AMAZING! Even in a place where there is no electricity, there is an ice-cream man.
On Sunday he pedaled his unique bike down the street. When it is hot, there is a need for something cool.
He had Mango ice cream.
He provided a nice sized scoop for .50 cents.
Billy especially enjoyed seeing him come each day.
Actually,everyone waited with excitement to see him pull up.
Everyday he had a different flavor, this was coconut day. Complete with real pieces of coconut throughout.
This happened to be strawberry day. For the price….everyone was able to be treated to ice cream.
I mentioned that Billy and I worked the reading glass table. One day this lady sat down to see about some glasses.
After trying several pairs, she finally found the ones that worked for her. A beautiful smile came across her face. She grabbed Billy and I and started praying the most beautiful prayer in Spanish. I do not know the language, but I do recognize a few words. She was saying gracious over and over. Thanking God and Christ, I did recognize those words. More importantly than me understanding the words, was the connection that was made with our hearts. As she prayed such a sweet sincere prayer, tears rolled from my eyes. I was so moved by her sweet spirit.
After she finished she went to wait for her turn to see the doctor. In triage I saw the nurse begin to cry. The interpreter who was helping went to speak to the ice cream man.
I saw both of them begin to cry. Billy and I watched, still not knowing what was going on. It was later that we learned that they were a married couple. They had a 16 year old son who was killed just 4 months ago in an accident. The father, the ice cream man, has turned away from God…in anger and hurt. Our hearts broke for this family.
Interesting how you really never know what someone else is going through. Sometimes wounds are physical and we can see them, sometimes wounds are Spiritual and they can go unnoticed until you get to know the person.
The next morning, the ice cream man came again…we bought our ice cream as usual…and we all hugged him. We asked if we could pray for him. He said yes.
Billy prayed, the interpreter was there, we were all around him showing him that we loved him.
He cried, we cried…..it was sweet.
He came back the next day…and everyday after that… until we left. We also told him when the group would return and that everyone would be ready for ice cream again.
He smiled.
He brings great joy to people…he’s the ice cream man! I pray joy comes back to him….that his heart will be healed. That can happen, if he let’s it…because God…is God!
Scriptures tell us that we will have trials and tribulations in this world. I do not understand why certain things happen. God’s plans are higher than our plans…I suppose if God told us why, we still wouldn’t understand it. It is much deeper I think than we can even comprehend. Our family has suffered through accidental deaths, it is a terrible experience. When I was growing up we would talk about those things, my mother would say, it will either make you bitter…or better. If we trust God through those hard times, we will grow close to Him, and He will walk with us through the hurt. Making us able to help someone else one day who is experiencing something similar. Just because we love God…it doesn’t make us immune to hurt and loss.
We continue to remember him, his wife and the other children in their family, in our prayers.
I ask that you will too.
I've Gone Country 