“I had a dream. In my dream a man was calling the name my father had called me when I was younger. The voice was so loud it woke me up, but I could still hear it all throughout the house. So I got out of bed to check to see if anyone was up in my home. It kept calling my name, but no one was up. I knew it was God.”
Meeting this man is an encounter I will never forget. My teammates Emmy and AK and I had ordered an Uber to get back to where we were staying in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. We had tried to get an Uber three times and each time it got canceled. Honestly we were starting to panic because we had to get back and we were 45 minutes out. Finally one confirmed and his name was Guarth.
For the first time in many years he had went to church that day. Before you knew it we got into a crazy conversation. He had two dreams where God had spoken to him clear as day. The first had been two nights prior to our meeting. In his dream his name was being called. It was so loud he awoke thinking it was either his wife or children. After checking the house he found them all asleep, but still the voice persisted. He knew it was God. The day before we met him he had almost died in a car accident. That night he had a second dream where God spoke to him again. He then decided to go to church the next day, Sunday, the day we met him. The message was about if you loved Jesus or was in love with Jesus.
Originally that’s where our conversation started. He told us about the service and that question.
“Do you love Jesus or are you in love with Jesus?”
Guarth held so much uncertainty over the question. We explained to him that we were missionaries and how it was no coincidence we were in his Uber that day. How we’d had three cars cancel and how that was all in the Lords divine plan for us to be in his specific car. How he was being pursued so hard by our Father!
The Spirit took over my body and I honestly can’t remember everything spoken. We prayed over him and watched how excited he got. No one in his family believed him. He had tears in his eyes, but so much joy radiating from him.
I think it’s so cool how the Lord invites us into loving others. It’s not just a pursuit of love after every person, but the relational aspect God wants with us. Guarth was such a blessing. He IS such a blessing! Not only did we get to encourage him, but he encouraged us. The Lord saw him and saw us. No coincidences! I don’t believe in those! Each person we meet is for a reason.
God has a thing with me and taxi/Uber drivers… my next cool encounter was with a taxi driver in Jeffery’s Bay. We were staying in town for two weeks and needed a ride to the Global school to go to worship night with the high school students. The driver asked us, “ What does praise mean and why do you praise Jesus?” This conversation challenged me in that I realized how many Jesus languages I use. From there we got to share the gospel to this man.
My final Uber moment was with my parents at PVT. We were on our way back to the place we were staying when he asked what we were doing in Pretoria. Best question to get asked! I began to explain how I was here to serve others and love on people because of how much Jesus loved me. He was so shocked and confused to why a young girl would give up months to do this. He kept asking why I wasn’t out partying instead. My excitement grew and God began to reveal so much to me about this man. I began speaking life over him and things the Lord said to say. By the end of the ride he gave his life to Christ!!
Jesus is so good. Jesus is so good. JESUS IS SO GOOD!!! He’s real! He’s genuine in his pursuit and makes it personal to each person. The glory all points back to Him. He gives the words to speak. He put it all into motion. He put breath in our lungs to breathe! Man, I love that!! I love that so much. I’m so excited right now looking back on these encounters. My hearts all giddy. Jesus you’re so good!
