Saturdays at Casa Shalom look a bit different, kids aren’t running around trying to get ready for school. It’s a free for all, there’s usually more kids on the court and this particular Saturday was no different.
I went to the court and sat on the sidelines as everyone played soccer. I decided to take my prayer journal so I could write down my prayer as I observed my surroundings. Giovani came over and asked what I had. I explained that it was a book with prayers in it. I went through all the pages explaining this is my friend, these are my friends who are married, this is my brother, this is my church, and Casa Shalom.
“I’m praying for Casa Shalom, would you like to be on a page, Giovani?”
“Si”
“What do you need prayer for?”
“Pelota”
“Pelota? Ball?”
“Si”
All of this was happening in what ever broken Spanish I could muster up from my brain. I knew pelota meant ball but I didn’t understand why he wanted prayer for it. So, as I started my prayer I knew I didn’t know what he meant by it, but God did. He’s a great translator. He knows all languages and isn’t confused in the slightest when someone requests something that might seem strange to us.
As I finish praying for him he starts to walk away, but turns back around and asks if he can pray for me.
“¿Puedo orar por ti?”
“¡Si!”
He sits back down next to me, his eyes closed, mouth moving slightly with faint words coming out. After a few seconds he looks up and finishes with “Amen.” I mean, how adorable is that? Prayer is impactful. When you share your prayers with other people, you don’t know how it will impact them. I never expected Giovani to pray for me. He doesn’t know what I prayed, I don’t know what he prayed, but I know the fact that he sat down and took time out of his soccer game to pray for me made my heart melt.
When is the last time you took time to ask someone if you could pray for them, or encourage them? You never know if you’ll end up being blessed in the process.
