It can be tempting to view ourselves as victims when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances. Instead, we need to see that God is actually pursuing us. This is a true story of a lady who found herself captured, and her intimate experience of Christ’s love.
It is not uncommon for a friend to ask for prayer for another friend or acquaintance. It is not even uncommon to get updates about the particular situation that you were praying for. I, however, have the uncommon opportunity to share with you this story of a friend of a friend.
Our group of ladies from church were praying for weeks for a friend who had suddenly found herself in a detention center (aka prison). When asking for an update, it was not the story I was expecting, but one I knew I had to share. She graciously agreed to let me share this part of her journey. Please know, this is not about politics, or what views you may hold about immigration. This is a story about the goodness of God and the love of His son, Jesus.
Captured: Being Pursued
Early in May of 2017, Cindy, her husband, and their 2 daughters were traveling from Raleigh to Charlotte to report into the immigration office per the advice given to them by their immigration lawyer. They had applied for a visa in 2014, but were still waiting for approval. They were told to continue reporting in every 6 months until it was approved, and they would be in the clear. This time though, they knew things may be different. Never before did they fear deportation. Neither of them held a criminal record and they were doing all that they had been told to do. Laws were changing, however, and they knew in their gut they would need to be prepared for things to not go as smoothly as before.
When it was their turn to report in, they took her aside, separating her from her family. The officers began asking questions like, “Are you pregnant?” and, “How is your health?” Never before were these kind of question being asked. Then the bombshell. She would need to go back to Honduras to wait for the visa. Effective: Immediately.
Instantly, the officers were placing her in handcuffs, not allowing her to hug her two daughters, or kiss her husband. They were saying their goodbyes through glass, her daughters seeing her like a criminal. Bravely, she told her husband that everything was going to be ok, and he needed to call their friends and their church. While Cindy was coming to grasp the reality of her situation, her husband was told he could return home with his daughters, but would need to essentially deport himself back to Honduras.
Captured: Unexpected Grace
From Charlotte, they were transferring her to a jail in South Carolina, complete with an orange jumpsuit. Cindy was only in this location for a day, but with no windows, and no sleep, she has no recollection of the time spent there. She only knew the despair she was feeling and that she could not survive this on her own. She prayed, “God I can’t do this. You have to take care of this and my family.” Then, in the midst of her jail cell, peace that simply does not make sense, washed over her. In that moment she knew that whatever was going to happen, it was going to be ok.
During that day in the jail, she met three other ladies who were also detained for immigration. They, however, had been there for a few weeks. One of the ladies reminded her, “You know that our citizenship is not here. It is in heaven.” Cindy and these three ladies were continuing to connect their lives together during a seven hour drive to Atlanta, the location of the detainment center. Upon their arrival, other ladies were kind and helping them to figure out their new situation.
Quickly, they were connecting with a lady who had been leading bible studies and praying for all the detainees. The women were hungry to learn. Daily, they were studying the Word, wanting to read and learn all that they could. Not all of the ladies participating were believers. Some had never read the bible before. Through contacts from Cindy’s church, bibles were sent for the ladies to each have their own. Other ladies had never experienced baptism. One day, one of the ladies said, “We have water here, why couldn’t I be baptized?” So the ladies were gathering buckets meant for storage, took them down to the showers, and began baptizing.
Captured: THE Church
She was constantly receiving letters and cards offering prayers and words of encouragement. A couple of ladies from her church drove 7 hours to visit her for just a handful of minutes. Numerous letters were being sent to the senator on her behalf. At one point other detainees were wondering if she was famous. No, she explained, just loved and cared for.
“It isn’t because I am this amazing person, it is because of Jesus and the love of God.”
They are the only latino couple in an all white church, and they often found themselves questioning whether they were in the right church. Before, they felt love and support; but through this experience, God was confirming to them that truly did have love and support. Now, they know they are in the right place. Their church became THE church, not just A church.
Captured: A Rescued Relationship
Cindy acknowledges that before her detainment, she was living the life of a lukewarm christian. She prayed so often while she was in that place, and she saw that this was the relationship she was needing to have with God. She is grateful for the opportunity to have an impact on the lives of the other ladies she met there, but she is most thankful that this experience was instrumental in saving her marriage.
One night, weeks before her detainment, she was out with ladies from church at one of their homes. When she arrived home, he accused her of cheating on him. To put it very simply, it got ugly. No longer did she want to live that way. She was praying for God to mold her and change her. She was praying for their marriage to change. Before, he didn’t appreciate all that she did for their family. Now, he felt broken and desperate for their family to be whole again.
Captured: Christ’s Love
All in all, Cindy was in the detention center for 22 days. In those 22 days, her love for her husband and his love for her became secure. They are no longer living separate lives, but instead have a bond holding them together. In those 22 days, she learned what it meant to truly pray. She was no longer a cold Christian. In those 22 days, lives were going through a transformation that will go and transform their own circles, continuing to ripple. In those 22 days, a church in North Carolina put into practice the words of Christ.
Then the King will say… ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was… in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we… see you… in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these… you did it to me.’
Matthew 25:34-40, ESV
Without bond or the requirement of wearing an ankle bracelet, she was free to return home. Home, where family was. Daily she was praying it would be the day she would be able to go home to her family. She knew she had a purpose there, but she was still longing to be home with her husband and daughters. The day they said she was going to be able to go home, she fell to her knees and gave praise to God.
Captured: Freedom
Because she was allowing the Lord to pursue her in the midst of suffering, she now lives a life knowing how much the Creator loves her. She always knew that God was with her, providing and protecting her, but the way He was showing her love, and all that she was learning…
“I would go through all this again. It is all in His hands.”
She admits she was living a prideful life, but is now living with humility. The Lord put her through fire to create a masterpiece. She is now a better wife, mom, sister. Instead of thinking how she can change her husband, she prays what she can do to make their relationship better.
Arriving home, her home was full of friends and family. A rainbow filled the sky. Her nephew pulling her over to see it says, “Look Cindy, God says hi to you!”
He loves us fiercely, therefore, He pursues us fiercely!
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He loves us fiercely, therefore, He pursues us fiercely!
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Wow! What a beautiful story of God’s pursuit of us and how He uses ALL situations to bring Him glory! I hope I would have the same courage in such a difficult and scary situation.
I have thought the same thing!
God purposely allows suffering in our lives to shape us and give us way beyond all that we could ask or think. That’s why we can count it joy to encounter trials, like the book of James says.
Yes, and that we should be thankful in all situations. So difficult to live out, but it is truly inspiring to see it when we do.
What a beautiful testimony of God’s love and grace! Thank you for sharing this. God can use us in whatever situation we find ourselves in.
Nothing goes to waste!
What a truly amazing story! It is overwhelming to see how God uses circumstances for His glory and gain. Thank you for sharing Cindy’s story!
What a wonderful story of God’s love for us. That must have been terrifying to live through, but what a beautiful outcome.
It’s interesting how something can be so awful, and so wonderful, all at the same time.
This is quite a story. While it is inspiring, it also calls into question our attitudes and governing bodies attitudes towards immigration.
Indeed, it does!
Thank you for sharing this testimony! What a heartbreaking story, but I love to hear how God worked through it all.
I was honored to share her story! She is so humble, and I admire her greatly!
This is beautiful! “Their church became THE church, not just A church” – Amen <3
It is beautiful when the church loves!
Thank you for sharing this story. Timely on many levels. The remark on pride and humility really spoke to me this morning, and I am thankful for it!
It blesses me to know that Cindy’s story spoke to you. It definitely had a tremendous impact on me!
I how I love this! I’m amazed that God chases us the way He does, but also allows us to watch (with peace) how He’s reorganizing, re-prioritizing, and rededicating our lives and families.
What a beautiful story. God is Amazing. His love is everlasting!!
You are right, it is a beautiful story of God’s amazing love!!
Wow! I’m amazed at how God connects his Sons and Daughters together at his Pronounced timing. How do you keep this comment brief when God places these two God loving women in your life during the same season. You except the overwhelming graceful over pour of his love. You can’t express it in one or one million spoken comments . You just receive it and bass in his glorious love for us. Knowing Rachel and Cindy has taught me that Gods love is FREE, beyond the walls.