Answered Prayers

I am writing this post on behalf of Lilia and Arturo to tell ya’ all about how God has been moving this past week. Some of what I am going to write might make some of you uncomfortable as it doesn’t fit nicely into some of our tidy American theology, but it is how God is choosing to work. And after all “He’s not a tame lion.” C.S Lewis

                As most of you are aware one of the older neighbor boys died last Sunday. What most don’t know is that it was a suicide. I didn’t mention this out of respect for the family and their privacy but now in order to explain everything it is important to note. I am also not completely sure of his age but I believe he was about 19.

                This young man had gotten heavily involved in drugs and ended up getting shot in the stomach four times in a drug related episode (not near the orphanage). He survived the shooting and attributed his survivor to Satan. Because of this he made a blood oath with the devil giving him his life. His mother had also pledged his life to the holy death. He was heavily involved in a satanic cult. He was constantly hearing voices telling him to kill himself or someone else because he owed the devil a life. He tried committing suicide three times but wasn’t successful. It was at this point that he wondered onto the orphanage/church needing help. They took him into the chapel and locked themselves in and prayed non stop for a week until he collapsed from exhaustion. They then took him to a rehab place out at the foot of the mountains to recover he was there about a week before coming home. He came home about a week before his death, and at first was doing much better. But after a few days the voices had returned demanding either his life or the life of another because of the blood pact he and his mother had made.

                Last Saturday, Arturo was at a conference and was praying and worshiping when the Lord spoke to him in a way He has never spoken before. He said “Arturo why aren’t you listening to me” Arturo said he thought he was. The Lord also gave him a verse about being snatched away. The next day was Sunday and the young man in question was at church. He took off right afterwards, as did most because the final world cup game was underway. But he came back to the church to seek prayer, one of the other pastors went to grab Arturo who was watching the World Cup game. At first Arturo didn’t want to go, the game was an intense game, but he submitted to the voice of the Lord and went to pray. As they were praying the young man collapsed and Arturo felt the Lord told him two things to say; 1) there was an army of angels surrounding him, 2) He belonged to the Lord. He then felt that the Lord said his job was done and went back to the game.

                Later that day the young man went and said good bye to everyone and killed himself. When his mother discovered his body she started screaming and as we all heard it we knew something was terribly wrong. Arturo was upstairs praying and he knew right away what had happened and he came running. When he saw the young man’s body a heaviness and despair fell over him, they had fought so long and hard and God had said that he belonged to Him. He walked back to the compound to get a few things they needed to deal with the situation and God spoke to him “Arturo why aren’t you listening to me.” In that moment he had peace and was able to move forward with calling the police and comforting and talking to all those who came by.

                Later that night/ Monday morning as he was praying Arturo felt the Lord tell him to open his Bible. He let the Lord know that he didn’t believe in that method, after all he was a mature Christian, but God kept insisting so he opened his Bible. It opened to Isaiah 22:14 “But the Lord of host revealed Himself to me, ‘surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you until you die,’ says the Lord God of hosts.” Arturo said that he finally heard what God was saying, the young man had to die because of the blood pact he had made. But he belongs to the Lord, when the devil opened his hands to take his soul it was not there. Christ had snatched it to heaven, and he was now walking with him.

                Lilia also had a dream that night of the young man being pursued and running desperately but being unable to escape. He came to the edge of the cliff and having only the one option left he jumped. But before he could be consumed by the darkness he was snatched away.

                Later on Monday a lady showed up, she lived further south and had come up to be with the family in their grief. She said that Monday morning at 3 am, she was awake crying in deep grief when she rolled over and there was an angel. She asked Arutro if he believed in angels and told him that she hadn’t before this. The angel told her “he is okay now.” She knew she was suppose to deliver the message to Arturo.

                This whole incident has caused a huge stir in the town and everyone is talking about the church where after the young man went for help he killed himself. There was a lot of fear that the new converts would leave. Well Wednesday night rolled around and Lilia was plagued by these thoughts and that no one was going to show up to the service. When the service started there wasn’t very many people, but people just kept showing up until the place was packed. Lilia’s thought then switched to “I’m not ready I didn’t prepare enough.” She said that in that instance the Lord spoke into her ear and said “Tonight these people aren’t here for me they are here for you and Arturo.” She was flabbergasted how, could the Lord say such a thing. But she was also blown away by the love and support that the church body showed. After the service people told them, I didn’t want to come tonight but I knew I had to come for you two. The Lord also showed up in a might way at the service and many lives were touched.