Have you ever tried to play a musical instrument?Perhaps even invested in one, but then after several lessons, given up or lost interest?Now that instrument sits in a closet, or pushed under your bed, dusty and forgotten?Maybe God is waiting for you to give it away . . .

Last October Nelson came with a mission group from the First Baptist Church of Bethlehem, PA to La Paz, Mexico.The group attended the 9am worship service of Crossroads Christian Fellowship, the ecumenical English-speaking congregation that we pastor as part of our work in La Paz.After the service, Nelson engaged in a conversation with Artemisa, a bi-lingual Mexican woman, also a native of La Paz.She shared with Nelson that her nephew was a trained violinist and was in need of a new violin.Could he keep an eye out for one when he returned to the states?Nelson said that he would, although he admitted that he usually never ran across violins.

Three weeks after Nelson returned home, he volunteered to help a friend from First Baptist move.Her name is Esther.As they were clearing out the last room, he asked Esther what was in a case on top of a pile of boxes."Oh, that's a violin," she replied."My daughter used to play but she's no longer interested in it."Trying to curb his excitement, Nelson said, "Well, how much would you like for it?""Oh, nothing," Esther answered."I'd give it away.Do you know someone who needs a violin?""How would you feel about this violin being sent to Mexico?" asked Nelson.And Nelson began to tell her about Artemisa's nephew.

After hearing the story, Esther immediately agreed to donate the violin, but first she wanted to have it cleaned, restrung, and tuned.When it was properly restored, she gave it to Nelson to bring to Mexico with a mission group scheduled to La Paz in February 2005.Nelson and this team of 7 other people arrived on February 11.On Sunday, February 13, Nelson presented the violin to Ishaar, Artemisa's nephew. And then, to everyone's delight, Ishaar opened the case, adjusted the violin to suit him, and then played a piece by Beethoven.Ishaar doesn't speak a word of English.But in this moment, his music spoke for him.We could see the delight, the utter joy of concentration on his face, as he shared his gift of music with us.

Artemisa recently admitted to her nephew, "Ishaar, I'm sorry, but I had stopped praying.I didn't really think it would happen."To which Ishaar replied, "But I never stopped praying."Ishaar had never given up hope.And through the simple act of someone giving an unused violin, his faith was strengthened and renewed. As was ours.