Bible studies in Puerto Rico
I was giving Bible studies in Añasco, Puerto
Rico, to 4 teens. At that time I was assistant pastor and
our turn to have family camp was approaching. Since I wanted
to give these youths and their families more exposure to the
church family that they were planning to join, I extended an
invitation to them to spend that weekend with us. These
young people liked the idea of having a place to play
basketball and swim. They live in an area that is world-
famous for the big waves, so surfers from all over inundate
the area in summer, but swimmers don't have a break.
The day to head for camp finally came and all the cars were
packed with all of our needs and also with enthusiasm. We
all had great expectations for those 3 days, and I was
praying that God would find His way into these young
people's heart. The trip took about two hours with a
beautiful country scenery. The cabins were made of concrete
and we had a section for ladies and the most far away ones
were for the guys.
After registering and unpacking, some of us started to walk
around to relax after being in the car for such a hard trip
over and down hills, around curves and through narrow roads.
I was deep in my thoughts contemplating the mountains (hills
really, but that is all we got, so we take the freedom to
promote them to mountains), when suddenly I heard a
screaming 12 or 13 year old girl calling me "Martin,
Martin..." She could hardly talk. I tried to calm her down
and she kept trying to explain what was wrong. After several
attempts from my part, she relaxed enough so I could
understand clearly what she wanted to communicate.
Apparently her mother, not being used to travel far from her
house, and probably hungry, had a sudden migraine and was
also vomiting. We did not have a doctor in the premises and
we would have to return the family to their home.
I do not know why, but I just smiled and told the girl to
pray with me. She was shocked when she realized that I was
asking HER to be the one to offer the prayer. I encouraged
her to just tell Jesus what was in her heart like when she
speaks to a friend. Well she agreed to pray only if I did
too. She went first and then I prayed. Then I said something
that I do not know why I said it. Well, I am known for
saying the first thing that comes to my mind. I told her :
"now go. When you get to the cabin, you will see that your
mother is fine. God had healed her." She looked at my face
like if she made a big mistake in telling me and that now I
was making fun of her.
She returned to the cabin and I just prayed for her in my
heart. I do not think that 3 minutes went by when I heard my
name again and it was the same girl crying and running
towards me. Did I speak too fast about her mother being OK
now? No. God had also an interest in this family. The girl,
Sonia, found her mother healed by the power of God when she
went back to check on her. Now Sonia was crying because she
was so happy that God cared to listen to the prayer of a
young girl.
All those youth that so the love and power of God dedicated
their lives to Jesus and were baptized.
Martin Miranda <skypilgrim@earthlink.net>
(Received on Sunday July 21, 2002)
