Victor, Adrian, and I went into Mexico City to take care of several things related to this EMMC. We had stopped to get some dental supplies, found everything we needed and were ready to talk to the manager about getting a discount, when we found out that the store manager had gone to lunch. We had almost an hour to kill before he was expected back so we went to look for something to eat too. We found a little torta counter (a torta is a sandwich a lot like a sub) with three stools so we stepped up and ordered. The lady must do mostly take out orders because she didn't have much selection for drinks, so Adrian went next door for some Cokes. We got our tortas one at a time so by the time Victor got his, mine was half gone and Adrian was looking for something else to eat. (Adrian eats a lot.)
While Victor was eating, an apparently homeless, and obviously very poor, woman came up behind us asking for something because she only had a few pesos. Victor ordered a sandwich for her, and Adrian went for another Coke. I gave her the stool I was on next to Victor. While he finished his sandwich and waited for the homeless woman's food, he shared who he is and what we do. He told her about Jesus Christ and that God loves her. She kind of grumbled at the suggestion of God loving her, but she was still listening. By this time, her sandwich was ready. As she took the first bite Victor offered to pray with her. She took off her ball cap and held it in her hand. As Victor began to pray, he asked her to repeat the prayer. I was praying, thanking God for this time to share the gospel and for changing this woman's life. She repeated the lines of Victor's prayer until he said, "Jesus." Suddenly it was as if the woman could not speak. Then she was struggling, Victor was repeating the line, and she groaned and hollered something that I did not recognize. I don't think it was Spanish. I thought, "Wow, this lady has a demon, and I prayed harder for her and for Victor." I wish I could explain the next few minutes, but I don't have words for it. It was like a battle with one side having an advantage, then the other side. When Victor began to pray, he had his hand on the woman's shoulder. As the battle became more fierce, he had a hand on her head and her shoulder. She was leaning forward on the stool and beginning to slobber. She would alternate between being quiet as if feeling peace, and then more hollering. Victor continued to pray and finally, very faintly, she was able to ask Jesus to come into her life. Victor took a breath, and the woman sat up and turned toward me. She looked different. Her eyes were clearer. I could see peace, but it was very brief. Victor continued to pray and motioned for Adrian and I to put our hands on her too.
Suddenly her whole body stiffened and convulsed. She was not on the stool any more, and we could not hold her up. We eased her to the sidewalk and continued to pray. By now the neighbors were watching, and someone had called for a doctor. The woman was now alternating from wanting to sleep to convulsing and hitting her head on the sidewalk. The doctor arrived, and the police came. The doctor tried to check her while Victor held her head from hitting the sidewalk. An ambulance got there, and the crowd got bigger. As they were preparing to put her in the ambulance, Victor paid the bill and handed his card to the police officers. There wasn't anything else we could do there. It felt really strange to walk away knowing that I will not learn the end of the story. I know she asked Jesus into her heart, and I could see a change in her face and eyes. I have continued to pray for her, that the Holy Spirit will heal her. I have also continued to pray that we will have the strength and faith needed when this kind of opportunity arises again.
"Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
1 comment:
That is AWESOME Mark!
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