“God’s Word Does Not Return Empty”
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter”. Proverbs 24:11
God gave me the verse above during my first trip to Romania in 2009. I understood it to mean that many people needed to hear His Good News of salvation—especially those who were destitute or neglected and whose only option was to use whatever means necessary just to survive.
On Sunday, we visited an orphanage in Valle de Angeles, here in Honduras. We were touched by the work that they are doing as volunteers—because the government had stopped funding it in 2022. They have 76 residents—ages 3 to 60—who have severe disabilities, like Cerebral Palsy. The saddest part of this visit was to hear some of those individuals had been abandoned—one having been found tied to a chair in a park.
The next part of our trip brought us to Danli to continue with medical clinics and evangelism. On Monday, the second day of medical clinics, I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with a young mother holding her well-kept son, Edwin, who also has cerebral palsy.
I could tell that she wanted to hear the Good News. I could also see that she struggled to hold Edwin on her lap while sitting in her chair and carefully wiping the drool from his chin. She was surprised at my offer to hold Edwin so she could continue hearing the Truths God was putting on my heart.
After some initial time of comforting Edwin—settling him across my lap and in my arms—I continued to share with his mother. God touched my heart each time I looked at his face and found him looking directly at me and into my eyes. God was using me to assure this mother of the scriptures on salvation and assurance and to share those truths with this four-year-old child.
Reflecting on this moment the following day, God showed me that I was being used to “hold back “ someone who could stumble and possibly one day abandon one of His children. He also helped me realize that this was the first time I had ever held someone with a condition like Edwin’s and of the intelligence that someone with Cerebral Palsy could possess.
God tells us through the prophet Isaiah, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11
I am confident that Edwin’s mother heard and believed the Good News, and Edwin also heard. God allows us to be His hands and feet to hold and comfort His children. I look forward to seeing what God has in store for Edwin and his family.
A short story from Kai
Each day has been such a blessing here. Everyone is teaching me about what being a Christian and a missionary is all about. Mr. Rehmer and Grandma have been very influential to me. Being a missionary means putting yourself in uncomfortable situations and being kind and loving. Today, I sang in front of 65 women for the first time! It was a new experience singing in front of strangers, but it went well, and I felt the Holy Spirit strengthen me.
Posted in Missions