Snuggling With A Gang Member

So one of our lovely team members Beka Hardy was transported to the hospital recently, and of course as her World Race family we decided, well if she has to be there, so will we..

So day after day and night after night for a week we were there. We took shifts, and fought for who got to go see her, and when we could see her. We found out pretty quickly that only one person could actually stay in the hospital room at a time, so we worked it out that for safety purposes that one guy and one girl would go. The girl would stay with Beka in the hospital room, and the guy would stay downstairs and sleep outside.

So, to set the tone for the night I found myself on the sidewalk of a hospital courtyard so inspired by the Lord, and what He was doing in my heart that night. I had talked to a friend back home and was able to speak life into them, and them into me it was a phenomenal way to start the night off. So here I found myself sitting on the sidewalk, day pack and sleeping bag surrounded by the broken, the needy, and the hurting of Honduras.

I didn't know how the night was to go or what He had planned, but I felt that the Lord was up to something. I envisioned it being something like me praying for all the sick or something.. While that would have been incredible I knew He didn't really have that in mind. I prayed very specifically for the night - “Lord, I know you could clear this hospital out if you wanted to. I know you could clear every room, every operating table. I know you could clear out every sickness and disease. I know with just a move of your spirit, just the wind of your spirit you could heal all of these people in the waiting area. Lord, tonight I want to partner with your heart. If you want I want to be an instrument you use tonight to bring healing, to bring wholeness, to bring fullness of joy. If you want Lord, let me be a light here tonight. If not, Lord hide me. Hide me in the shadow of your wings and keep me far from danger”.

As soon as I was done praying this prayer I kid you not two cars were pulling into the hospital with their brights on. High beams directly on where I was sitting. Just like His humor.. I rolled my eyes and laughed at the Lord. He made me laugh out loud with that one.. I had my answer.

So with my answer knowing the Lord wanted me to be an instrument and one willing to move with His spirit I began to take back this place for His kingdom. In my authority as a son, as His son I began speaking into the darkness and driving out evil from this place-knowing that because I was there only one banner could fly over this place.

As I prayed and then begin journaling a man approached me. This man's name was Roger. Little did I know how much of a God send Roger would be. Roger and I talked for the next few hours- him in broken English, me in broken Spanish, but with charades and similar words in both the Spanish and English language we were having conversation. We were just talking it up with each other, sharing life when all of the sudden this 14 year old kid approaches us..This kid came up to offer us cigars, and then proceeded to talk to us. He (speaking Spanish) told us that he was here to see his buddy. His friend got stabbed tonight, and so he wanted to be here for him.

The Lord moved my heart to share my food from dinner with these guys, so I did. So we sat, we talked, we ate, and then all of the sudden something shifted.. This kid started talking to Roger in a real serious mood, over a real serious matter. He laid down on his stomach, face in hands and at times he just sat silent and listened as Roger spoke into what he was saying..

Here I am sitting right in between both of them not knowing a lick of what they're saying, so what do I do? Well what else? I just started praying.. Out loud I began speaking to the Lord asking Him if this is where I get to be the instrument, the light tonight. I then overheard enough Spanish to figure out that this kid had stated to Roger that he was conflicted in his heart about something, but I had no directive as to what, but whatever, it gave me something to pray right? So pray I did. Shortly after the boy gets up and leaves. Roger turns to me and shakes his head. He then proceeds to tell me exactly who this kid is.

This kid who I sat with, This kid who I fed, this kid who I laughed with and just really chilled out with for over 2 hours was a gang member. Yep, Roger begin to tell me this kid is 14 yrs old and has been in the gang MS-13 since he was 12. MS-13 is the biggest, baddest, notorious gang in Central America. Roger begin to tell me the reason he was shaking his head in the first place.

This kid originally came over not to offer a cigar, not to eat, or chill. He originally came over to steal my bag. See this kid's job in MS13 is to rob people, he just moved up to a level of respect where he can now stab people. So here I was face to face just minutes ago with a 14 yr old gang member who just upgraded to shanking people for the fun of it. Crazy right!? Story isn’t over. The Lord in His immense faithfulness wasn’t done just yet.

So as the night progressed Roger and I finished talking and he directed me to a spot on the sidewalk near lights and guards so that I was safer. He then told me he would be close by and would keep watch over me in the night while I slept. I agreed, thanked him and we said our good nights. I then proceeded to lay down and find my place among about 15 others who had the same idea. Across from us there were about 50 other people just waiting (outside waiting room) some were sleeping, some just watching. As the night got later, it got colder and I noticed these three little old women curled up trying to stay warm, but shivering. I felt the Lord move upon my heart to go lay my sleeping bag on them, so I did. They thanked me and smiled the biggest smiles I've ever seen. I did this and everyone around saw. It wasn't my intention to attract attention to this act of kindness, but to just move with what the Lord was doing. This happened two more times with a couple different people. One group would get up from the waiting area and would go in to the hospital, and I would find someone else to keep warm.

This great act of kindness gained respect of the people I was staying out in the cold with that night. They were all smiling at me, and thanking me.. it seemed something different to them for sure. They don't see a gringo, an American sleeping on the street with them, and then choosing to keep them warm rather then himself. This was that light. This was Jesus for them tonight.

The night was turning into morning, and I was satisfied with how the night went. I was thankful for what the Lord had done, and just as I was thinking I would drift off to sleep guess who walks up?

None other than the gang member himself. He went to see if his buddy was out of the hospital which he wasn't so, he came back out. He looked like he was gonna walk away, but he turned and smiled at me, and then did the unthinkable. This kid came and sat down next to me.

We talked briefly and just in small talk really.. no translator present this time. Roger was fast asleep on the other side of the courtyard. A little after we had stopped talking I noticed he was cold. He put his arms in his sleeves, and was shivering, So here I was again with a decision. Do I dare put my sleeping bag on the gang member? Do I be a light, or do I hide tonight? I knew he was only 14, but I knew he had a knife, I knew he originally planned to rob me.. I made the decision to shimmy out of my sleeping bag and put half on me and half on him.

There we lay a gang member and I just chilling snuggled up next to each other for the rest of the night, and when I woke a couple hours later as daylight and the hustle and bustle of everyone moving I woke up to find he was gone, my sleeping bag was on me and tucked all around me, and my bag still right beside me.

I share this with you to give insight, to give testimony. I share this to tell you of the Lord's faithfulness and His goodness. He cared for me in the night as His son. He also cared for His son through the night as I was a mere instrument to show love in the form of a meal, a conversation and yes, even a warm sleeping bag. The Lord is moving here in Honduras. He is bringing the prodigals home. I am thrilled that I got to be a piece of the puzzle, a light set on a hill for all the world to see. I am honored and thankful for the opportunities I have in front of me. The life and adventure I'm living..

Thank you for being a part of this journey, please continue to follow my journey, my adventures..

Please consider supporting me here on the World Race.

Live A Great Story & Enjoy Every Bit Of The Journey..

Dev