So I had just gotten back to my parents house in Fort Walton Beach, FL after a weekend in Panama City for a singles retreat with my grp from Atlanta, when I realized I had to go to Walmart to make some copies of pictures. When I got there people were already using the photo machines, so I waited and waited and waited some more. One girl was making 100’s of prints. We started talking while they were printing off and she opened up right away. I learned her name was Jennifer and she just got back from Iraq the day before. All the pictures were of her fiancé whom she met over there. They were eloping this Friday. Mid conversation I realized, hey this is a role play scenario that we practiced while we were at the retreat. The topic at the retreat had been on evangelism. Simply how to share the love of Christ. Thoughts were going on in my head what should say, how can I tell her God loves her, and then I realized just chill and be present. So I did. She was telling me all about Nathan, her fiancé and why she is so excited to marry him. Then she asked me if I was from here and what I do. I told her I am just staying with my parents in town for a month before I leave for a mission trip for a year. I told her a little bit about the World Race and then she started to ask more questions about it. I told her God has blessed my life so much I just want to share His blessings with the entire world and that’s basically what we are going to do, just love on the world in any way we can. Jennifer told me that she had lost all faith in God. But that because of Nathan that she is starting to find it again. She said that they have promised each other that every night before bed they are going to say a prayer together no matter if they had a fight or what. The name Nathan means gift from God and she really believes that he is. She said her faith is being restored. So I was in love with this girl at this point and told her so. I asked if she had any friends in town and she said no…I said me neither! We swapped phone numbers and I asked her to call me after her Nathan has to go back to GA, where he is stationed. I told her I was so excited about her getting married and that I would be praying for her on Friday. How cool is God??
This is exactly what we talked about the retreat…just share the love of God. I didn’t do anything spectacular or share anything new with Jennifer. God just knew my heart was ready and that I was willing to act when He placed someone in my path. The amazing part is I now have a new friend. God is faithful and when you are ready to share His love all you have to do is open your eyes and someone will be there for you to do just that.
