Venezuela…Waiting for the Call

God used our Venezuelan team to cause the lame to walk, the blind to see, and the deaf to hear…literally. More importantly, He used our team of 13 high school students, 1 college student, and four adults to heal people spiritually by introducing them to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Team Venezuela

We experienced a phenomenon that was new to us. Over and over, we heard people saw that they wanted to have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus, and that they believed what we were offering was Truth, yet they were “waiting for God to call” them.  Their faces portrayed a deep longing for God. We’d explain that God was calling them and then share Revelation 3:20, while literally knocking on their house door: “Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone opens my vice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”  Their eyes would indicate they were tracking with us, but then they’d say they needed something else, maybe a miracle, to know for sure it was God calling.

Michele sharing the Gospel in Dabajuro

“Has anyone from a foreign country ever come to your home and sat with you to explain how much God loves you, a foreigner who’s taken three planes and one bus to tell you?” we’d ask.  Wouldn’t that be considered amazing, even miraculous? Some agreed and became followers of Jesus Christ. Still others needed more assurance. God healed some of them physically and, finally, they understood God’s call for them to follow Him. 

After God chose to heal this lame man, the wheelchair was no longer neccesary

Some did not receive His call to follow Him, which is exceedingly sad.  Interestingly, most people going on their first mission trip do not decide to go because people in a particular country are destined for hell, eternally separated from God. They are motivated by other reasons. No matter their initial motivation, rarely do they return home without being burdened for those who haven’t made a decision to follow Jesus.

Taylor spent hours and hours sharing with this family during the week

Who in your life is waiting for God to call them, possibly once they “clean up their act,” or once they “are done having fun and doing life their own way”? Who is waiting for someone to explain to them what it means to accept God’s gift of forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ? Who does God want you to share His love with this week? Ask Him. Obey Him. Rejoice with Him, whatever the outcome.

We’d be blessed to hear how God uses you to share with that person. Please let us know.