The Community of Palmito

Palmito

Because our day had gotten so delayed with the bad roads, we’d already come to estimate we’d be cutting the women’s program in Palmito. There we also had plans to speak with the pastor about the team I’lll be taking in one year from now. As we navigated the route to Palmito, I wasn’t sure whether the roads to Brisas, full of mud, or the roads to Palmito, full of pot holes, was worse. We laughed about it, but Bishop Luis Andres Caicedo managed them like a pro. We laughed as we drove our way there, sharing stories and thoughts along the way. 

It felt like it was taking a really long time… and probably because it did. We came to realize we were lost. As we stopped and Elizabeth would ask for directions, we worked our way backwards. It was the first time navigating this route. Our second time to Palmito this year. As we got into the actual village of Palmito, we paid a man to guide us there on his moto. I am continuously amazed at how it seems these people just know where they are going when there are absolutely zero road names or markings. 

 Per phone call to the Pastor, we assumed we’d be meeting with just him and his wife based on the fact we were pretty much arriving 3 hours late. Inside I was disappointed, but telling myself that it was really fine. That God would use it one way or another and even just sharing time with the Pastor would be good, since I know that returning would provide an encouragement.

I was completely humbled when we arrived and stepped out of the car. Maria grabbed me in a hug and welcomed me with beautiful words, as they ushered us over to their church meeting area. I was brought to tears before we even began the program as there were a whole congregation waiting for us. Convinced and prepared in my mind that we’d not be presenting a program, I was humbled beyond words that the whole community was waiting for us. Elizabeth and I walked to the front so we could do an introduction. Again, I still was not convinced we should even do a message time as they’d already been sitting there for so long. However, they wanted it. And so we presented.  I shared my prepared story/message and at the end, Elizabeth opened it up for questions or comments. I could no longer hold my tears as one of the oldest ladies there stood and shared how she was so thankful that we’d returned to her village and the value that held for her and for them. And that they had prayed for me, for us and had been awaiting us with great joy. Who am I? I am not a unique person in the sense of having a title or degree. I am certainly not famous. I have wrestled my way to this place where I am today and yet they are thanking God for my being there. I am just a simple woman who wants to serve Jesus. I have spent time praying over these meetings, I have spent years asking God to guide me into the woman He wants me to be. I was there to share to them their value simply from things I have been learning myself. And yet once again I was taught of my importance in the kingdom of God. But we don’t know that until we step out of our comfort zone. We can’t know that if we sit on the things we are learning. We cannot discover the depth of our own selves until we get lost in the service of His world. 

The moment in Palmito was transforming for me as well. As I could not hold the tears back, I just let them come, as hard as that sometimes is for me to do in front of others. God totally showed up in that moment in way totally unexpected. When my tears began and I tried to speak through them, Elizabeth had to translate simply because I just could not talk out loud without sobbing like a hysterical fool. Good tears, of course. And in that moment, they started coming forward to hug me. Which only made me cry more. One by one they arrived at the front to thank me, to hug me, to say what it meant to them. This story I am telling right now is not to share about something fantastic I did. I am not anyone special. Every single one of us has gifts that can be used. Every person has worth, has special pieces to offer to this world. 

There’s a song that comes to mind that says in reference to the light that lives within us because of the light of Jesus…”Hide it under a bush, no, I’m going to let it shine!” And I guess I have finally learned to let it shine and stop letting it hide. This light that gave me life and gave me a dream 20 years ago in my heart for the Latin American community is finally getting to shine. It’s a process, like all things in life. But once it begins unfolding, once it begins burning, it is a fire so fierce it brings new life. 

 They kept arriving to me, asking to take photos, wanting to share little pieces of them, then brining their mother or their child to be in the photo with me. It felt unreal. Where I thought we’d have no opportunity to serve became one of the most profound moments of the trip. 

When we left it was dark. A man rode with us for a bit to drive us out and point us the right direction. We drove a bit sharing some, but some in silence too as we took in those moments. And then over dinner we had time to really share about the day. You see, the moments that can seem like the biggest detours (muddy roads, delayed arrivals and getting lost) can often turn into the biggest blessings. I ponder that as I close out this day…. because that applies not to just the trip itself but life application. Sometimes we do not understand the direction or the muddy way we walk through…. but in the end, it can provide the biggest heart change.