Ephraim came down the hill with the paper still clutched between his fingers.
Every word.It seemed to weigh more than the leaf could bear. "The first light
will be born in you." It was impossible to ignore.
Too clear. Too
direct.
As he descended, he tried to reason: Who could be leaving him those messages?
Was a church member trying to motivate him? A strange joke? A coincidence?
But the truth was, deep down, I knew it wasn't just a coincidence.Not after the
morning verse, the old woman's testimony, Luciana's drawing, or the conversation
with the pastor. It was as if all the pieces were coming together to form a picture
he couldn't yet see in its entirety.
When he got home, he sat down at the table, took a deep breath, and placed both
messages in front of him:The first, "When the faith of many fades, I ignite one.";
the second, "The first light will be born in you."
He watched them for a long time.
And she decided, for the first time in months, to pray with her heart completely open.
—Lord… if this comes from You, give me wisdom. Do not let me be deceived, nor let
me
I let my emotions guide me. I just want to obey you.
A gentle peace
enveloped him.Not a
voice.
Not a sign. But
peace.
And that was enough for Ephraim to make the decision to go to the temple the next
day and speakagain with Pastor Samuel.
The next morning, the temple was more crowded than usual. Several families had
arrived early to ask for prayer. Ephraim noticed worry on their faces, butalso an
urgent need for hope.
While greeting some people, he overheard fragmented conversations:
—…my son doesn't want to come anymore…
—…we feel alone…—…the city's church is growing, but we…
—…I don't know what to do anymore…
Efraín realized something: the faith of many was truly fading.
What if that was God's purpose?
Calling on him to ignite, to support, to inspire others?
Before he reached the pastor's office, someone called him by name.
—Efraín, can you come here for a moment?
It was Camila, a young mother in her thirties. She had always been faithful to the
congregation, but today her eyes were swollen as if she had cried all night.
"What's wrong?" Efraín asked, concerned. She
hesitated for a few seconds before speaking.
"My husband... I think he wants to give up the faith," she finally confessed. "He
says he doesn't feel anything when he prays anymore. That God doesn't hear him."
The words struck Efraín like a mirror reflecting his own recent past.
"That doesn't mean God has abandoned us," she said, her voice firmer than she
expected. "Sometimes silence is part of the process. But God never abandons us."
Camila breathed trembling.
—I just wanted you to pray for us.
Efraín took his hands and prayed right there, in the middle of the hallway.
As he did so, he felt something strange: as if his words carried a warmth that he
didn't.I hadn't felt that way in a long time.
When it was over, Camila opened her eyes with a surprised expression.
"Thank you," he murmured. "I felt... something different. Like peace."
Efraín did not respond.
He had felt it too.
When he entered the office, Samuel was reading a notebook full of notes.He saw
her come in, and smiled.
—Efraín. I was just thinking about
you.The young man sat down
opposite him.
—Pastor, I think… I think I'm understanding something. Not everything, but something.Samuel nodded, encouraging him to continue.
—You told me the community is losing hope. And yesterday, after the messages I
received… I don't know, Pastor. I feel like God wants me to do something. To help.
To encourage. To listen. I don't know exactly what, but…
Samuel calmly closed the notebook.
—Efraín, I have been praying for guidance. And I believe God has already begun toI'll
answer you. You don't need to have all the answers today. Just the first step.
—And what is that step?
The pastor leaned towards him.
—I want you to lead a new group. A faith circle. A space for people whoShe is tired,
she feels like her light is going out.
Efraín remained silent.A
group.
Direct ithe.
—Pastor… I am not a teacher. I am not a leader. I don't even know if I'm ready.
spiritually.
Samuel smiled kindly.
—No one whom God calls feels prepared. Moses was afraid to speak. Jeremiah
thought he was too young. Gideon considered himself the weakest. God doesn't ask
for strength, Ephraim.Ask for availability.
The young man's heart beat strongly.
"I'll try," he finally said. "But only if God is in it."
"He's already here," Samuel replied. "You'll see."
That same day, Samuel announced at the end of the general meeting that a group
would be openednew, led by Efraín.
People were surprised, but several families immediately showed interest.
As he left the temple, Ephraim noticed someone watching him from afar. A figure who
didn'tShe recognized her at first. She was leaning against a tree, away from the
others, almost trying not to be seen.When Efraín took a couple of steps in its direction, the figure turned around and
beganto move away.
He frowned.
There was something familiar about the way that person
walked.Without knowing why, he decided to follow her.
The figure turned down a small path that led to the side of the hill, whereAlmost no
one passed by.
"Hey!" Efraín called. "Do you need help?"
The person did not respond.
Upon reaching the curve, Efraín sped up… but there was no one there.
The path was empty, silent.
"What…?" she
whispered. Then she
saw him.
On a low branch, attached with a small clip, was another white paper.His
heart skipped a beat.
He took it carefully.
It was the same type as the previous
ones.He opened it.
The message was more disturbing than the others:
"Don't be afraid of the first step. He's already waiting for you."
Efraín felt a chill run down his spine.
Who was behind those messages?
Why did she know what he was going through?
How did they appear just when I needed them most?
He put the paper in his pocket and looked towards the hill.
A deep, almost prophetic feeling came over him.
The first light would be born in him.
And now he had to walk towards that calling.
I didn't have all the answers.
But the first step had been
taken.And something invisible—something big—began to move around him