THIS IS A GLORY TO GOD STORY>
So there we were, two sinners standing in the pouring rain. My arms wrapped around Joshua, his head bowed toward the ground.
The tail lights of bus #60 for Newport disappeared into a solid sheet of rain. I didn’t know when the next one was. I knew i desperately wanted rest but God had other plans. He does that. SMH (shaking my head)
Ok, rewind let me give you 48 hours leading up to this moment….48 hours…
Gainesville GA….Harrisburg, PA…..New York City…. Providence,RI
17 hour car ride with great people, three trains, a church service in a bar, and 1 tattoo later….
Enter Joshua: 6:30am..Raining Cats and Dogs… Outside Providence Bus station.
I’m standing there soaked, day pack on the front, 70 liter pack in the back, water bouncing off me. I here some words….”Hey man, you lost? What bus you need?” I’m thinking, “yes, an angel.” I turn around to see a strung-out, hopeless face, who looked worse than I did at the moment. Might have been a split decision really. not my best public appearance.
Joshua asks about the backpacks so I give him the 4-1-1 on the Worldrace and what we will doing, where we are going, etc. He centers in on the Human Trafficking bit, looks at me with pain and anguish and says, “ya, my girlfriend, Melody is a prostitute, and she got be up last night. She is in the hospital.” “And Im addicted to Heroin. Can you help me?”
Needless to say…. God filled me with Energy and so many words. Listen…I’ve been so fearful about not knowing what to say if a moment like this ever came. So I pray a lot…”God, when this happens if you could just take over and start speaking for me….that’d be real cool.”
ANSWER TO PRAYER: 1&1/2 hours later and one missed bus to Newport, I find myself with my arms wrapped around Joshua, asking “Joshua, do you want to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior?
We go live on the scene…..
Joshua: “yes”
Me: “do you know what that means Joshua?”
Joshua: (very meekly)”yes.” That God has already paid for my sins???
Me: “Thats right bro…you think you can repeat after me.” (nods his head yes)
I believe that God…
Sent his one and only son…
To die on the cross for me…
So that my sins would be washed away….
And I could have eternal life…
I believe in the Father….
the son….
and the holy spirit.
Amen.
I left Joshua with my Bible, a note with psalm 62:8 (thanks Tim Hendrickson my awesome teammate), my phone number, taught him how to pray, and bought him an egg Mcmuffin. But I felt incomplete leaving.
I think its because, I should have dropped my schedule a bit more and gone to the Hospital to meet Melody, the prostitute….I promise you all “ill go to the hospital” from now on.
Thank you to all of you who are helping me press closer to our Father. And I need to be witnessing well so please comment on my blog or email me at [email protected] if you have some feedback or suggestions for me. floors open!
“go to the hospital”
Paul
