So, there have been very few times in my life when I knew 100% without a doubt that God was calling me to do something. Although it can be scary, it is an awesome feeling when we are faced with a big situation and we absolutely know how God wants us to respond. This is what happened to me a few weeks ago when I met Alejandro.
Several months ago a very sweet youth named Toni began attending music classes and then services at our church. He is a super sweet young man and has been passionate about bringing his friends to church. Around a month ago, it was a typical Saturday service (I am not sure the word "typical" can be used in our lives, but I'll try) and Toni showed up with two new friends, one of whom was Alejandro. The moment I met Alejandro the nurse inside of me knew that he was sick. His clubbed fingers, englarged chest, and cyanotic lips told me that he probably had a heart condition. I spent only a couple of minutes that day talking with Alejandro, but afterwards I could not stop thinking about him. I meet new people, and new youth, on a fairly regular basis, and although all are special, Alejandro was different and would not leave my mind. Bobby is fairly close with Toni, the young man who brought Alejandro to church, so I asked Bobby if he could please talk to Toni and find out more about Alejandro, specifically if he was sick.
Several days later Bobby came to me and told me that he had spoken with Toni and that Toni confirmed that, yes, Alejandro is sick and does have a heart condition. Up to that point I felt stronger and stronger that Bobby and I were to somehow be involved in Alejandro's life. I didn't know how, or why, all I knew is that I was supposed to reach out to him. When Bobby told me that Alejandro was sick, and also that he wasn't a Christian, I burst into tears, not from sadness but rather from an overwhelming feeling of urgency from God to be obedient to Him and get involved now. Bobby immediately made some phone calls and a meeting was scheduled for that afternoon to talk with Alejandro and his parents.
When we went that Tuesday afternoon to Alejandro's house to talk with him and his family, we had no plan at all. In fact, it all seemed rather strange as we didn't know how we were supposed to be involved in Alejandro's life, we just felt God's strong call to go. When we showed up at his home, we had the opportunity to meet his wonderful parents and his sweet grandmother. We explained to them how we met Alejandro at our youth service and that we weren't sure what we were supposed to do, but we felt a strong calling from God that we were supposed to be involved in his life. For those of you who are parents, imagine how weird it would be if complete strangers just showed up at your house one afternoon and said that they felt a call from God to be involved in your child's life. How would you respond? You would probably kick them out or call the police I imagine. We weren't sure how his parents would respond to us, but their reaction couldn't have been better. They immediately embraced us and accepted us, and whatever God was calling us to do. Wow.
We went on to talk to them about Alejandro's health and taking him to see a doctor. We told them that we weren't making any promises, we were just going to be faithful to God's leading. All that they could tell us is that he had a congenital heart condition, and that he hadn't received treatment since he was a small child, he is now 16. I told them that I would look into some pediatric cardiologists (if such a thing could be found here in ES) and get back with them. Just before leaving their home, we all prayed together. During the prayer, Alejandro's mom was standing beside me and I had put my arm around her. While we were praying, Alejandro reached his thin arm around his mom and then put his hand on top of mine and began tapping it gently. It was, in all of my time here, one of the smallest and sweetest moments that I have experienced. I immediately realized in that moment how much I loved this sweet young man, and I had only known him just a short while.
After leaving his home that day, I immediately went to work looking for a pediatric cardiologist and was fortunate to find one, Dr. Patricio Rodriguez. Fortunately, here in ES one can call a cardiologist's office and make an appointment without needing a referral, and without having to wait several months. I made an appointment for the following week and then informed Alejandro and his parents.
The following Friday, April 15th, Bobby and I picked up Alejandro and his parents and we all went to San Salvador to his cardiologist's appointment. Dr. Rodriguez turned out to be a wonderful doctor, and was actually the cardiologist who attended to Alejandro when he was just 6 weeks old (God wink!!), and still had his medical records from all those years ago (a sure miracle for here in ES!). The doctor performed an EKG, and then ordered an Echocardiogram, labs, and chest Xray. He also sat me down and explained to me that Alejandro had been diagnosed as a baby with Triscupid Atresia, which means that he was born without the Tricuspid valve in his heart and probably did not have his right ventricle. He said that it is a true miracle that he is still alive. He also went on to explain that his condition is not an easy fix. Medical mission teams come to ES frequently from the States to perform heart surgeries on kids here, but no one will want to touch Alejandro as his condition is not a one-time surgery thing. He will require multiple surgeries. Multiples surgeries that cannot be performed in ES. His only hope for survival is to go to the States to have surgery. That's where I come in.
After hearing all this I managed to keep a smile and my composure until we got home. After arriving home is when the reality, and grandiosity, of everything hit me...as well as the doubts. How would we pay for all these tests? The doctor mentioned that they may need to do a cardiac cath in addition to the echo, how much would that cost? We had money set aside from a generous donation from someone, but what if it wasn't enough? How would I go about finding a cardiologist in the States to donate his services? A hospital? A host family? A host family that speaks spanish? How do you go about getting a medical visa for someone? Would his mom be able to go with him? Would I travel with them? How would I pay for flights and visas? Would he need to make multiple trips to the States? And the list went on and on. Most of all, what if I failed? What if I can't do this? What if he dies....? Admittedly, the mountain in front of me seemed big, and I felt too small and inadequate. It is amazing after seeing God move in so many ways in my life how I can still allow the enemy to put so many lies into my head.
After a good cry, spending time in prayer and the Word, and a phone call from a friend, I was able to capture the lies and thoughts that the enemy wanted me to believe, and find peace again. I realize that it is not my job to fight this battle, but rather God's, I need only to be still (Exodus 14:14). I have also come to realize that the outcome is up to Him to decide, not me, I am only called to be faithful and obedient. Maybe God will open up doors and provide miracles so that Alejandro can travel to the States and have surgery, maybe not. Perhaps the role that I am to play in Alejandro's life isn't to help fix his physical heart, but rather to bring hope to his spiritual heart.
In the past 2 weeks we have taken Alejandro in for his echo, labs and chest xray and we are now waiting on his cardiologist to get back with us. What is around the corner? I don't know. What I do know is that Alejandro has faithfully attended church every Saturday since that first day I met him and he was also able to go on the boy's bike trip with the help of a friend in a pickup. I do know that we now have a great relationship with his family. I know that out of nowhere he began calling me "Tia" ("Aunt" in spanish) and sends me little text messages all the time, "Tia, call me I need help with my homework." "Tia, call my friend, she needs help with her homework." "Tia, I am having a bad week." "Good night, Tia."
Would I be heartbroken if Alejandro doesn't receive surgery and passes away? Of course. But, through this journey to repair his heart, I pray that it would be repaired in the greatest way and that is that he would accept Christ as his savior. I do hope to challenge him to a game of basketball someday, or to take off running as fast as we can (like my kids and I just did a couple of weeks ago) just for fun. Whether these wishes happen here, or on the other side (or both!), I am thanful for this awesome priveledge of being involved in Alejandro's life. I am thankful for a God who already has the details worked out and for knowing what is best for me, even when I don't or it doesn't make sense to me. I am thankful for the peace that surpasses all understanding.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phillippians 4:6-7.
Blessings,
Britney
