That night, Efraín barely slept. The three messages—the initial letter, the
paperfound on the hill and now the third: "He is already waiting for you"— they
swirled in her mind like fragments of an impossible puzzle.
Who could have known so much about what she was going through?
And why did she feel so deeply that those words came at just the right moment?
When he finally managed to close his eyes, he had a strange dream. He seemed to be
standingFacing a hill, but not the same one as the village: this one was higher,
more imposing, covered in a dim light that seemed to beat like a heart. A figure
stood at the top, blurred, almost invisible, but clearly waiting for him.
When he woke up, his heart was still beating strongly.
I didn't know if it was a vision or just a dream, but I did know one thing:
I had to take that "first step" that the message talked about.
The next morning, he arrived at the temple early. Pastor Samuel was already there,
preparing some notes. When he saw him enter, he looked up.
—Efraín, you arrive with a face that is half faith, half worry —he commented with a
kind smile.
"Pastor..." Ephraim hesitated. "Last night I found another
message." Samuel straightened his back.
-Other?
Efraín nodded and handed him the paper. Samuel read it several times before
speaking.
—"He's already waiting for you," he murmured thoughtfully. "This goes beyond
mere coincidence."
Efraín's heart raced."Do you think it comes from
God?" Samuel took a deep
breath.
—I can't say for sure. But I do know when God starts to move pieces around a
person.
And in your case… it's moving a lot.
The afternoon came quickly. It was the day of the first meeting of the faith circle.
Ephraim was there.He was nervous. He didn't know if he would be able to
encourage or support others when he himself was searching for answers.
However, ten people arrived. Ten.
For a first day, it was amazing.
Camila and her husband were among them. Also an older couple, two young people
from themain congregation, a widow who rarely spoke, and a man named Eduardo,
known for almost never attending activities.
They all sat in a simple circle. Samuel watched from the back, without intervening.
Efraín took a deep breath.
"Thank you for coming," she began softly. "I don't have all the answers. In fact, I
don't think any of us do... but I do know one thing for sure: God still wants to
ignite faith within us."
Several nodded. Others looked at the ground.
Then Efraín decided to share something he never thought he would tell.
—I've received strange messages in the last few days. I don't know who they're from.
But they all
They speak of light, of hope… and of how God wants to ignite something in me… in us.
There was a heavy silence.
Then, the widow raised her
hand.
"Sometimes God uses means we don't understand," she said, her voice trembling.
"When my husband died, I received an anonymous note with a verse that
sustained me for months. I never knew who left it. But I always felt it was God."Camila spoke next:
—My husband and I hardly came in today. It's been a difficult week. But something in
our
My heart said, "Go." And now… I feel a little peace.
Eduardo, who almost never participated, murmured:
—If God is lighting something… I want to be there too.
And so, without realizing it, Ephraim began to lead his first faith circle. They shared
verses, prayed for each other's children, for the health of others, for the
encouragement of those who were lost.They were tired. There were silent tears,
and heartfelt words.
And something else:
It was
hot.Not
physical.
Spiritual.
A gentle heat, as if there were actually a small flame in the middle of the
circle.Samuel noticed it from behind and closed his eyes, silently giving thanks.
When it was over, people left slowly, with calmer faces than when they
arrived.Some hugged him, others simply thanked him. When everyone had left,
Samuel approached.
—Efraín, what happened today… was no small matter.
—Pastor, I didn't do anything.
"Exactly," Samuel replied. "That's what's extraordinary. God is moving. And you're
just obeying."
Efraín took a breath.
The third message burned in his mind:
"He is already waiting for you."
"Shepherd, I have to go up the hill," he said
suddenly.Samuel didn't seem surprised.
"I knew it," he replied. "I would go with you, but this step is yours. Not mine."It was already night when Ephraim began walking toward the hill. He had no lantern.
He didn't want to depend on artificial light. He wanted to trust in the light God was
preparing.
The wind was cold, and the silence deeper than usual. As he climbed, he recalled
all the recent details: the woman who recognized him without knowing him,
Luciana's drawing, the messages, the prayer for Camila, the mysterious gaze of the
stranger whohad left the last piece of paper.
Nothing made logical sense.
But it all had a spiritual meaning.
Halfway there, he heard footsteps behind
him.He turned around immediately.
Is anyone there?
Nothing.
Total
silence.
He continued walking.
The footsteps sounded
again. Faster, closer.
Efraín turned around again, but saw no one. The darkness seemed to move shadows
that he couldn't see.They were shadows.
He had learned, from previous experiences, that he should not always fear what he
could not see.
And then, between two trees, something caught his attention: a white
flash.A piece of paper.
Hanging from the trunk, held by a small twig.
Efraín approached slowly, his heart pounding. He took it.It was
identical to the previous ones.
Upon opening it, he found another phrase:
"You don't go up alone."
Her chest tightened.He looked
around.
Nothing.
Nobody.
Only the night and the soft whisper of the wind through the trees.
"Lord..." she whispered. "If it is You... give me peace."
And once again, just like before, peace arrived like a warm
wave.Not a vision.
Not a visible
miracle.But peace.
And with that, it was enough to take the final steps towards the top.
When he reached the top of the hill, there was no figure waiting for him. There was
no angel, norman, not even a mysterious shadow.
Only absolute
stillness.Only the
immense sky.
But then he felt it.A
warmth behind him.
He turned around.
He saw no one, but the air around him seemed to vibrate, as if an invisible presence
were there. Ephraim fell to his knees without thinking.
And a phrase, soft as an inner whisper, formed in her mind:
"I'm with you."
He didn't know if he heard it with his ears or
with his soul. But it was real.
Very realistic.
Efraín closed his eyes.
And he knew that the first step had already been taken.
What would come next… would be even bigger.The light was already being born.
And he was right in the center of the call