In the Mission Field

Friends,

This testimony comes from a Missionary (Carol Hurtig) that I met in Barranquilla, Colombia. I could tell that the Lord was working through her in a very special way so I asked her to share some of her experiences of the week. This testimony is a reminder that our mighty counselor is there listening to our every whisper.

My first trip to Colombia (2008) was so full of life changing experiences I couldn’t summarize everything I saw and did while I was there. One year later, on my second trip, the Lord brought the subject of prayer to mind.

On this second trip my husband, Doug decided to join me in mission work. He was adamant about the fact that it was mainly to please me, because I had shared so much and told him his life would never be the same, but not so much that he wanted to go. From the time I got back from my last trip I began praying that the Lord would give Doug and others a spiritual nudge…so they would step out of their comfort zone and receive the marvelous blessing that I received when I asked the Lord to use me.

My third day in a little barrio I went down a street and this man and his wife were sitting on the front patio of their home. As I approached I could see the woman smiling but her husband didn’t look as happy. They were very gracious and allowed me to give my testimony and introduce them to Jesus, even though her husband said he was leaving the house in two minutes for business. After I stopped talking the man said my testimony was good, but I received Christ when I was only 7, and he was a man 54 years old, so for him it wasn’t “so easy to believe.” He went on to ask many questions, “how did I know the bible was true,” and “how did I know it was Jesus knocking on the door of my heart?” “Was it just a ‘feeling’?” Very good questions. He immediately began telling me that his job was in the country, working with animals, and he was alone all day with them. He didn’t have any other people to connect with at all during the day and it often was lonely for him. He said he had prayed every day for the past year that God would reveal to him that He was real and alive, but he said God had not done that for him.

At that very moment I realized, God had just answered two huge prayers! I began telling this man how God told me to go to Columbia, and how I had prayed that He would allow me to see His glory, to tell others He was Lord. The puzzle pieces just started to come together…he prayed one prayer and I prayed another and God brought us together to answer both. I asked him what the odds would be that I would come from North America, to his barrio, to his very street…and had I come just two minutes later I would have missed him, all because Jesus laid down his life to show him that he was loved by the King and that He lives. I asked him, “Do you think that was a coincidence?” “You can know in your heart that God answered that prayer.” He told me he had asked for “a sign.” People in Latin American countries are big on “signs”…signs and superstitions are common. I know he was looking for a sign that he had imagined in his own mind, but I told him God didn’t work that way. God reveals himself to us in ways that we know it isn’t something we are expecting, but in ways that we would know it could only be God and nothing else. That was a turning point for him. His eyes began to tear and he was ready to trust that Jesus was his Savior. This man saw God reveal himself through my team, and I saw God answer my prayer to see His glory. Isn’t he awesome?!

I accepted Jesus into my heart when I was only 7 years old, so I’ve always had a special place in my heart for children and I prayed for opportunities on this trip to witness to children, or families that had children. I just love it when I pray within the will of God, but He is just thrilled to answer!

Our team approached a school and asked if we could come in and talk to the children. The principle, (a woman in her sixties), wasn’t so eager to extend that invitation. She met us with a frown on her face and a very skeptical look in her eyes. She asked me in a very stern voice if I understood Spanish and when I answered “only a little” I saw her eyes dart to the rest of my team. “Who is this?” she asked, pointing to my interpreter. And I responded by telling her one person translated for me, and introduced the other two members of my team. Immediately she called me and the interpreter into her office and began grilling us about what message we wanted to deliver. Very quickly she told us that she was of strong Catholic faith and there were many catholic children attending the school. She didn’t want her kids confused, and she certainly didn’t want us to dispute any of the Catholic influence. I was praying inside the entire time “there’s no way in the world she’s ever going to allow this”, I thought. And then, to my amazement, the impossible happened. She said she would allow me and my translator (but no one else) to present to the fifth graders, but she would be watching us the entire time.

So here I was, praying all the way down the hallway, “God, I have no idea how I got to this place, but please make these words count and let them penetrate hearts and young minds. Let the truth set them free.” As I was presenting the cube, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, one of our nationals taking pictures. When we were finished the principle escorted us back to the lobby where she proceeded to offer us refreshments (unbelievable, I know). Then, her next words just about blew me out of my seat. She asked if we would like to come back that afternoon to witness to eight classes of kids from 6th through 11th grade! In all we counted more than 200 kids that heard the gospel in that school. And here is the best part (oh yes, it gets better) - the principle wanted to keep the Evangecube!

During the evening service at our local church that night God was bringing to mind the times I had prayed, and how my path was crossing other paths where others had prayed, and how He had answered all those prayers using each one of us. I prayed for a Godly husband, and He brought Doug into my life. Doug had gone through a divorce when his son was only 4 years old, and while his life seemed like aimless wandering, he finally came to a place where he was seeking for something to fulfill that emptiness. I was friends with Doug and when I heard about his heartache I began praying for him, that he would come to know Jesus and that void would be filled. Eight years later, we married and Doug accepted Christ as savior. On this trip in Colombia Doug revealed in his testimony that he wanted a family and God answered by bringing me, his son, my son, our adopted daughter, and a grandbaby that is growing up in our house all together as a family. Our lives, intertwined in such a miraculous way that all our prayers were answered, and the pieces matched up perfectly.

Scripture tells us to pray. Jesus himself set the example with The Lord’s Prayer. Daniel was thrown into a lion’s den for praying, and God brought him out in response to Daniel’s prayer. Philippians 4:6 says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I know we have riches stored in heaven that are beyond our wildest imaginations. We cannot comprehend how much He has for us and is excited to give if only we would pray (ask).

I’m thrilled to serve the God who answers prayer. Glory to his name!

In His Service,
Carol Hurtig