Triqi Woman

A quick story:

Yesterday after English classes me, Elizabeth, and Christy were out looking for food. While sitting in the centro on some stairs we gave a homeless lady some cornbread one of our guys had made for class and it was obvious that she wasnt understanding Spanish (she is probably from a mixtec village) so we kind of lost hope with that cause. A couple seconds later a lady clothed in Triqi village clothing came up to us and asked if we could buy her some water, she was staying the night on the street because she couldnt afford a ticket back to her village. This lady has diabetes and came in to town to try to get help, her legs are swollen and she cant walk well. I told her that we could pray for her first and then we would buy water. We prayed for a while and then Pam found us and stopped to pray too. Pam is fluent in Spanish so it was helpful for her to be praying in Spanish. We found out the lady believes in Jesus and wants to be part of the body of Christ but there are no other believers in her village. I think its so cool how God used us to take care of her while she was in need! No healing took place but I believe the encouragement we gave her is what God wants to provide her right now. So, after buying her water and a blanket we went back to the apartment...

This is where the story would have ended if I wasnt learning to listen to God´s still small voice, but that is definately a huge lesson that I have been expiriencing ... I was very uneasy when we got back, didn´t feel like we finished everything He wanted us to do. We prayed as a group and the same thought came to a couple of us girls, that lady was going to sleep with us in our little apartment. We set up a makeshift bed and went back to get her. She was half asleep on the street and I felt overwhelming compassion for her. It was soo cool bringing her back to our room and being able to literally minister to the ¨poor and needy like the Bible says to do.
She is staying with us again tonight and tomorrow we will help her get back to her village, Pam is also setting up some disciplship with one of her disciples so that the lady can be part of a home church in a nearby Triqi village. I also want to pray again for healing tonight.

I was definately convicted through this expirience though. I think when I am in observer mode I realize a lot more about the selfish mindset of man. I wonder if God looks down and cries when we walk past homeless people and give up chances to pray for people and help them. I was really aware of all the Mexicans walking by ignoring this lady- and I was probably a little mad at them. Yet I know I do the same things in the States.

I hope this encourages you... you can totally be in Gods will doing His work anywhere, just be ready because when you are willing He WILL use you and it can be scary and uncomfortable! ,-) There are people in need all around you!