I went on a treasure hunt.
Not for pirate’s gold.
But for the Lord’s daughter – Pauline.
At the beginning of this month our contacts (from IRIS Ministries) told us we would be doing a fun little activity called “Treasure Hunting.”
I’m thinking, “Treasure Hunting? What in the world? This ought to be interesting.”
On the day of our treasure hunt, we were dropped off in the middle of downtown Harare (the capital of Zimbabwe), were told to pray for clues, and then go find them.
Once again, I’m thinking “This ought to be interesting,” for these reasons:
A) I’m not used to praying on the spot and expecting to hear the Lord’s voice by virtue of “clues”
and B) I’m also not used to going up to complete strangers on the street and asking if I could pray for them/telling them what God TOLD me to tell them.
Interesting, huh?
So before we even began this adventure, I prayed this prayer:
“Lord, you know how I’m feeling. You know my comfort level when it comes to something like this. I’m not a huge fan; however, I’m willing to let You use me in whatever capacity that may be. That’s it.”
After my team of three finished praying, we walked through the shopping center, looking at things and people, but not really looking.
We were waiting. Expecting.
I wasn’t getting much in regards to “clues”….clues that could have been anything.
A color
A person
A place
An animal
An object
The list goes on….
Nevertheless I went up to a woman at a flea market and asked if I could pray for her. She seemed surprised yet blessed that a complete stranger would ask to pray for her.
After praying for her, I waited for the other two to finish talking to their new friends.
As I sat there on the curb, pondering this whole idea of treasure hunting, I remembered a woman in the flea market who seemed desperate for something. Money, love, attention – I’m not really sure.
After rounding up the other two, we ventured upstairs to see this particular woman at her stand. Before we got there, however, the other group of treasure hunters met up with her first.
Bumskies. Well, I guess I’m not supposed to meet with her. So we sat down in a food court area and waited some more.
As I was thinking about other people I remembered seeing in the market, my heart began to feel heavy for a woman selling purses.
It hurt just to think about her, and I wasn’t sure why. Odd as it may seem (which I’m beginning to accept the oddity of being a Christian), I felt convicted to go and buy a purse from her.
After I couldn’t bear it any longer, I jumped up from my chair, told my team “I’m feeling convicted!”, and went to woman selling purses.
After getting there and grabbing the first bag to grab my attention, I said something I have never said in my life before:
“I have an offer for you. I’ll buy this purse if you let me talk and pray with you.”
Of course, one can only imagine how someone would respond to that statement:
She was indeed surprised, but also very happy and touched.
Her name was Pauline, and as I began to ask her questions about her life and the church she attended, it became evident that my meeting with her wasn’t random.
When I asked if there was something specific I could pray for, she began to tell me about her business and how it hadn’t been doing well the last few months.
She also told me about her family….and then she paused.
She told me her husband had passed away 2 years ago, and at that tears came to her eyes.
I asked if I could pray for her at that point and she nodded.
My heart hurt for her – a complete stranger – yet one of God’s daughters.
I hugged her afterwards, and I cannot tell you how tightly she hugged me back.
It was like she didn’t want to let go.
Before leaving I bought the purse, as promised, and when I offered her a higher price than what she even offered, her response made my eyes well up.
After buying the purse and hugging and thanking her for letting me pray with her, I had to get away. I could tell the floodgates for me were about to open.
Now, to the skeptic or cynic who might think this was nothing less than a nice encounter with a woman trying to scam me – because I’ll be the first to admit that I am often that skeptical or cynical person – all I can tell you is this:
Her sober and quiet expression before I left is an image that will forever be in my head.
And her authenticity (which I believe with my whole heart was authentic) isn’t what I care about.
All I care about is that she felt God’s love for her that day.
Even if it was through a stranger who used a rather odd strategy just to pray for someone.
God rocked my world that day in a painful way. He made my heart break for the things that break His heart.
That treasure hunt wasn’t what I expected.
I have a feeling, though, that most treasure hunts in life aren’t always what we expect.
