While walking with his Ambassador team in Jamaica, World Race Alum Tyler Shugart led his team through the empty streets of Spanish Town, looking for people to share the love of Christ with. Then God led them to Camien.

This summer I co-led a team of ten teenagers in Spanish Town, Jamaica. One morning, we went into a new part of the city for community outreach. Normally a busy area, as we walked the streets were empty.

It was disheartening to be eager and ready to share the gospel, but have no one to share it with.

As the morning sun beat on my back and dogs barked in the distance, I heard the Lord say, “Tyler, don’t worry about the quantity. Focus on the quality.”

In the middle of the empty streets, I stopped my team and shared with them what I’d heard. They confirmed it: quality over quantity. This morning wasn’t about reaching large numbers for Christ. It was about finding the one person who needed to hear from him the most.

We met Camien after we decided to head back for lunch.

He held a bag full of cups and bowls he made from natural materials. Our team surrounded him as he shared his creations with them; his pride evident. The girls in the group were wonderful, making him feel important and loved by listening and complimenting his art.

I stood near the back and watched.

Then, suddenly I saw an image of me hugging Camien and tears streaming down his face when I pulled away. Before I could act on it, my phone rang. It was the Adventures office, and I needed to answer it.

So, I told one of my students, “Hey, I think that that man really needs a hug or some kind of healthy touch right now.”

Answering the phone, I focused on our conversation. My back was turned, so I couldn’t see the team laying hands on Camien and praying for him. Conversation over, we turned to leave.

Walking back to our lodging the team told me what happened, how when Camien started to cry when they prayed for him, and how after Emily hugged him, he said, “I will always remember that hug.”

I was in awe and quickly shared with the group what Holy Spirit had shown me right before that.

Later we found out that culturally in Jamaica it is considered unacceptable for a man to hug another man in that context or situation.

The image I saw was of me hugging Camien, and I was ready to obey. But it wasn’t about me at all. It wasn’t about my hug, or the team laying hands on him, or even Emily’s hug.

It was about a Savior eager to reach Camien’s heart in exactly the way he needed to be met.

Have you ever had God speak to you in a way that was specific to your need? Has he ever used you to do that for someone else?

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