Julio Visits One Winter Day

It is downright chilly again today. The streets are wet from heavy mist. Nothing is drying on the clothes lines. We have layers on, long sleeves with a sweatshirt; can’t seem to get warm. Washing the breakfast dishes is a pleasure, since we have hot water and my hands are so cold! The temperature in the apartment is just 68 deg F, but the humidity in the air makes it feel so much colder. We would describe it as being raw and damp in the US.

We are expecting a friend to come over. He has a 35 minute ride by bus to get here. He serves the Lord with gladness; always smiling, always seeking opportunities to share the gospel. He is a talented man and uses his talent for the Lord. What is his talent you wonder? He is a mime! Children and adults gravitate to him. He says nothing to get their attention. He just begins to mime, or carry on an imaginary conversation with a puppet and soon people are attracted to him and stop and watch and listen. From that point, he acknowledges the crowd that appears out of nowhere, and begins to interact with them. When I asked him how he secures his props, he said he uses what is given him, but he only needs people and God always provides someone to listen to him.

Julio arrives and it’s no longer cold in our apartment. You can imagine the work it takes to speak with him totally in Spanish. We have an extensive conversation, all three of us thinking of simpler words to use to convey our thoughts. I say it’s no longer cold, because we are working so diligently to communicate, but it is also because he brings with him some natural warmth and love. It’s the love of Christ we share. Although Spanish and English can be confusing to Julio and us, the universal language of love is very clear. We spend the next hour learning more about Julio and he about us!

We have a Bugs Bunny puppet to give him (gently used, from America!) and he is thrilled. He immediately puts it on his hand and chats with Bugs, then he encourages the bunny to have a sip of juice from the glass that I had poured for Julio. We giggled! It’s just that very thing that causes people everywhere to stop and listen to him. He shared that he was in Plaza de Armes, in the city of Lima, waiting for a friend one day, and pulled a puppet out of his briefcase and began a conversation. Soon people all around him were watching him. He then began to share the gospel with the puppet and of course those who had gathered heard the good news as well.

We also had a bag of individually wrapped mints. It was a huge bag. The contents said 550 pieces! We offered it to Julio with the caution that he should not eat them all at one sitting! Laughing out loud, he then inhaled and showed us his enlarged stomach and exhaled the mint aroma. If he could keep us smiling, imagine those on the street corner he entertains. He will use the mints as ‘gifts’ and will pass them out to those who stop by to listen to what he has to say.

Julio has a huge heart for Jesus and shares whatever he has with total strangers. His purpose in life is to win others to the Lord. He calls himself an evangelist, and that he is! He uses his talents and his resources to reach others.

His visit came to a close all too quickly, but not before we prayed together. It was such a nice way to spend a Saturday morning. We were giving him so little, on behalf of one of the American TEAMS, and yet we were warmed by his testimony, his presence, and his love for our Lord Jesus Christ.