Serving the Feet of Christ

Luke 7:37-50

"Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

On December 13th I received news that a woman I had visited a few times in Mexico had passed away. I was eating dinner with my family (since I had flown home for break), got the text, and began to flood with tears. Emotions overwhelmed me and the tears wouldn't stop. I finished dinner, went in my room, and let myself feel anything and everything. I was so confused. I was ecstatic with joy that she was no longer in pain. I was deeply mournful knowing her daughter, Goya, would now be living in her home alone. I was so angry I couldn't be there to pray with Goya. I was annoyed I was so emotional. I kept thinking, "Why are you crying so much, Kellie, you only spent a few days with her?" Immediately, though, I had to put myself back in that home with Doña and Goya and recall what I encountered. Something so extraordinary. Something powerful. Truly the presence of the Kingdom of Heaven in our midst.

Meeting Doña and Goya

It was our last three days in Mexico. A group of girls, including myself, had been making home visits to the locals in the area. At this point I had already been welcomed into homes, been asked to be prayed over, and shared Scripture. The last home visit we made was the home of Doña Marciana and Goya. Doña was an elderly woman who had been wailing in pain for 3 months not able to take any food, experiencing pain all throughout her body, especially her stomach and legs. I had no idea that our home visit would be to serve someone in their moments of dying that day. Goya, her daughter, was her only caretaker and was living alone. Her husband had passed and family rarely visited to help care for her mother. When Goya opened her front door, led us a few steps into her kitchen which connected into their bedroom, I immediately heard the moaning of pain coming from one of the beds. I looked and there I saw Doña, swaddled in blankets, crying for her pain to end. Tears overwhelmed me instantly. Crossing the threshold from the kitchen to their bedroom was an unexplainable experience. The moment I walked into that bedroom there was no doubt within me that God was present holding Doña. I felt saints and angels covering every corner of that house, praying for her.

(Doña Marciana)

Both of my teammates were there. One of them immediately climbed into the bed with Doña, without hesitation, fear, or second thought. Meanwhile, my other teammate led us in the Rosary in Spanish. She would help translate for us what Doña needed and what her daughter, Goya, was saying about her mother's life. Goya explained to us that Doña needed her legs and thighs to be massaged periodically because of her bed sores and how she has been bedridden for months without much movement. We would massage her and listen to anything that Goya asked of us. We truly just wanted to lighten Goya's load and to be the Lord's servant.

"These Are the Lord's Feet"

As I was watching my teammates jumping in heart-first, I was awkwardly sitting on the end of the bed waiting to help in any way I could. Goya then looked at me and another missionary and asked us to change her socks. Holding one sock, I felt nervous and scared to lift up all the blankets and hold up her leg. I didn't want to hurt her and cause her more pain. So, as Goya was explaining in Spanish what to do, inch by inch I took one sock off and slowly put on the other. Scared to hurt her I whispered to myself, "These are the Lord's feet." In the moment I felt defeated and pretty embarrassed it was taking me so long to put on a dang sock.

"How are you going to be a missionary Kellie if you can't even change her sock? You say you have a desire to minister to the dying, how do you think you'll do that?" I heard the mockery of the devil try to discourage me, but I ignored it and continued to listen to Goya as she asked us to massage her legs. As I look back, the Blessed Mother was speaking through Goya, drowning out the lies of the devil and helping me to not only serve Doña, but Christ in her. I looked up for a moment as I was at her feet and savored the moment as I saw Goya and the missionaries praying and my teammate cuddled in the bed with Doña. Holding her feet, it dawned on me that not only am I serving Christ when I am serving others, but that the Lord desires to tend to us and heal us slowly...sometimes as slowly as putting on a sock.

(Running through these streets of Mexico)

The last day with Doña and Goya was hard. We spent hours with them as we prayed healing, rest, and peace over Doña. Goya asked if we had any Holy Oil with us. Although we forgot, I ran across the town to get it from the Mission House. On my way back, running through the streets of Mexico with Holy Oil in my hand, I couldn't help but feel like the Lord is constantly running to us with healing, promises, forgiveness, joy...His merciful Love. The moment I prayed blessing over Doña and made a sign of the Cross on Doña's forehead with oil, she fell asleep. The rest of our time with Goya I shared with her how I felt Heaven present in their home, how her faith is beautiful and that although we won't see each other again, I'd be praying every day for my guardian angel to be present with them. In my broken Spanish and horrible grammar, we exchanged words of hope about trusting in the Lord and living a life in His embrace. Honestly, Goya evangelized to us and prompted us to go deeper in relationship with Jesus. It was evident that this woman truly knew what it was like to trust radically in God...what having a real relationship with the Lord looked like. She might not have had her own bedroom, heat installed in her home, or an abundance of food, but she had everything. She had unshakable faith in Christ and that is everything.

The Gift of Tears

When I found out a couple weeks ago she had finally passed, I felt both broken and also blessed. It hurt to hear it happened and wondering how Goya was doing, but I also felt joy that she would be welcomed Home. I've heard various missionaries share how there will be pinnacle moments where we feel ourselves transforming as missionaries. This, for me, was one of mine. I cannot forget Goya or Doña. I cannot forget their witness and love for the Lord. I cannot forget how I encountered Jesus in and through them. I cannot forget how this has changed me.

A day does not go by since then where I realize my very own hands that cared for Doña's feet were Christ's feet. Already as a missionary I have witnessed a deep craving for unconditional Love, for healing, for peace, for joy in life. I have already witnessed the dying crying out in pain for the Lord. I have witnessed women and children come running to the Chapel for Communion Service. I have witnessed miracles of physical healing. I have seen the Kingdom of God come alive on earth. But when the miracles are not happening every day nor enthusiasm, and things seem to be quiet, I can still say that there is one thing I do see every day. I see Christ. I see Him all around me in people's faces. I see Him in the children He created and it brings me to tears. Tears to the point that words cannot describe and come uninvited interrupting your dinner. Jesus is all around us, even in Doña's feet that He Himself created. And I'm learning that sometimes there won't be any words...actually, most times there will just be tears. If the cost of great love is to be overwhelmed with outbursts of tears, then I choose to make a fool of myself every time and give glory to the Lord.

(Luke 7:37-50)

(Sharing the Gospel, our testimonies, and praise & worship, picture from missionary Cate Labish)

(Missionaries praying over locals, picture from Rebekah Larson)

(Missionaries doing home visits in Allende, Mexico, picture from missionary Rebekah Larson)

(Ringing the Chapel bells for Communion Service, Testimonies, and Praise & Worship)

(Served over 150+ locals on Thanksgiving day)

(Missionary praying outside Cathedral in Saltillo)

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"...You did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love."