17 years had passed since Frances and I had ministered in
Lucy Soza’s little church in a poverty neighborhood in Santa Fe. I had to stop to inquire for directions. My GPS took me to the general area, but now
the streets were mostly unpaved and unnamed.
My GPS was as lost as I was. I
found a police station and stopped to inquire where the church was located. Two
policemen came out to my car to help me. I told them where I was going and they told me
where the church was, but said something like this, “Whatever you do… don’t go
into that area. It is extremely
dangerous. Armed policemen don’t even go
in there.” I told them I was scheduled
to minister later that night in the church there. “Well, you are on your own.” (They didn’t know about Gabriel, my guardian
angel.)
I had Lucy hold Felipe’s suitcase. (Lucy in the blue.) That was the only participation she had in the whole service. The youth led the worship, did the announcements, took the offering and presented the preacher. She just sat and watched. I am confident many of those young guys could have done the preaching, too.
This mob of kids would be in the grasp of the enemy of their
soul, were it not for Lucy.
As I drove away around midnight I watched Lucy along with a
lady friend walk down the muddy street out of the lighted area and into the
darkness. In my heart I said, “There
goes one of God’s dare-devils.”
And Gabriel turned and said to the devil,
“Don’t you dare even think of
touching her!”
Ralph
