Rogue Wave Redemption
Do the waves of life wipe you out, leaving you bruised and battered?
The rooster interrupted my sleep every three hours. I thought they only crowed at 6am like on television. I rolled off the uncomfortable church pew and joined the team for a breakfast of granola bar with a bottle of water.
The pastor invited us to El Salvador to show “The Jesus Film,” and offered his church as our resting place.Our leader Bob read the morning devotion as we all stretched, yawned and got the kinks out of our bodies, our leader,
We gathered our gear for the day and the team headed for El Playa de Cuco beach about 500 yards away.
Its meaning, “crazy beach” — a good name to express the crazy time we had that day.
The warm and dense air and clouds made it difficult to breathe. We set up the volleyball net and played with the kids who lived on the beach.
Many called the beach home.
Small huts made of straw and wood transformed the beach into a makeshift village. Mothers nursed their babies and cooked meals on campfires outside while the men sat on logs & chairs, discussing the news of the day.Volleyball was fun, but I escaped to a local log to write in my journal.
7/2/96 12 Noon
“We have been playing volleyball with the local teens on the beach! I now have 5 boys watching me write in my book. Make that 7. I have had a tough time with one of the team today! Lord, Help me keep a positive attitude.
Lord, Thank you for a log for our stuff or it would have been taken out to sea by the waves if we left it on the ground! We have not taken showers since yesterday morning. No Power! No Water! We must smell ripe! Thank you for allowing me to be able to communicate with the Children, Lord. Thank you for life. I love the people they are so friendly. We are almost playing v-ball in the houses on the beach (water was coming close to us and the homes). I love you Father. Gracias.”I put my journal away and went to the 8 x2 foot log where our backpacks rested. The one I had just thanked God for. I wanted to get candy for the kids. I heard screaming…
1 pm (journal entry)
WIPED OUT by a big wave! Gloria a Dios (Glory to God), no one was hurt but me. 3 kids went under the hut. All of us went flying. I tried to grab the bag and had a hold of it but the wave took the big log right with it. I was behind the log and it knocked me over. My legs are all cut up and bruised! Babies were everywhere. All are fine though. The locals helped us gather our things. A man named Pablo let us use his table and wash off in his water. (He had the only fresh water well within miles of the beach) Pablo gave Cheryl, my team member, some blue ointment for the cuts on my legs. I told him he was an angel sent from heaven. May he come to know you if he does not yet, you are most awesome Lord and worthy to be praised.”
We thanked Pablo and gave him “The Gospel of John.” We left the beach to gather our thoughts, have a soda, and clean our gear. We praised God for keeping us safe as we remembered the verse.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2 (ESV)
The next morning.
7/3/96 10:20am
Visited Pablo. He loved the peanut butter (peanut butter is a delicacy there). But, he really loved the book that we gave him yesterday. He stayed up all night reading it!The next day we said our goodbyes and traveled to Honduras. From there we boarded a plane home to Rhode Island. We kept in touch with the Pastor of that church. He told us Pablo was so excited about the book of John. He wanted to know more about Jesus. Pablo is now a child of the living God and leads others to Jesus.
God used a rouge wave to save a soul.
I researched and found large individual waves are rare for El Playa de Cuco. I still have some discoloration on each shin bone. When I look at my legs, I smile and thank God for that opportunity to meet Pablo and give him the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Have the waves of life wiped you out? Have they left scars or discoloration?
My dear friend, I know life is difficult. My prayer is that you will trust God.He loves you and gave this promise. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30”
God’s ultimate purpose for His children is transformation, not comfort.
Will you praise Him with me for taking the difficult and mundane to make us more like Christ?
What difficult situation has God used to glorify Himself or change your heart?
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