So I told you all that I would be blogging about the woman on the bus last week…well here it is.
Two Saturdays ago my team and I had our first half a day off. We were excited to see the town as normal girls and not just as the Americans that pass out fliers. There was no pressure. We planned to go to the city center together and then break into our “dates” with one of our teammates. We felt we hadn’t had time to get to know each other one-on-one yet. Walking to the bus, some girls said they needed to stop at the ATM that was near the bus stop before heading to town. As they were getting close to completing their transactions bus 26 was arriving and we all hurried to see if we could make it, but one teammate hadn’t gotten her chance at the ATM so we waited for the next bus. We weren’t on a schedule so it was okay. About 15 minutes later another 26 arrived and we all jumped on. Molly and I had taken a seat next to each other. At the next stop this lady with an arm full of groceries got on and Molly immediately jumped up and offered up her seat next to me. As the lady took Molly’s seat I glanced at her arms full of groceries and I couldn’t help but marvel at all the fresh fruit, vegetables and bread in her arms.
If you don’t know much about Serbia it is not a predominantly English- speaking country. Although many do know English, much of the older generation does not. So I sat next to her praying she was able to understand the next words out of my mouth.
I leaned in and said, “What are you going to cook?” And she said, “I am going to have a peach for lunch.” I was thrilled to hear English, as that has been the largest and most frustrating barrier we have had here. I smiled and said, “That sounds wonderful! Is that bread the best bread?” And she said, “Yes, try some.” As I broke off a piece she began offering it to the rest of my team who were standing and sitting nearby. Many of them said, “I will just try some of Amy’s piece.” This bread was so good and the freshest bread I have had in quite sometime. I thanked her and asked her where she had gotten it. As she tried explaining where she got it in half English half Serbian I felt the Lord’s presence wash over me. The woman and I became lost in conversation about where I was from and how she spoke such good English! She then informed me that she had just lost her husband 2 months ago and her heart was hurting for her son who was having a really hard time and she doesn’t know what to say to him anymore. My heart broke for her. I asked, “Can I pray for you?” And she informed me that she prays everyday and didn’t seem okay with the idea of me praying for her right then and there. So I continued to ask her about her son, which lead to her to showing me pictures of him in her wallet and telling me all about him. She became overjoyed when she spoke about him. After folding up her wallet she said, “This is my stop but I can stay on with you girls.” And I replied, “No, no its okay. Here is an invitation to a concert that we are putting on and some of my friends will be performing in it and I would love to see you there.” She smiled and asked, “This Friday?” and I said, “Yes at Hotel Slavijia.” She was thrilled, broke off a large piece of her bread for me, gave me a hug and jumped off the bus.
As my team and I gathered around this mouth-watering piece of bread and enjoyed every bite, my heart was so full. I couldn’t get her or our conversation off my mind and heart. I prayed and prayed to see her again, asking God to make a way for the widow on the bus to come to the concert.
Friday slowly crept up on us and the day of the gospel concert we had been preparing for and inviting people to was here! Guests started to arrive and I, being on the welcome team, was seating and chatting with guests when all of a sudden I heard Maria shout, “Amy Faye!” Jumping up to see what this excitement was all about, I dismissed myself from the conversation and hustled to the back. As I turned the corner I saw the widow on the bus being greeted by my team! My heart was so happy and excited to see my prayer answered! I walked over to her and she reached out to me with a big hug and many kisses on my forehead! Then she introduced me to her son that joined her! I was honored to sit with them and we enjoyed the concert together. After the concert, I asked the wife of one of the pastors who we are in contact with, to invite her to church on Sunday where I was going to speak. She responded by saying that she goes to the Orthodox Church and that is good and she belongs to the Orthodox Church. As we continued to talk we told her that we aren’t apart of the Orthodox Church because we don’t believe we have to pray to saints for God to hear us. We believe that Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 8:1-13). Although I may never see this wonderful woman again I know that Jesus loves her so much and spoke much joy back into her heart that night with the wonderful Spirit-filled music that she heard. We exchanged information, and said our goodbyes. I still think about and pray for this woman who was so broken that day on the bus but left the concert with her joy restored. God is so good and has pursued and taken care of each one of us in ways that are so intimate and special. Just think if my team and I would have made it on that first bus I may have never met her. I am humbled and thankful to have been able to be a part of the Lord restoring this woman’s joy that day. She is no longer the widow on the bus but she is a friend whose heart I got to see through the eyes of the Lord. I pray she continues to be filled up with joy. Ecclesiastes 3:4 says, “there is a time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” And although there is a time to mourn it is followed by a time to dance, and I pray for the time to dance to bring much love and joy not only to her, but also to all who mourn.
The sweet lady and I
