A shuddered laugh escapes his lips at the mention of Jesus. His head twitches uncontrollably, left to right, as he smiles back into my Dads eyes with pure mockery.
“Do you want to ask Jesus into your heart?”
“I cant!”
Salvador (ironically meaning Savior) approached our mission base with a face of pure horror to claim he was on his deathbed and to plead for our help. This appeal came from one of the most abusively wicked men of the village.
It is people like this that make it hard not to believe in hopeless causes and condemned souls. People like this entertain the notion that there is a possible 1% of the human race that Christ could not have died for. His mother wears his abuse like an infamous wardrobe, his wife drowns out her own cries like a dried up well of tears, and his daughters are well seared with the scent of their father. In these instances, we are obligated to interrogate the question longer. Does an unredeemable soul exist?
That being said, we do not stand as the jury over a person’s life, nor do we have the right to be biased towards our fellow man. We are merely a channel through which God’s love can flow.
Therefore, seeing this problem as a chance to experience God at work, we laid hands on Salvador and interceded for a miracle. We pressed through the polluted fog of his past and ignored the ringing voice in our heads whispering “..he had it coming.” We choose, instead, to look into his bottomless, tortured eyes and tell him he was loved.
During this time in the mountain, a dentistry/construction team from Michigan had come to be willing vessels in shedding light through the village of Pinalito. The one prayer that this team echoed in unison through every night of our group devotions was that the chains of spiritual bondage would be broken over the people of Pinalito and that the enemy would be forced into retreat. As one man on the team, Howard, stated, “Don’t pray for something unless you are ready to truly receive.”
The following day, here was Salvador, bound by the powers of darkness, a man who had sold his soul to the devil, sitting in a rickety lawnchair in the middle of our clinic. This is what we had asked for. We were now commanded to act.
Upon realizing that this man was not here on physical illness but of greater torments of the mind and soul, my dad called four of the men from the team, our village pastor, and I. Quickly giving us the update on Salvador’s condition, we affirmatively decided to dedicate whatever time necessary to overthrow the powers that were trying to damn him.
Throughout our intercession, we would ask if he would like to say the sinner’s prayer and have Jesus enter his heart. His eyes pleaded with us, as he would readily shake his head in agreement, but then simultaneously shout, “No, no, I cant! I cant!”
The result continued to a clamped mouth and jerking movements being his only responses. As my Dad’s prayer became more fervent, Salvador’s twitching became more prominent. We were on the frontlines of a spiritual battle for this mans soul. The mere fact that we could speak with authority, as ambassadors of Christ, meant the enemy had no choice but to surrender.
Shuddering the tile walls with shrieking laughter, then wailing sobs, a schizophrenic personality of a man at war with himself was ever present. As the time ticked by at a grueling pace, the outcome seemed less then positive. When all of a sudden, he sputtered out the word, “Pan’te’och!” While not in the Spanish vocabulary, this was a common word from the Mayan dialect, Que’tche, meaning “Im leaving!” We only recognized this because it was the language spoken in the river village we work in. This in itself was a miracle to be recorded, as the people from the mountains had never crossed ties with anyone from the Que’tche-speaking part of the region.
After these words were voiced, it was as if the veil of darkness was being pulled backed from his eyes. Salvador managed to take back the grounds the enemy had been given and had demanded control over his body once more. Through still hazy eyes, the exhausted words of a changed man crept forth in a broken sinners prayer. The astonishing change in his appearance is something that will never be forgotten to all who were in the room. The simplest of smiles played at the corners of his lips, as the realization of what he had just done dawned on him.
At that moment I realized that it was for the hopelessly condemned that God sent His Son to rescue and defend. Had it not been for the red that stained Calvary’s hill, we would all have been found guilty. We were unredeemable souls, with a redeemable Savior.
Salvador needs our prayers now, more then ever. As the enemy does not easily abandoned his pursuit of his once captive soul. Pray that Salvador’s first taste of freedom will never be forgotten and that he will not retreat back into the dungeon of his past.
What an amazing story Kayla. God’s love is truly remarkable.
We walked through this together, with great Love and compassion did
our Father hear our cries, and how wonderful to be in His Kingdom.
Touching and powerful story; beautifully written.
Wow! Kayla, wow… that’s some amazing story… and you wrote it brilliantly as usual. You are so gifted. God bless you and your family. Love you guys!
What a great story Kayla, thank you so much for sharing it with us.
What a story of redemption, persistence, & Gods power.
Love the Story, Love the Heart, Love the Girl & her Family.
I loved the way you wrote it (I could picture it happening).
Thanks again for sharing it.
“we do not stand as the jury over a person’s life, nor do we have the right to be biased towards our fellow man. We are merely a channel through which God’s love can flow.”
this whole statement just seems profound to me or stands out i guess. its so easy love broken marginalized people because it pushes emotional buttons of compassion and sympathy, but when we its people who are violent and outwardly destructive towards us or others it triggers different emotions. typically not compassion. at least with me it stirs up the desire for retaliation for me or for the whomever the violence was directed. it doesn’t really make me want to love that person, but I don’t have the right to be biased towards any of my fellow man. that just stood out to me. my thoughts sound so much better in my head! then i read it and its just a mess. don’t judge me Kayla! we all cant be amazing writers! seriously though, awesome writing!
Thanks for the encouraging compliments everyone!
Chad- That paragraph is my favorite. The idea that I am merely a channel for Gods love, relieves me of the sometimes draining task of “loving all people.” It gives me strength in realizing that it isn’t my love for people, but Gods that is going to make a difference. His well is never dry.
Its in the times I dont feel like loving someone, that love needs to be expressed most.
What you said made sense.
The whole story is written beautifully but that’s my favorite part. It’s the shortest paragraph but to me is says so much. 2nd favorite part is the lead up to that paragraph. It sets the stage for it to be such a strong statement. Explaining his actions and the terrible things that he did and how it affected his family could make one feel like they have the “right” to judge but no, it’s followed up by not having these so called rights but despite those thing we should love him………I just love it. Puts things into perspective. I look forward to reading more Kayla.
Hi Kayla,
This piece was great. I plan to post it on facebook in the near future. I have been posting tidbits of my Guatemala experience and will be posting this particular event that took place also. This will be a stretch for some of my facebook friends, but the truth needs to be told. I enjoyed getting to know you and hope to come again to Pinalito.
You are so right Kayle; it was for “the hopelessly condemned that God sent His Son to rescue and defend.” We all were hopelessly condemned, just like Salvador. As I write this, it is Easter Sunday and we have been celebrating our Glorious Risen Lord. This account illustrates so effectively the amazing grace we have in Him. I only wish I had read it earlier so I could have shared it this Easter morning with our congregation. We so need to hear these stories as a continual reminder of His redemption power in a soul that is bound. Thank you for sharing it with us.
May God continue to receive the glory in Salvador’s life!
Kayla,
This is an amazing story and continued proof that God still works miracles. I never realized what a gifted and talented writer you are. You have a gift (many gifts), but your writing is something to be celebrated. Keep up the good work and I look forward to your next entry.
All God’s Love,
Jim