This summer, Manuel came to Casa de Dios Puerta del Cielo (House of God, Gate of Heaven Church) for a simple reason: to collect trash he could sell. He was simply trying to survive and provide for his wife and young family.
Our team noticed Manuel immediately. He was missing one hand, yet with his remaining hand, he was gathering trash and loading it onto his old bicycle. The team invited him inside and began to listen to his story.
Manuel explained that a terrible work accident had cost him his left hand and consequently his job.
Desperately trying to survive can lead to desperation of another kind—
poverty, hopelessness, and addiction.
This is where Manuel was, but NOT where his story ends. Our team saw him and his despair. They looked past the trash, and he felt seen for the first time in years. He was seen by the doctor and given medication to help ease his suffering. Then he was asked a question
“Would you like to talk about God?” Manuel said yes! YES to talking, YES to listening, YES to Jesus!
“To seek and to save that which was lost.” That day, Manuel came looking for trash that had been thrown away, but God was looking for Manuel.
He arrived carrying the burdens of a broken body, a lost job, and a struggling family. But he left carrying something far greater: the hope of salvation and the promise of a new life in Christ.
Manuel is One More for Christ!
