Even though it was an Ibanez “shredder,” designed for a genre I rarely touch these days, parting with my first electric guitar felt like saying goodbye to a piece of myself. This guitar had been with me since my teenage years, a constant through life’s unpredictable changes. It had journeyed across Texas multiple times, always there, ready to play. I honestly thought it would remain with me indefinitely, even if it just became a nostalgic relic gathering dust in a closet.
So, when I felt a nudge, a clear prompting to dust it off, get it in playing condition, and give it away, my initial reaction was resistance. Seriously, God? My first guitar? I grumbled inwardly, pushing back against the conviction, yet deep down, I knew this was the direction I was being guided. Keeping another guitar in my collection wouldn’t be significant. But giving it away, even if it tugged at my heartstrings, could be incredibly meaningful to someone else.
Fine.
Alright.
OKAY, God!
I’ll do it!
My initial plan was to gift it to the youth pastor at Hope 4 Honduras, a talented guitarist and worship leader I’d met on a previous mission trip. However, just before leaving Houston, I learned he had moved on to a new position elsewhere and was no longer at the mission.
Now what, God? Who should receive this guitar?
I even considered leaving the guitar behind, but I decided to trust the initial prompting and bring it anyway. I didn’t have a recipient in mind, but I remained open to the possibility and watched for an opportunity.
Shortly after arriving in Honduras, I unexpectedly reconnected with Leo. I had almost forgotten about this musician. Leo is part of the IT and security team at the mission (and happens to be an incredibly skilled metal guitarist).
Leo’s upbringing was steeped in an environment where Satanic practices, black magic, and witchcraft were commonplace. Before finding Christ, he was enveloped in darkness and even played in a band called Blasphemy. But when he embraced the Lord, he emerged from his shadowy past and stepped into the light.
The Lord guided him to set aside his guitar for a considerable period as he healed and grew in his new faith. God revealed to him that his earlier musical motivations had been driven by personal glory and recognition, rather than for God’s purpose.
However, after years of introspection and spiritual transformation, Leo began to consider picking up the guitar again. He had even been given an acoustic guitar. This time, he resolved, his relationship with music would be different. While he loved metal music and the energy of live performance, he wanted to ensure his motives were pure – centered solely on God’s glory.
My husband, Billy, and I were sitting on the patio at Hope 4 Honduras, listening intently to Leo’s story. A spark ignited in his eyes as he shared that he felt God was finally telling him he was ready to play again. He had even scheduled studio time in a few weeks. His vision was to form a Christian metal band, aiming to bring Christ’s message into the darker corners of the metal music scene. He wanted to minister to fellow musicians, sharing his testimony and the transformative power of God in his redeemed life.
There was just one thing missing. All he needed was an electric guitar.
He was working with limited resources, and he didn’t have the money for a guitar at that moment, hoping to find something decent that sounded good within his budget. I asked him about his dream guitar, if finances were not an issue. When he mentioned “Ibanez” and began describing the precise specifications of my guitar, a wave of realization washed over me. This was it. This was the moment.
When I shared the story of how I came to bring the guitar to Honduras, we both were overwhelmed with awe.
I am continually amazed by the personalized nature of God’s love for each of us. His touch is so incredibly personal! He provides abundantly, exceeding our expectations, and always at the perfect moment. This guitar, arriving just when Leo needed it most and didn’t have the money for a guitar, felt like a powerful affirmation from God, confirming without a doubt that he was indeed ready to move forward with his musical ministry.
And Leo is moving forward with passion and purpose. He’s been practicing, recording, and has named his project “Memra,” which roughly translates to “Word of the Lord.” It’s an Aramaic term from the Bible describing God’s power becoming tangible in the physical world – precisely what he hopes to achieve with his music.
All glory to God for what He is going to accomplish through Leo and his musical gift! We are excited to witness what God does next.
