Ankle Boot, Crutches and a Courier!?

Man oh man! Where do I even begin!? God’s been doing so many things while we’ve been here in Guatemala. One of the most amazing thing that God’s invited me into are the house visits in Chimachoy. But first! If you haven’t had a chance to read my other blog titled “The Power of Prayer!” then I highly recommend you do so before continuing further. That will give some context to the story below.

On Monday 10/17/22, I had the privilege of going to re-visit the house of one grandma (Martina) and her daughters with my team leader Elijah. Originally, we had gone there to visit and check up on how she was doing, as she had mentioned the last time we had visited, that her eyes were in pain for quite awhile. As Elijah was talking with her, she mentioned that her niece was also in need of prayer. She explained briefly that her niece had tripped, fallen and hurt her foot, and that she had difficulty walking for about 6 months! 6 months!

Martina eventually guided us to visit her niece whom we’ve come to know as Noelia. This young woman’s faith in God was so amazing as we listened to her story. Little bits and pieces I understood, thanks to my team leads’ translating. What happened was that she had tripped and fallen when carrying some heavy wood. I believe her right ankle had rolled in that process! Possibly broken or fractured. She shared that it’s been about 6 months that her ankle was wrapped up and in pain. She’d had difficulty walking on her own for those months and barely walked outside of her room due to the pain and challenge it presented. Elijah and I got the opportunity to pray for her and each time, as she tried walking on her foot, she had noticed that the pain in her foot slowly subsided. Eventually, Elijah and I had to take off in order to make it to Kid’s club that afternoon. But I left with a heavy heart and didn’t realize it until a few days later why I kept waking up at 3 am! I realized that those were probably the promptings of the Holy Spirit for me to intercede in prayer over Noelia.

But, fast forward to Thursday that same week. The team and I had activation back at the AIM base that morning. And it dawned on me that the crutches and boot that I had used were left there after moving to the ministry house. I realized, and wondered to myself…”will the boot fit her?”, “Gotta give it a try to see if it will fit or not.” So I worked with the base to get those back to our house that night.

The next day, Elijah, Morgan, Soledad and I returned and checked in on Noelia. When asked how her feet was doing, she shared honestly and a bit downcasted, that the pain had returned a bit after we had left her house last time. As we got to check in with her, we had her unwrap her foot in order to get it fitted into the boot. Sure enough, the boot was a perfect fit for Noelia’s foot! After teaching Noelia how to strap it up and how to use the crutches, the team and I just couldn’t get over the fact that these were the perfect fit for Noelia! I got to share my testimony with her in more detail about my ankle fracture from September. Little by little, she began relearning how to take steps, on her own, with the crutches and the boot. Never in my life have I been more excited about a fractured ankle! Because this was definitely God ordained!

Noelia and her mother as she takes her first few steps with the ankle boot!

We had many opportunities to visit her the following weeks leading up to us leaving Chimachoy. And it was amazing to see Noelia’s face light up more and more each time we visited. She was so kind to make pancakes for us on one of those visits! Every opportunity we got, we took to pray with her, and in every prayer, she cried tears of praise to God.

Below are photos of her and her family, some of my teammates and I during multiple visitations to her home

I truly believe that God answers prayers! In this case, the Lord had heard and answered Noelia’s prayers to him. I just happened to be a courier for the purpose of encouraging her with the love of God and my testimony. It’s so amazing!! I repeat! I literally was a courier of the Gospel thru the ankle boot and crutches! Though I didn’t know it at the time, God’s plans were way bigger and greater than I could’ve imagined!

As I am writing this, I’m reminded of Proverbs 3:5-6 again. To not lean on my own understanding of things. Especially when it comes to God. God’s plans are beyond our understanding.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.