Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
We’ve been busy this year with visitors. Actually visiting missionaries. Most people that stay with us have been friends with us for decades. We had many groups of visitors back to back this year (as well as unwanted visitors (iguanas) in the ceiling). So we had a very busy couple of months with very little sleep (iguanas are noisy, destructive and filthy).
So far, since the failed coup d’etat in 2018 and the covid scare, all of our visitors have been angels. Literally. We have plenty of room. They are all perfectly welcome to stay here their whole lives. They have all been God sends not only to us, but to the children we serve. We have one that is brand new, first timer and another 2 timer. The rest I’ve known for 20 or 30 years. I love serving angels and entertaining them (I love to laugh, and we have had some good ones!) Serving angels is like serving the Lord God almighty Himself. Tired or not, we eagerly await a fresh batch of 12 angels whom we have never met. I only met the leader and his admin guy once who were angels enough for all the other 12 kids coming this month.
Matt 10:42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.
We recently served a group of 190 pastors for three days in a pastor’s conference. 189 were angels, and only one stinky old iguana (a human visitor who did not fall into the angel category.) NOTE! IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT BEING AN IGUANA, YOU AREN’T ONE. IGUANAS NEVER FOR A MOMENT WORRY ABOUT IF THEY ARE A PEST. If you’ve ever worked conferences, .5% is a fantastically low percentage for ‘destructive, noisy iguanas’. This ‘disruptive noise maker’ was so severe with the hotel manager, waitresses and cooks, that the 189 ‘angels’ saw and took action, loving and encouraging the workers in an amazing way. In fact it worked out great. When we defended the staff of the conference center from this ‘iguana in person’ (pastor is too loose of a term) the workers saw Jesus’ love and justice. Many asked us how to get saved, or at least wanted to go to church with us. Lives were changed by what Satan wanted to use for evil.
Romans 8: 28 We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose
As I pointed out, not all visitors are angels. We had one come down a while ago from a calvary chapel in nj who said his ‘gifting’ was to point out problems. He wasn’t an angel by any means. He was a noisy and stinky iguana in human form. Out of over 300 teams and visitors we’ve had mostly angels and about 10 iguanas. But those 30 iguanas scarred me for life. For a while I resisted having teams and visitors, just because of that 1%. God has healed me though, we love teams and visitors now.
Iguanas, unknowingly, are agents of the enemy to kill and demoralize mission trips and missionaries. I still say hi to my personal Iguanas that have come down to Nicaragua and refused to leave. Some stayed down here permanently (20 years or more, without even bothering to learn the language!) after I kicked them out of the ministry. I just had to move them out of the ministry because they were detrimental to what the Lord was doing. Now they can snarl, make noise, stink and try to destroy as much as they want, but from another part of Managua. I still love them and pray for them. I reach out to them as much as I can stand, about once a year, but I can’t do it too much. They damage my soul, and take bites out of my joy. They’re probably saved, and I wish them the best, but somewhere else please.
How do you know if you’re going to be a human version of an iguana or an angel when you go on a mission trip? Well, although I am kind of savvy, I have been sooooo wrong so many times. The best tip, is to be aware. Read this.
One lady came down with a team of 20 year olds out of San Francisco. I saw her and thought, oh oh, bitter old lady!! Then I realized that she was scared more than bitter. Probably an abused wife I felt. That worried me even more. Total Iguana material. Scared people are time suckers, and are like magnets to sickness, criminals, accidents and crazy people just attacking them out of the blue. Trouble smells them and stalks them.
Instead of writing her off, with the insistence of the Lord, I prayed extra hard for her. As a missionary you need to be praying hard for all your visitors who took valuable time off from work and spent thousands of dollars to be there. But she was special. I prayed all night for her. The Lord showed me to baby her. Remember I am responsible for everyone on the team. We have had teams here of up to 100 souls for two weeks! It’s extremely difficult to have that ‘one project’. I worked with her and protected her. She blossomed (and people that know me know that little old ladies weren’t my forte at that time, but now they are 🙂 She went on many mission trips afterwards, was a great warrior for the Lord and my beautiful friend for years. Yes Cheryl, talking to you!!!!! whoop!!
Here’s how I can usually tell if someone’s inclined to be an iguana or an angel. Again, I am not an expert, and definitely not talking about their spiritual condition. I can tell just if they are going to represent the Lord, and help the missionary well or not.
Angels are grace dispensers, Iguanas are sin exterminators.
Angels are humble, Iguanas think they are perfect.
Angels keep most of their opinions to themselves until they know the lay of the land, Iguanas spit their unsolicited advice to everyone and everyone from the first day, and forever, without having a clue.
Angels only encourage, Iguanas only gripe.
Angels are teachable and great listeners, Iguanas ain’t.
Angels don’t require a lot of attention. Most angels are invisible, you have to look for them. Iguanas require to be taken care of, catered to, and to be the center of attention.
Angels give, Iguanas not only don’t give, but take.
Angels make others feel comfortable, Iguanas are creepy or like fingernails on a chalk board.
Angels sneak away to pray and read the Word. Iguanas want to be seen, or at least sure to tell you about it.
Angels prefer one another. Share food. Share everything. Iguanas are hoarders.
Angels carry their load, financially if they can. I will never ask for money. If they can’t help financially that’s ok, I’ve been there too. I don’t mind, I always love having angels around. And God always reimburses us later on down the road either directly or indirectly. Iguanas are expensive, and greedy. Always leave bad-mouthing.
Angels worry about being Iguanas. Iguanas don’t, they think that they are angels.
Angels let you know exactly how long they plan to stay, up front. No surprises. ‘Cuentas claras amistades largas’ as we say. I usually beg angels to stay longer, even if they don’t help financially. I am here to save souls, not money. If they say they’re going to stay as long as the Lord wants them to, they’re probably ‘cling-ons’, or better put, Iguanas. Many come down to hide from financial or personal problems. Some come down looking for a mate, or just a buddy to shoot the breeze with all night long. Others come down because they want a free old folks home. No thank you to all of that. They stay indefinitely, cause problems and stinketh. They become a burden to everyone and I always end up having the unpleasant task of asking them to leave. It’s never pretty.
I prefer begging people to stay than to leave. Be an Angel, not an Iguana.