We left at 3 AM Sunday morning from Nebaj on our way to Antigua. Paul Townsend, the long-time missionary accompanying me, had a meeting that morning in Antigua and he was kind enough to give me a ride as well. We arrived at 9 AM. My flight was not until Tuesday morning. So now it was just a boring time of hanging out and waiting, or so I thought. But God makes things interesting.
I rested at my hotel for a while and walked around Antigua. The Superbowl started at 5:30 but I was very tired and wasn't sure I wanted to watch it. A church/café called El Camino was showing the game and so I decided to go on over and check it out. The place was full and I sat on a couch near the back. The place was filled mostly with Gringos like me. A little Guatemalan guy who had been sitting nearby came over and introduced himself. It was in this moment I met Juan.*
Juan did not understand our strange version of football and so I explained a little bit of what was going on. But mostly we conversed about our respective stories. Juan was an orphan and was homeless. Juan had been attending the church for 5 years and the church body around us all recognized him and greeted him.. We talked a little about the Bible and God. It was one of those deep conversations that felt good. We came from completely different backgrounds and yet we could relate and praise the same God. I felt for him that he had to sleep on the streets and I asked him about the street life. I wondered how a church of God could have a person attending the church for 5 years and still that person slept on the streets. I was ready to talk to the Pastor and ask him, "how could this be?" I bought Juan dinner. Before he left in the 3rd quarter of the game, I put my arm around him and prayed for him. By this point I was so tired but I was determined to have a word with the Pastor about this guy. Shortly after he left, I got up to leave. The game was a blow out at the time. The Baltimore Ravens were beating the 49ers 28-6. I checked my pockets. My phone was gone. I knew what happened. To tell you the truth, I had a feeling even before this moment. I was extremely tired and there was a moment when I put my head back and mentioned "Tengo sueños." At that time, I felt a movement in my right pocket. But at the time I trusted the guy and did not check my pockets until after he left to be sure. I checked the cushions. Nothing. But I still was not 100% sure he stole my phone. Maybe I just forgot to bring it with me.
I went to my hotel room. There was no phone. That confirmed it. The man with whom I had bought dinner, with whom I had a rich conversation with, and a man whom I prayed for, had stolen my phone. I went back to the church during the 3rd quarter and let a couple church leaders know what happened. It turns out this was not the first time. Members of the church had been helping this guy for years, but he continued to steal, even from the people who helped him. Suffice it to say, I did not speak with the Pastor that day. The Church had been in fact doing an admirable job in helping this man, walking with him, and growing his faith. But still he stole from people and took advantage of people who helped him.
Two ladies knew of places where Juan hung out. We drove around Antigua with the Ravens still up 28 to 6 after a long power outage delay. We looked for him at spots where he might be but we never did find him. When we came back the Ravens were only up 28 to 23 at the end of the third quarter. After the 49ers strong comeback, I had to watch the end. The Ravens scored a field goal and the 49ers scored another touchdown. The score was 31 to 29 with 8 minutes left. I realized at that time that I had told Juan the name of my hotel and my first and last name. I also knew that the guy currently working at my hotel did not know what I looked like. I also didn't know how loosey goosey they were about security. I briskly walked back to the hotel to tell that guy about what had happened and basically, told them I was me. He had not seen anybody come by and I chatted briefly with another missionary that was there. I came back at the 2 minute warning. The Ravens had scored a field goal but the 49ers were in scoring position. But the Ravens held them off and won the game 34 to 31. After the game, the ladies told me to tell the people at the Refugio the next morning because Juan frequented that coffee shop. That place happened to be literally right next door to my hotel. A coincidence?
I got up early and waited for the guy that opens the coffee shop in the morning. He had been at the El Camino during the game as well and recognized me. I told him of the theft and he confirmed that Juan was a known thief and had stolen things at the coffee shop. He said Juan was a good person, but he just steals things, like an addict. The man that runs the Refugio, Jim, had tried to help him, and even gave him a job. But he was not interested in working and stole his phone. I washed up and came back to the Refugio to do my Bible study for the day and hoped to get lucky in finding my thief.
Jim came over and talked to me and I recounted to him the whole story. Jim is a strong Christian and it was clear that the matter of Juan pressed strongly on his heart. He could not understand why he continued to steal despite having help all around him. So I finished my Bible study and we went out on a mission. We walked to a store at which he sometimes hung out, but with no luck. We then went to the park where he frequently sleeps at. Juan is afraid of getting robbed himself and so spends his nights walking around and sleeps during the day. We prayed as we walked, asking the Lord for direction and leading in this situation. It was not about the phone anymore but about the man. Upon arriving at the park, we noticed a few men sleeping in the corner. We walked over, and sure enough, one of them was Juan.
We woke him up and immediately he felt his pockets and said ¨no lo tengo¨ or ¨I don't have it.¨ We asked him, "you don't have what?" He replied "the phone." Jim's phone rang and while he was talking I sat next to Juan and gently asked him why he stole my phone. He didn't answer. I asked him again and he stuck his hand in his pocket and handed me my phone back. I told him "gracias" but still I repeated my question. He had no answers for me, only teary eyes as he stared straight ahead, barely acknowledging me. In his response I could see the tension between the person he wanted to be and the person he was in this moment. I felt the Spirit strong with me and with Jim. We told him that he could not hide things from God, He can see everything. We asked him what he was not sharing with God and to repent. We asked him if we could pray for him. He said no. But we prayed anyway. We acknowledged the great plans God had for Juan, and asked God to show him the path. He still said nothing, tears in his eyes, staring straight ahead. We prayed for the other homeless sleeping there and then we walked back to the Refugio.
Who knows how God will use that situation. But all I know is that God has paths for me to follow day by day regardless of my personal plans. Even on the days that are supposed to be boring days of rest, God is always working and will use any situation, even theft, for His ultimate good, to share His love with the world.
*Juan is not the man`s real name. It occurred to me after originally publishing that using the man's real name in this article was insensitive, so I apoligize to those of you that saw it.
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