in a fist but it doesn't stop him from squeezing my finger tightly. Some people would look at the two of us and see nothing in common. P

He's Guatemalan. I'm American. He's a toddler boy. I'm a  (kinda, not really) grown woman. I have complete mental and physical capibilities, he has neither. Thankfully none of those things are important. Here is what we have in common. 

We are both spiritual beings. We are loved equally by a perfect king. We hate being alone. We feel things. We both wear crazy socks and enjoy the presence of people. I also believe that we will both dance before Jesus in a perfect place that has been prepared for the both of us. 

When I first met Emerson, the boss nurse told me his mother is 15. It doesn't take a math genius to figure out that his mother was 13 when she had Emerson. 

Thirteen.

I was confused, sad, and a little angry. Then I realized, who am I to say she's wrong? Do I know her story? Not at all. It's easy to sit back and point fingers at the girl who got pregnant at 13. We're called to more than that. I decided to start praying for her regularly. For wisdom with Emerson, for encounters with Jesus, for peace in knowing her baby is being taken care of, and for a supportive family. I always wondered if she ever visited. 

Well, I met Emerson's Mom last Saturday. I was overwhelmed by the encounter and told her several times how rich my love is for her sweet baby boy. Her mother, Emerson's abuelita, was there as well. She told me that Emerson is not her only grandchild. Emerson has a little sister. I was shocked and a flood of different emotions poured over me. What's with this girl? Why does she have two babies at the age of 15? Then I was reminded, I am in no position to say she's wrong. I still don't know her story and I still don't know her heart. 

I was extremely relieved to know she does visit. Maybe she visits every Saturday, I wouldn't know cause we're never there on the weekends. Maybe that's not the case and maybe that was the first time she had visited in two years. 

Praise Jesus. 

She visits. 

Whether it's once every two years or once a week, she visits. That is reason enough to praise Jesus. 

As I walked away from the two women, I was at peace. God became more majestic in that moment because someone had put it on her heart to be there that Saturday. God knows my heart and said yes to a lot of the things I had asked for. He knew to bring her there the only Saturday I was at the hospital. 

I still pray for her. I hope meeting me put her at peace as well. I hope I was able to clearly display and communicate the depth of my love for her son. I hope she is calmed in knowing her son is well taken care of. 

I am continuing to pray she would encounter The Lord, if she hasn't already.  I have also began to pray for Emerson's Dad as well. Again, I have no idea what his story is either. 

Please join me in praying for this sweet boy and his family that is so desired by King Jesus. 

Four Women.

A few weeks ago, our team had the honor of having breakfast for dinner at the AIM base here in Antigua. I was expecting our time there to be enjoyable because...well, we were having breakfast for dinner. That's always enjoyable. Noe picked us up from our hostel and we rode in the back of his pick up truck to a beautiful house a few miles away from our home. As we walked in the house, we were instantly greeted by friendly faces and fresh fruit. The team at the base welcomed us in like we were family. I had no idea that by the end of the night, I would actually be calling them family. After introducing ourselves to the team of twenty, we walked to the back patio with our plates full of pancakes, french toast, and pineapple. The backyard is huge and their patio is all pinteresty. They have white lights, candles, a hammock, and tables made from old doors. Old bottles dipped in paint and wrapped in twine were holding flowers as centerpieces. Ali, Mercediez, and I sat on a bench and a few girls sat across from us, Robin and Sam. They asked questions like "What has been the hardest part?" and "What is the Lord teaching you?" There was no surface level, fake questions but they jumped to the deep ones immediately.They listened intently as we shared our struggles, lessons, challenges, and excitements of our trip so far.

 As we finished our conversation and meal, Noe began to speak truth over us. He addressed the lie that states there is strength in numbers. He continued to explain that this team of four women is as powerful as any other team. Going into the first week of our time here, I often found myself thinking of how there would be some disadvantages as far as ministry goes because we had no men on our team. Men are higher in a lot of places around the world, including Guatemala. Noe looked at the four of us and gave several biblical examples of when Jesus used women to teach. "Who visited Jesus' tomb because they had faith he would rise? Women. Who did Jesus first appear to after he did conquer death? Women. Then those women were the ones who went to tell all the people it was true, Jesus had raised from the death. They were the first ones to preach the good news. The first preachers and evangelists were women." After a few moments of silence he continued "The word I get for you guys is Faith. You are women of faith and there is radiant joy coming from you guys."

Radiant Joy.

This encouragement sunk deeply into me.

God used a man we had only known for two hours to refresh us greatly. That is God's work at it's finest.

Our night ended with more conversations, ice cream, and photos that could be in national geographic. Those are three of my very favorite things. Any night that ends with people, ice cream, and stunning pictures, is a good one. We rode back to our hostel in the back of the truck and planned our next gathering with them. My soul had been refreshed and I was filled. Our experience at the AIM base was what I believe church should look like. This is community. This is what it means to be one body.


I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and  recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me. - John 17.23