The other day I was on my way home from Dublin and as I jumped on the double-decker bus, I met 8 Irish girls. These girls were in-between the ages of 16 & 18. They were all friends and had just spent the day in city centre. I asked them where they were from just to start conversation. They were from Clondalkin, the suburb that I had been staying in all week. They thought that I talked funny (of course!!!) and asked where I was from. As the conversation went on, they wanted to know why I was in Dublin. As I told them that I was a missionary, one of them said, “like a nun!?” “No,” I replied. Then they preceded to ask if I could date. My response was of course, “no”. They then said, “like a nun….” Point proven I guess. Hahahaha ...One of them lashed out quickly in the middle of me speaking with, “THERE IS NO GOD!” … Nonetheless, they were very interested in what it is that we world racers do and asked many questions. One of their questions as I talked about how God said this and that was “how does God speak?” I told them the story of our ATL day at training camp (Thomas) and they were quickly on the edge of their seats. Sometimes God speaks in visions that we think are crazy. Sometimes God speaks to our minds/conscience. God sometimes chooses to speak through other people and God even chooses to speak audibly at times. “We just have to shut our mouths long enough to listen,” I told them. One girl then asked, “Does God still speak today?” “Of course,” I said, “but we must listen.” She replied with, “No, is God speaking to you right now?” I said, “Yes, I just have to listen….” She urgently asked, “What is God saying about me!?“ My insides leaped as she gave me an opportunity to speak into her life! As impatient kids sometimes are, they wanted to know right away but I had to first listen and discern. The girls pushed and pushed for a quick word…..Two got off the bus and yelled at their friends, “ring me if God says anything!” They asked one last time if God had said anything yet and I replied with a “yes”. They wanted info right away but me being me, well, I made them wait! The suspense was high as I told the girl this: “Though you are surrounded by many people and a lot of friends, though you have a lot of fun and laugh a lot, you sometimes feel very lonely, you tend to get insecure and feel very alone. I understand what it means to feel alone, even in a crowd because I have been there before. Though you feel this way, you are loved. You are surrounded by so much love and I know someone that is crazy for you, someone that is head over heels for you!” She said, “Who!? Jesus? Jesus, head over heels for me!?” I told her, “yes.” She got giggly and received that like it was cold, hard cash. After letting her relish in it for a moment, I asked her if that was where she was in her life, if what I said was true. She then told me that it was exactly right….
As all of the girls were in amazement and I walked down the aisle to get off the bus, that one young Irish girl looked me in the eyes and said, “You just made my day!”
By a small word from God, 8 Irish girls realized how much they are valued and cherished by a Holy King that afternoon.
It’s days like that that keep my heart beating….
