Nov 23, 2022 Because of Jesus
Just kill me, Karoll told his brother, as the blood poured from his wrist and face. Instead, his brother gave the machete to his son and told him to kill Karoll. But the son couldn’t. Instead, the son kicked Karoll in the face, knocking more teeth out. Then they both left.
What seemed like a hopeless snapshot in Karoll’s life, was actually pivotal in transforming his life and family–because of Jesus.
In 2017, Karoll was working long hours and saving as much money as possible. Then one day he noticed that his money was gone. He suspected his nephew of stealing his money.
Karoll went to his brother’s house to ask his nephew about his money. When he got to the house, he noticed that his brother was drunk, but didn’t pay attention as he confronted his nephew.
That’s when Karoll’s brother attacked him with a machete. He ducked as quickly as he could, but the machete caught Karoll right above his ear and down to his cheekbone, knocking out teeth and eventually causing him to lose hearing on that side.
With the next swing, Karoll had just enough time to put his arms in front of his face, and the machete struck his forearm, causing his hand to fall to the floor. He lost consciousness as his brother and nephew left him.
Karoll walked to trying to get help, but again lost consciousness in the middle of the road.
He awoke to the feeling of his heart beating. It felt like a knife was digging into his chest, and with every breath he took, more blood came out.
I felt so close to death. Lying there on the ground I tried to pray to God. In that moment, I didn’t know who God was, but I still called His name, said Karoll. I said, “Please don’t leave me,” and my God listened.
He lost consciousness once again, but when he awoke, he had stopped bleeding and felt much better. To this day, he doesn’t know how or why.
Karoll survived but was full of anger and revenge. He even tried to kill his brother, but he couldn’t bring himself to pull the trigger. I dropped the gun and told my brother and nephew to please go far away.
His brother and nephew fled to Brazil and Karoll realized he would never see his brother again.
Life after that wasn’t easy for Karoll, and he ended up in prison until 2020. While in prison, he found himself thinking about his brother and how they were both alone and hurting. During those nights, he cried and prayed for his brother. He desperately wanted to talk to him and tell him that he forgave him.
In 2021, Karoll was walking down the street at Central Park in Mitu when he saw his brother passing the other direction.
We hugged and cried together. I asked him, “Why are you afraid? Don’t be afraid.”
Minutes later the Colombian police arrived. They came to arrest him for the crime committed against Karoll. But I talked with the policemen and told them my brother is forgiven, Karoll said.
Soon after that, Karoll met Araldo in Mitu and began Bible studies. Pastor Araldo is part of the church-planting couple that’s been supported by QHM donors in Colombia.
Praise God! Karoll ultimately gave his life over to God publicly through baptism and devoted his life to mission work.
Now Karoll works for a ministry that focuses on teaching people the benefits of healthy living. He came to Mitu to help during our recent QHM mission trip.
Karoll shared, When we arrived here on Sunday, most people didn’t recognize me. They remembered me as someone who drank and smoked all the time. People asked me what I did to change, and I answered, “Jesus.” This is the Christian life. I want to show everyone that God can change us.
We may not all have testimonies like Karoll where our past tells of the glory of God. But can we work on letting go of the things inside us that are unlike Christ so that our presence can be a witness.
So when people ask why we are different, or why we have hope, we too can answer by saying, Jesus.
You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Genesis 50:20
