September 20, 2017
Matthew 7:7-8
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks the door will be opened.”
As I was finishing my blog, a man came over and asked if I wanted some water. I said “yes, please.” As simple of an act that it was, I was extremely grateful to the Polish man who checked us into the hostel earlier that day.
I felt the Lord prompt me to ask the next question, “Is there anyway I can earn a free meal here?”
We were 5 kilometers from Santiago in a small town with no grocery store. We were staying at a monastery where they house pilgrims and there was a restaurant in it. When I asked this question I was sitting outside of the restaurant writing my blog.
The man responds, “I don’t know, you will have to ask the ladies in the kitchen.”
I responded, “Can you ask them for me?”
He said, “No, you have to ask.”
So I decided to follow the Lord’s promoting. I went to the kitchen and asked them, “Is there anything I can do to earn a free meal?”
They looked to each other and then to the boss of the kitchen. The boss was shaking her head and all I could understand was “no.” The lady who spoke English said, “You can ask father Roman.” And then she continued to point to his house.
Doubt started entering my mind. Is it really worth it?
God prompted me to go. I moved toward the door and stepped out in faith and knocked.
Father Roman answered the door. I asked him if he spoke English and he said, “Very little.” I got my google translate out and asked him, “Is there anyway to earn a meal?” He asked me, “You have no money?” I told him, “I am on a budget that has to last until the 24th.” He asked me, “Are you hungry?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Come with me.”
We continued to walk toward the restaurant. I said quickly, “I will work for food.” He said, “No.”
He brought me into the restaurant and said, “sit here.” He said something to the kitchen staff that was very brief and then went back to his house.
I sat there and I prayed. I thanked God for his provision and told him I was thankful for what ever He set before me. Right as I looked up, one of the women came over to me and put a bowl of soup in front of me with five slices of bread.
I was so thankful and ate the whole thing really quickly. I was so thankful and blessed and was about to get up and take the dish back to the kitchen and say thank you, yet the lady came out again.
She took my plate and put another plate in front of me full of french fries and two pieces of fried fish! This was a missionaries dream! I couldn’t believe it. So thankful because I was content with the soup and bread.
I finished the big plate full of fish and fries and thanked the Lord again for his provision. I cleared my place to help the kitchen and she brings out a trey full of desert! She let me choose one and I got some Chocolate Moose pudding. Now I am amazed by God as HE provided more than I needed, or I wanted but also what I deeply desired!
I finished the pudding and she came to me and said, “I don’t know what your situation is, but if you come back at 8:00pm we will find some more food for you.” I am incredibly thankful.
I went back to Father Roman’s house and knocked on the door again. I said, “Muchos Gracias (in the most tender, grateful tone I could in Spanish).” And he said, “your welcome” and shut the door.
I am recording this story now because I believe it is the clearest example of God’s provision. If I would have just said, “no” from the beginning I would have missed out on all that God had for me. Yet, because I asked, because I sought, because I knocked, God provided in an amazing way. I’m learning to let the Lord be my provider instead of trying to take things into my own hands. He loves to provide and give, yet often times we don’t let Him.
My heart leaps for joy knowing I have a tangible story of Matthew 7:7-8. Also, I find it incredibly ironic that I had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish for dinner. God must have smiled when He put this one together.
I hope this story encourages you as much as it has encouraged me!
