Tears for Aseea

“Do not waste time bothering whether you “love” your neighbor; act if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone you will presently come to love him.”

It was like any other Thursday morning of door to door evangelism, being led by the Holy Spirit of where to go & who to talk with. Reverend Norbert leads us to unfamiliar area and into a home where we yell “Ode!” (meaning, “We’re here!”) and a young man named Elias invites us in. As we begin to talk to Elias, his sister Aseea joins the conversation. She walks up with her head wrapped and physically portraying unhappiness and a sense of hopelessness. Immediately I was drawn to her and I couldn’t describe why my heart went out to her with this radical compassion.

We asked if they knew who Jesus was and Elias answered, “Well, I know He was a disciple of G-d” and then Aseea said, “No, I don’t know who He is.” We then come to find out Elias is basically a Christian, but doesn’t really understand who Jesus is & what He did and Aseea is a Muslim.

Interesting enough the family is divided in religion, yet it seemed as if neither one of them really knew what or who they served.

I began to ask, “Can I share the story of who Jesus is with you? It’s the best story I know and the only reason we’re here is because Jesus Christ changed our lives.” They replied with yes so I told them about the life of the Son of G-d, Jesus Christ. I explained from beginning to end why, how, and who Christ Jesus was sent for. Throughout the story we watched how they both intently listened from Jesus being born of a virgin Mary, to Jesus healing the sick spiritually and physically, to being hated and then crucified.

I always love to ask, “Have you ever seen anyone raised from the dead?” Typically the answer is no and as their anticipation is growing I said, “You know, if Jesus would have just been crucified on a cross, this story would be meaningless, but He wasn’t just killed. Three days later G-d resurrected Him from the dead so that you and I could have eternal life with Him.” I explained how Jesus took the sins of the entire world upon the cross for all of us so we would no longer be separated from G-d, but allowed fellowship and intimacy with the One true, Holy G-d of the universe.

As I finished, Aseea walked out of the room and immediately I was wrecked. We continued to converse with Elias and eventually prayed over Him. He looked different; He looked alive, full of joy, and this realization that He is a son of G-d and G-d desires relationship with him. We began to say our goodbyes and out of no where Reverend returns in the house with Aseea. I noticed he left the room 10 minutes previous and guess who he was speaking with, Aseea. She came in with her head uncovered and told us, “I want to make Jesus my L-rd and Savior.”

I nearly screamed in joy! I looked at her and said, “Aseea, how old are you?”
“I am 16 years old.”
In that moment I thought of my precious 16 year old sister Olivea. I held her hand so tightly with tears in my eyes telling her, “This is the best decision you will ever make. Aseea, Jesus loves you and He has plan for you, so specific for you.” I explained to her how she can talk to G-d just like she talks to any of us and there is never any reason to be scared of G-d.
“Talk to Him. He wants to know you and you to know Him.”
She looks up at me and smiles. We led her in her first prayer to G-d inviting Him into her life. After, we came around and prayed over her life and studies at school.

As we prayed all I could see is my sister. Trying to hold back the tears of love for this young girl, I realized Jesus loves her even more then I love my own sister. I realized Jesus weeps over this girl with love and compassion waiting, longing for this day that she would fully give her life to Him.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one. Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent Me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and
have loved them even as you have loved me.”