1999 Pablo Yoder
Wednesday, February 1, 2006 at 05:50PM Pablo is an incredible man but I know so little of his life. His family is happy. They are strong. They sing together and worship together – every day. They do not have a lot but they do not need more than they have. They ask for little but what they ask of their Father, they get. They have endured hardship in the rain forests of Nicaragua where the robbers and evil can hide more easily. Their ministry still reaches the people who live in those areas even though it makes no sense why anyone stays.
They do not own a gun or bat. They do not stand against the robbers but share the Gospel with them. Pablo writes. His family knows more about the Bible than most who are old. They dress differently than I and perhaps a bit legalistically, even in my opinion. However, they are modest, fair and clearly obey the Word. The extreme has worked for them in their Mennonite world.
However, their extreme has never caused them to turn away from helping or sharing with another. How do I know? I know because I have seen and heard. I know because I have been the recipient of their ministry and friendship. One might challenge their personal call and style but one cannot challenge their devotion to God and to the task of bringing Him to people.
I was not dressed correctly to worship with them. I did not know until a younger less experienced Mennonite told me it was immodest to show my legs. For me it was simply hot in Nicaragua as we stayed in the hostel together. I did not mean to offend them and Pablo and his family knew it. I had compromised, many a Mennonite would say, because I did not understand the strict adherence to rules meant to guard holiness. Pablo merely treated me as a friend. For one week, we shared our calls, families and experiences. They treated me as one and took meals with me. I was not just welcome but invited to share in family worship twice a day.
This family is a family. They are great people in their humility but that is not what is greatest. Greatest is that Pablo did not reject me nor did he try to make me a Mennonite. He recognized my faith as the same as his faith and then only shared what God had told him. His objective was to see me encounter God fully. He only tried to get me to God. His family followed and treated me the same. Even when the young Mennonite missionary questioned Pablo on his approach and my veracity as a believer – Pablo defended my faith in God.
Only one week – what a great impression it has made. It was simply a family following God. The world is broad and God’s. It is full of differences that many might well argue are not best. However, God unites people in Faith not practice. Pablo understood that practice – even for him – came post-Faith. Would it be that all leaders could understand this simple fact.
Reader Comments (1)
Interesting that you visited Pablo. I have not seen him in many years. Knowing their family WAS an inspiration!
Phillip Cohen
co-Author of Angls Over Waslala