Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
We were on “break” and headed back to the VidaNet base for two weeks between our months of outreach in Honduras. Ahead of us lay a 20+ hour bus trip back to Costa Rica including stressfully timed Covid-testing to cross Nicaragua. Unfortunately, a few hours into the trip we met a strike blocking the roads and had to sit in traffic most of the afternoon. The temptation to be self-centered and annoyed was strong. Yet behind us sat a woman by herself, and I felt in my heart that we should pray for her.
As we waited on the road, I turned and offered her snacks. She accepted, and we each continued to share food whenever we had some. As the wait lengthened, conversation deepened to our activities in Honduras, our own stories and then her story.
She told us how she had been living in the US with her husband and kids when she was diagnosed with cancer. Overwhelmed with being in a foreign country without insurance and unable to find a doctor who would treat her without insurance, she cried out to God. She pleaded with Him to heal her or for a doctor to treat her. Before leaving the hospital, she received word that the best doctor would treat her. She rejoiced; God had promptly answered her prayer.
After chemotherapy treatment and five years of waiting to declare her cancer-free, she was now back in Honduras. This time crying out to Him to help her face the hardships of daily life, including her battle with depression. We were able to pray with her and be so encouraged by her faith.
Lines and waiting are often times of sitting close to many people. I’m so glad that day God allowed us to take time to listen to this woman’s story on that warm multi-day bus ride. What a blessing we could have missed if we had only thought about ourselves! Who might be near you next time you need to wait?
By Estefania Baars
Vida220 Student
Beautiful Estefania! Love you! Proud of you! Hope your outreach finishes well!