We are learning how to be family together. The Lord keeps leading us to be family to a number of people who have never known unconditional love, support, healthy communication, conflict resolution, or honesty. This is a slow process and it is definitely not under our control. Sometimes it feels easy and beautiful as we walk into the community to share the gospel, help a neighbor in need with medical expenses, or take food to a family with nothing to eat. Other times we see each other in our weakness and have to ask God to help us know how to love each other.
This month we have gotten to see a man orphaned at 9 by his mother and 11 by his father who grew up on the streets, lived a life of crime, had tuberculosis, diabetes, lost his leg and his sight, be able to take huge steps in restoration. He found Jesus in prison. He loves God’s presence and wants to live for God. Like all of us, he has not had a perfect journey, but it’s been honest. He has tried to work as much as he can, gone on outreach trips with us to unreached communities, tried to learn how to love his family, and started loving people around him. He has failed at times, gotten distracted, faced financial challenges, but we are walking with him.
This month, God gave Miguel a new leg! He wept as he took his first steps in more than two years. He had been an angry, selfish, drug addict and drug dealer. But, today, he has a family! He doesn’t have blood sugar problems, he is free of tuberculosis, can see so much better, and he can walk. This is a redemption story of hope. Through a generous donation, we were able to get a prosthetic leg for Miguel and he is hoping to go back to driving a taxi, which was a job that he had for many years. Miracle after miracle bring this son into Papa’s Kingdom. He got baptized with our son this weekend and he wants to keep sharing Jesus’ love with people around us teaching them to follow everything Jesus taught.