In His Shoes

Last Sunday morning I had just finished breakfast and had opened the front door about a foot, to let in some fresh air. Shortly after, I heard someone at the door. I looked and it was the young woman, who I had seen about a week ago on night when she stopped me on my walk and asked if I wanted to take her to my house. But she spoke no English. I told here, no thank you, and then said that God loved her. I had want to help her somehow, even though she was a prostitute, but I didn't have my wallet on me. So I prayed for her that night and now here she was standing at my door. She was short, but on the plump side. I could manage to understand a little; that she had heard I was a Christian, and that was about all I could understand at first. So I brought her into the house, and we sat on two chairs in an empty dining room. I learned her name is Claudia, single and in her late 20's, she has a child and they live with her mother in Guaymas, who is a widow.

 

As we sat there, she talked and cried, but I couldn't understand anything other than I could tell she had a very broken in spirit, and had tried to kill herself at one time by cutting her wrist, and she pointed to the scares. I told her God still loved her very much, gave her a hug and then got some fruit and gave her a choice; she chose the banana. I told her I was about to go to church in 30 minutes, so in the meantime I took her to the beach and we listened to some christian Spanish music for about twenty minutes. She sang along with some of the songs while I waited for people to get to the church who might be able to help her and ask how she found my house. She also had a swollen ankle, and limped when she walked. So I put my hand on the swollen area and prayed that God would restore it and her life. However, she didn't want to go in the church when we got there. So I went in and brought out a young Mexican lady who taught the children church and they talked for a bit and she got her name and phone number. She told me that Claudia found out where I lived by asking people, and they told her I was a Christian. She also said that Claudia had been very depressed and they would talk again on the phone. When they were finish talking, I took her back to town to catch a bus, but she said she was hungry and wanted to go back to my house. So we did, and I gave her an apple, water, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, plus a piece of chocolate candy. But then she indicated she was full and didn't finish her apple or sandwich. What she really wanted was to have sex with me, hoping that I would then give her some money. I said, “no sex”. She said, “not even a little sex” and put her hand on my pants, and I said, “no, not even a little sex. And walked her out of the house.

I had already taken out some money out of my wallet earlier and put it in my front pocket that I had plan to give her. So when we got to the gate, I gave it to her. She was surprised, because she thought she had got nothing, but some food for her efforts. However, I asked her not to come back to my house. I hated doing that, but this reminded me of another bad experience I had, and I didn't want to see something like that happen again. But if I see her on the street again, I will gladly help her, because she is a friend to me, and a lost child of God. However, I didn't want to live in fear, so I prayed again after she left. God said, He was watching over me and not to worry. However, she walked just around the block from my house and waited there for a while. Then a little later she started to leave the area, but saw a Mexican man, that I knew, walking down the street. They talked briefly and then walked back to his house.

I believe God lead this young girl to me so that I could touch her life. We can't change them, only God. However, we can love and pray for them that they will eventually know His love and freedom and have their lives fully restored.

Anyway, when I went to save this story, and it ended up going to the documents that disappeared into the computer, when I tried to drag it to another location. I still don't know computers very well and I kind-of lost my cool for a moment, but decided just to trust God. So I ate my lunch and then went to a young man's house who spoke English, his name is Gerando, and knew computers. He is very nice and helped me to retrieve them. He also removed and helped with some other issues on the computer. Then he asked if I had a blog, because he saw it on my toolbar, so I showed him it and then he also became my 100^th friend on Facebook. My mistake turned into a blessing. So I gave him some money, even though he didn't want to take it, because we were friends. But I wanted to bless him and sow in some tangible way.

Another interesting thing has happened. For the past couple weeks the buses coming after 9pm have not been regular in San Carlos. And people, near my house, have waited for over two hours after getting off work. So I have used my van on several occasions to drive them to Guaymas. One night I had seven Mexican in my van, the three men could speak English. They laughed and talked with each. One small young man was sitting on the lap of another women which was okay with her. As I drove, I had a big smile on my face; it seem that I also have a bus ministry. Two time they have given me some money, one time after we left. But that's not the reason I do it. I love these people very much. Earlier, while we waited for the bus, one man who was drinking, asked me if I drank beer and I said no. Another man asked if I smoked pot. I said no. The bus had not come again so I drove them all home. The next day one of the men bought me a coke, because he said, “I was a good man”.

Jesus was a friend of sinners, drunkards, prostitutes and tax collector. I guess I'm wearing His shoes too.

God is working in mysterious ways to establish His Kingdom in the lives of Mexico. Sometimes it can be a little nerve racking, at first, but then His peace is always just a breath away.