Mission Emanuel

It was only a quick glimpse, a brief encounter, but it has a profound impact on me.

After completing our first successful week with 50 short term missionaries from Frazer UMC in Montgomery, Alabama, Ron Selin and I were driving downtown for dinner. In Old Santo Domingo, the streets which were carved out 500 years ago are very narrow, barely enough room for one lane of cars down the center of the cobblestone streets. In my usual impatient haste, when traffic stopped because of a fruit cart in the way, I honked my horn like any good Dominican would. As we passed the fruit vendor, I noticed that his cart was total junk, his tricycle’s back wheel was totally wobbly and bent, and had no tire. His front wheels also had no tires either. His cart was full of mangos that he must have found on the ground, badly bruised and ugly. The man was straining to push his cart as hard as his 60+ year old body could manage. He wore rags, his hair was wild and wooly, his skin was wrinkled and weather-beaten. Even at the first glance, I could tell this was a man who lived a tough life and had seen a lot of miles.

I instantly felt guilty about my impatience manifesting itself in a honked “get out of the way.” Ron and I were both stunned by our brief look, and I said, “Wow. That’s one sad sight. If I had an extra thousand pesos, I’d give it to him so he could at least buy some tires.” Then, I drove on.

Before I drove 50 feet, God spoke almost audibly to me, “Jack, you dummy (He calls me that when I am being dumb), you DO have 1000 pesos, because I gave it to you.” I instantly told Ron, “Uh, I do have a thousand pesos.” He responded with, “Yes you do.” So I instantly parked and got out and waited until he reached us.

I said hello and asked his name and he responded Simone Pedro (Simon Peter). Wow! I immediately had a bowling ball in my throat, tears in my eyes, and choked, “Tell me about yourself.” He shared he lived 30 miles away where he collects mangos and pushes his cart all the way to Santo Domingo where he stays on the street (sometimes for many days). He then returns home and starts over again. Wow! I whine because I walk with a limp. Think about this guys life!

I asked, “Do you know Jesus?”

Simone Pedro replied strongly, “Absolutely. I am a man of faith.”

I said, “Great, because He told me to stop and give you some money for new tires.”

His eyes teared up and he bowed his head and said, “Gracias a Dios. Gracias a Dios. Gracias a Dios (Thank you, God).”

I said, “I know your life is very hard but remember, we are only here a short time, and then we can go spend eternity with God.”

“Gracias a Dios, gracias a Dios, gracias a Dios.”

I then laid hands on him and blessed him and prayed for him.

“Gracias a Dios, gracias a Dios, gracias a Dios.”

I thank God for this God moment where my faith, Ron’s faith, and Simone Pedro’s faith was strengthened in a 10 minute encounter that I will never forget.

I thank God for you, your prayers, and your financial support, and your partnership in the Gospel with us as we seek to serve His children, young and old.

Con gratitud a Dios,

Jack