He is 66 years old.
He is homeless, with no family.
He left his house when he was 24 and hasn't been back since.
He said he has done a shameful thing and his family will not speak to him.
Here in George Town, Malaysia there is a homeless shelter, Kawan.
It used to be a brothel.
Now, my team of all girls lives here.
It's fantastic how God brings things full circle.
Kawan is owned by YWAM.
People line up to be fed breakfast and lunch on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
During this time they can rest, clean their clothes or have conversations with us.
Kawan is covered in murals done by past racers and past teams that have come through.
This place is filled with incredible light, knowing this place's past, it is truly incredible.
I sat down at James's table not really expecting anything other than to have a nice conversation with these men.
He was the first to speak up.
"I was baptized on Saturday!"
You know when someone says "your smile lights up the world", his literally did.
Well, maybe not the world, but that room, and his face.
He explained to me how he was feeling so free and light.
He said when he came up from being dunked under the water he felt a weight come off of him.
All the bad stuff was ripped out of him by the spirit.
As i sat with James i realized i was being poured into.
Isnt that how it goes in ministry?
You think you're going to change this persons life when really they change yours.
It's the basis of the gospel.
The weak lead the strong.
I love it.
I sat and listened to him tell me his story.
Tell me the shame and the brokeness that he now has been freed of.
My friend Annie and i sat there and listened, we told our testimony's, and in that moment we were friends.
As Annie and i sat there telling him all these verses about Jesus being homeless,
and how his disciples were homeless, how suffering produces stronger faith, and the truths that so many times get overlooked,
i glanced up at his face.
He was soaking it in.
We would point him to a verse in James, or in Acts and he would spend a couple minutes in silence reading it himself.
He was hungry.
His eyes were searching, his heart was longing.
He was on fire.
He wanted Jesus, and all of Him.
In that moment Jesus asked me a question;
"Where did that passion go from you, my daughter?"
BAM.
Hello, king of kings, lord of lords, nice to hear from you.
I had lost my passion, my hunger.
I was turning my faith into a daily routine instead of remembering the relationship.
This 66 year old man was craving the word of God more than he was craving the bread we were feeding him.
"Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying "Rabbi, eat."
But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about."
-John 4:31-33
"The devil said to him, "if you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.
And Jesus answered him, "it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone."
-Luke 4: 3-4
James, a man that has been freed from 40 years of shame taught me more about the hunger for God than anyone i have ever met.
This man is so filled with the Holy Spirit it's hard to sit next to him without wanting to jump around in Joy.
I'm Hungry,
let us eat.
(10 points to anyone who knows the lyrics in the title. )
