I have written several times about Elvis in my e-mails. Last week a chapter in the life of this young man was closed, and a new one is about to open. Angelica Lopez was cutting hair in her salon back in December 27th of last year. She said that the Lord spoke to her to close up her shop and go to downtown Juarez, which was about a 40 minute drive. She closed up and left. She knew that she was sent to witness to the masses that afternoon. She walked up to a large Catholic Cathedral. Sitting on the steps she spotted a young man who later she came to know as Elvis. Elvis had not eaten or drank anything in three days. She walked to a store and brought him food and drink. He handed him some tracts and eventually led Elvis to the Lord. Elvis had made a 23 day trip from Honduras to Juarez. His purpose was to reach the U.S. of A. and live the American dream. He and his family were suffering in their native country and so one day he packed up a couple of things, and without notice, left his mom and his one-year old daughter. He thought he could be of more help if he lived in America. During the 23 day journey he saw horrible things. He was assaulted by the Federal Police, robbed by them, and at one time was made to strip naked along with many others while their clothes were searched for valuables. Most of the trip was made by jumping on moving freight trains. The rest by walking. He saw hundreds trying to jump these freight trains. He saw pregnant women run to catch up with them. He saw father's, with kids on their shoulders, making the run. He saw a teenage boy fall under the wheels of the moving train. Both legs were instantly cut off. He heard the cries of the young boy. Elvis would go days without food. At times Christians would stand by as the train went by and they would throw food up to those who were making the "Great Escape". Elvis suffered through freezing temperatures to make it to his dreamland. Twenty-three days later he arrives at Juarez. Now he is just one step away from his destination. He went around asking for food. He offered to work for food. There were no takers. For three days!!! Finally he finds the Catholic Cathedral and sits there wondering what to do next. He was so close, yet so far from his dream. He looks up and his Heaven-sent Angel looks at him. God had made a connection. Angelica had arrived. After food, drink, and the experience of meeting Jesus, the Savior, Angelica asks him to come with her. For over 3 months she offered him room and board. She would pick him up and drive him to church. She would introduce him to all her family and friends. Including me. I had the pleasure of taking Elvis with me just about everywhere I went to reach out to the poor, to the hospitals, to preach, to witness...to minister. Elvis began to grow in Christ. He put down strong roots. Many times I told Elvis that he had already found his fortune. He no longer needed to risk going into the U.S. I suggested that, in time, he return to Honduras and re-unite with his family and his daughter. Even with the very high unemployment rate in Juarez, someone offered Elvis a job. Angelica's neighbor had seen Elvis and asked if he would help him in his engine shop. Elvis worked hard with the man for almost a month. Eventually he had enough money to make the 6-day bus ride back to Honduras. I spent the last two days before he left with him. I took him to Pastors that he had met while traveling with me and they prayed for him and counseled him. Elvis cried at every stop. Finally I drove him to the bus stop. It was a bitter-sweet moment. Angelica went with us. She cried too. Elvis had become like a blood brother to her. God brought him to her and to me for a purpose. He has a bright future ahead in the arms of the Lord. He has learned how to live by faith and how to trust in God. We left Elvis but I'm sure that we will hear about him again. When we least expected.
I have written several times about Elvis in my e-mails. Last week a chapter in the life of this young man was closed, and a new one is about to open. Angelica Lopez was cutting hair in her salon back in December 27th of last year. She said that the Lord spoke to her to close up her shop and go to downtown Juarez, which was about a 40 minute drive. She closed up and left. She knew that she was sent to witness to the masses that afternoon. She walked up to a large Catholic Cathedral. Sitting on the steps she spotted a young man who later she came to know as Elvis. Elvis had not eaten or drank anything in three days. She walked to a store and brought him food and drink. He handed him some tracts and eventually led Elvis to the Lord. Elvis had made a 23 day trip from Honduras to Juarez. His purpose was to reach the U.S. of A. and live the American dream. He and his family were suffering in their native country and so one day he packed up a couple of things, and without notice, left his mom and his one-year old daughter. He thought he could be of more help if he lived in America. During the 23 day journey he saw horrible things. He was assaulted by the Federal Police, robbed by them, and at one time was made to strip naked along with many others while their clothes were searched for valuables. Most of the trip was made by jumping on moving freight trains. The rest by walking. He saw hundreds trying to jump these freight trains. He saw pregnant women run to catch up with them. He saw father's, with kids on their shoulders, making the run. He saw a teenage boy fall under the wheels of the moving train. Both legs were instantly cut off. He heard the cries of the young boy. Elvis would go days without food. At times Christians would stand by as the train went by and they would throw food up to those who were making the "Great Escape". Elvis suffered through freezing temperatures to make it to his dreamland. Twenty-three days later he arrives at Juarez. Now he is just one step away from his destination. He went around asking for food. He offered to work for food. There were no takers. For three days!!! Finally he finds the Catholic Cathedral and sits there wondering what to do next. He was so close, yet so far from his dream. He looks up and his Heaven-sent Angel looks at him. God had made a connection. Angelica had arrived. After food, drink, and the experience of meeting Jesus, the Savior, Angelica asks him to come with her. For over 3 months she offered him room and board. She would pick him up and drive him to church. She would introduce him to all her family and friends. Including me. I had the pleasure of taking Elvis with me just about everywhere I went to reach out to the poor, to the hospitals, to preach, to witness...to minister. Elvis began to grow in Christ. He put down strong roots. Many times I told Elvis that he had already found his fortune. He no longer needed to risk going into the U.S. I suggested that, in time, he return to Honduras and re-unite with his family and his daughter. Even with the very high unemployment rate in Juarez, someone offered Elvis a job. Angelica's neighbor had seen Elvis and asked if he would help him in his engine shop. Elvis worked hard with the man for almost a month. Eventually he had enough money to make the 6-day bus ride back to Honduras. I spent the last two days before he left with him. I took him to Pastors that he had met while traveling with me and they prayed for him and counseled him. Elvis cried at every stop. Finally I drove him to the bus stop. It was a bitter-sweet moment. Angelica went with us. She cried too. Elvis had become like a blood brother to her. God brought him to her and to me for a purpose. He has a bright future ahead in the arms of the Lord. He has learned how to live by faith and how to trust in God. We left Elvis but I'm sure that we will hear about him again. When we least expected.
