“God’s grace is like the beautiful sunrise, always there but quickly forgotten” (anonymous)
I wrote this story in Malaysia and waited to see how things would pan out:
…… I called a stranger yesterday who gave me a free guitar today, fixed my old guitar for free and offered to send it home from Malaysia for free! Is God good or what? To be honest I still haven’t met the gentleman in person… Here’s how God answered my prayer in an AWESOME way.
The bridge of my guitar cracked and needed to be replaced this month in Malaysia. When I saw it I was devastated as I had earnestly prayed whether to even bring my guitar on the race at all. I had always thought if it was God’s will for me to bring it, it would last the full 11 months just like my 5 year old Toshiba laptop WILL last. I even thought maybe God would allow me to give it away to a church or someone in greater need in Africa. So when it broke I earnestly prayed over my guitar to be fixed here in KL (Malaysia) so that I could take it as planned to Africa, with hopes to give it away. Fortunately God had better plans for me and my guitar. I had connections in KL and expected that God would work through them to help me find someone to fix it. When this fell through I went to the next best thing “google”. The first number I called belonged to “The John Lau Guitar Repair Center.” We ended up texting roughly this message:
“Hi Kyle, received the photo. Here’s a quote –ebony bridge-435RM”($130) “Do let me know if you need more info.”
“Well thank you but that is well out of my missionary budget. You know of any place that would do it for 150RM” ($50).
“We’ll do it for free for a fellow missionary brother J”
“Send it over when you can”
“Really? That’s crazy I leave to India March 1st can I come by tomorrow morning?
“I don’t think we can get it done by March 1st bro…Problem is, I don’t have the parts with me, which should arrive by the 2nd week of March.” “
“Well thanks for trying. I appreciate it. I’m a missionary with adventure in missions, working with an organization called the World race.”
John calls me after I ask about parts and asks how close I am to my guitar. I respond saying that I would trade it in. He continues on stating that if I want he would fix my guitar for free and mail it back and I could just come by and pick one up from his shop! At this I was in complete shock and disbelief at what I was hearing. John even mentioned if I needed to be picked up he would arrange it. I told him “no” as he was already going to bless me so much and I was beginning to become skeptical and doubtful of the whole situation. You see this entire month I wasn’t allowed to pray in public, evangelize, or even worship outside for fear of damaging our long term missionary contact’s ministry. So for me to even mention being a missionary was a stretch and on mentioning Adventure in Missions a Christian organization it was with the idea that I would never see this stranger. I came to the conclusion that John is either truly a brother in Christ or working with the Islamic police to imprison missionaries who would in return receive a bounty. Despite my skepticism, I trusted that God did truly want me to have a guitar on this race… and of course it worked out. I went by the shop received the guitar and an extra case from Jason a co-worker. I never met John, but the gratitude I owe him I give to the Lord. Thank God that he answers prayers in His own ways. It is so great to see that His ways are better than my ways and to recognize his authority over all my problems. God not only answered my prayers, but taught me about His grace that he offers to everyone who believes.
The entire month in Malaysia I was reading “The Ragamuffin Gospel.” A book that is really focused on the gift of God’s grace for us who obviously don’t deserve it. After finishing the book I realized I still did not have a complete understanding of God’s grace. John giving me this guitar was a great example of God’s grace. It was not only underserved but completely unexpected. Not only was my old guitar fixed, but I received a new guitar! Although this story and the Bible depict grace in an excellent way I still find myself falling short of understanding God’s grace in completion. As Proverbs 30 mentions… I am only an ignorant man who hasn’t been to heaven or hell and really doesn’t know what eternity in hell is like. Without the knowledge of this I can’t fully understand what God has saved me from or what he has in store for me. All I really know is what God has revealed to me and that I have received it, His grace.
I like guitars with a history and now both my guitars have a great story. Many of my teammates wanted to name the white guitar “White Stallion,” “Whitey,” “Flamingo,” or “White Chocolate” but I can’t think of a better name than “Grace.” After all what a great meaning, and due to the touch of bright pink on the base I think it rather suiting for her name.
The pink is there!
In Swaziland:
Last month I had the privilege to give this guitar to a man who has much better musical abilities and a booming African voice to go with it. I know in full confidence he will bring glory to God with it and bless people much more than I ever could. This was a privilege because I, a stranger, was able to share the gospel of grace with him through this gift. As I received it freely I gave it freely to continue the story of God’s grace and blessing in his life as well as my own.
Prayer Requests:
- Pray that God will continue to reveal Himself to me more and more, giving me the understanding I so desire.
- Pray that as I near this last month and half that I continue listening to God’s will for my life in the moment.
- Pray for smooth traveling to Capetown, SA at the end of this month from Mozambique and Botswana.
- Pray for the boys, and employees that we get to minister to here in Maputo that they too will know God’s grace fully.
Me and the local Pastor in Nsoko, Swaziland.
