We had an awesome opportunity to go to a nursing home and get to know some of the Nicaraguans that are up in age. We got there and sat down and did the normal nursing home visits, ask about there story´s ask if they have kids, etc… But I noticed that one of the residents was choosing to stay in her room and watch from the comfort of her own chair.
We continued talking and had a chance to pray with the residents individually and afterwards the skeptical lady came out of her room. She was very hunched over to the point she is staring at the ground, and I go over to help her to the circle we have formed with the residents. I notice that she is clinging on to two articles of paper in separate plastic bags. And when I get close to her she starts speaking VERY fast Spanish that I couldn’t remotely interpret, and I noticed that she was holding 1: An old gospel track, that looks ancient. and 2: an article of paper that on it is inscribed a verse in Spanish. She is speaking like I said very fast, but also very quick and short breathed, so I could tell that she was nervous to speak with me…One of my awesome teammates named Paige see´s my issue of language barrier and comes over to translate for me, and upon her arrival she couldn’t make it out either. So I get the translator named Santiago to come over to help us. He translates her saying “I am a believer like you” and I replied “Amen” She asked if I had any scriptures in Spanish, or a Bible? We did not bring any to the home with us so I replied “no” and the look on her face was that of a child that dropped an ice cream cone. It was so saddening.
But then I remembered that Lindsay had brought a Spanish Bible to study on the bus ride over. So I went and got it from her, and gave it to the Elderly lady, and such joy came to her! I could see in her face and in her spirit that she was just so excited. Santiago translated her pure joyful words saying “I love you I love you! Today you have given me a Bible! Today I will remember that I finally have a Bible for the FIRST TIME” and we rejoiced with her and she allowed me to pray with her also, and she said on the way back to her room “This day of June 15th I will remember” “This day I finally have a Bible”
Do we really hold the Bible to the stature that it deserves? I know that I don’t.. I have numerous copies of translations. But this lady, this dear old women, had clung to those few parchments of scripture and treasured them, and clung to them so tightly for so long. Lord I pray for desperation like her, I pray for a passion that I can do nothing but Cling to your word.
