I (Beki) was able to take a long delayed trip to Spain with some friends from church. While there, they met and spoke with an Irish man who had been homeless for four months. Johnny is running away from some trouble back in Ireland, and found trouble again in Spain. He does not have a passport or phone, and is sick - coughing up black, which could be a few things, but none of them are good. I learned a lot watching Trish, our pastor’s wife, lovingly and firmly encourage Johnny to swallow his pride, contact family, and get to the doctor before winter comes. We spent a long breakfast with him, and hoped his sister would text back on my phone. That didn’t happen and we suspect he has burned some bridges with his family along the way.
We made a phone call to a local pastor (originally from New York) who agreed to be a contact for him and us, and Johnny was happy to speak with him on the phone and said he’d be at church the next morning. The next morning, we attended church but Johnny was a no show; however, we realized we had directed him to the wrong church! We looked for him at his usual spot a couple times during our last day in Spain but he was not there, and left word about the correct location of the church at a bodega where the owner looks out for him. We are hopeful that he is in the hospital getting the care he needs.
I don’t know if Johnny will find his way home to Ireland to face up to his mistakes, or if he will live his days out in Spain - or just how many days he has, but would you pray with me that he can find grace and peace through Jesus soon? He is a man who is running from mistakes because he doesn’t know what to do about them, and it is literally threatening his life and soon, his eternity. My prayer for him is that he can know forgiveness and live out the rest of his days honestly and in warmth and shelter with a loving church family for support. He cannot see it right now, but I can! The church in Torrevieja stands ready to help, and our church is ready to help if he wants to come back to Ireland. Will you pray for Johnny with me?
