Last month I was in Swaziland and to be honest before I went to this country I really didn’t care to go; now it has easily become one of my favorite countries. While in Swaziland our teams had multiple ministry opportunities that we were able to be apart of. I am happy to say that I was apart of the manual labor team. Laboring looked different each day for the most part. There are over 50 ministry sites that AIM works with here, each with its own huge yard that needs cutting. The first couple of days in ministry we were cutting and cleaning up the grass. During this time we met a man whose name in English means Lucky. If you saw Lucky in person the first thing you would notice about this dude is his arms…they are massive. His presence is intimidating until you get him to open up. He is a very soft-spoken man with a heart that is chasing after the Lord. Our labor team was given the opportunity to sit down and listen to him tell his story and it was an incredible blessing to me. I want to share this story with you now:
When I was a kid both of my parents died so for most of my life I have been on my own, fending for myself. When I was sixteen I decided to quit school because I felt it was doing nothing for me; I would rather be out trying to make money some how than sitting in a classroom. It was kind of tough because I never knew when my next meal would be. When I was twenty-one some friends of mine at the time had an idea to rob a computer store to help us make some money. I knew this was a bad idea but I hadn’t eaten in two days and they promised I would make a lot of money so I could eat. All they asked me to do was be the get-away driver for them so I agreed. Late that night I drove them to the computer store that we decided to rob. They broke inside as I sat in the car, scared, nervous and hungry. I wanted to leave but I really needed the money so I waited. As I was waiting patiently I heard a gun shot go off and then a couple more. I didn’t know what happened but I didn’t want to stay there to find out so I took off. I drove back to where I was staying at the time. I was so scared and knew I couldn’t stay there but I had nowhere else to go. I could hear the people in the room next to me get word that the owner of the computer store was just robbed and murdered and how the cops where out looking for the suspects. I had to leave! I got in the vehicle and started driving. I drove for a long time until I got to the base of a familiar mountain that I knew was near by. I ran up the mountain until I could look out over the entire city. I saw the faint flashing lights in the distance and could hear the loud sirens going up and down each street; I knew they were looking for us. In the Swazi culture if you rob and kill someone it is the death penalty if convicted. I hid behind some big boulders and waited the night out in the mountain.
I remember I was sitting up in the mountain in hiding, scared to death and running for my life. It was now the early morning hours and I could still hear the sirens. The cops had the right to shoot to kill on the spot if they saw me. I didn’t know what to do. I was a young 21-year-old man alone and afraid. I cried out to the God I had heard about as a kid; I was desperate. I prayed, “God if you are real, get me out of this situation and I will serve you the rest of the days in my life.” Then I heard an audible voice, clear as day. I jumped in terror because I thought someone else was on the mountain with me; I was doomed. I remember thinking I was going to die now but then I realized it wasn’t just anyone speaking; it was the Lord. He told me to run down the mountain right away and go into the first house I see; a man will be waiting for me. Instantly I didn’t want to go. I had no idea whose house that was; they could easily turn me in and it would be all over for me. But I couldn’t shake the feeling of what God just told me. Finally I told God, “Ok, but I’ll go tonight since it will be harder for me to be seen.” “No,” said the Lord, “Go now.” I wrestled with the idea for a few more moments and then I ran down the mountain just as fast as I ran up it. I knocked on the first door I saw but really didn’t have time to wait for anyone to respond so I just walked in. I was amazed to see an old high school acquaintance in prayer at that very moment. He sees me walk in and instantly jumps to his feet to greet me. “MY FRIEND!” he exclaimed, “I have been praying for you all morning. God has put you on my heart since I last saw you in class a couple years back and I have prayed for you every day since. I knew God had a plan for you then and he still wants to do great things through your life but you have to give all of yourself to him.” I was in awe as I sat and looked at how God was using this terrible circumstance I found myself in to draw me to him. I told the friend everything that happened the night before and what God told me on the mountain; he just smiled and nodded his head. And then after a few more moments of him sharing the gospel with me I accepted Christ into my heart. We then came to an agreement that I would spend the night at his house and first thing in the morning we were going to the police station to try and work on this situation. I was hesitant but honestly ok with it. Now that I had accepted the Lord as my savior he gave me a peace that I could not explain. The next morning we did exactly what the man said; went to the police station to turn myself in. When I got there the man told me not to say anything and that he would talk for me. I was blown away as I stood in silence as a man I barely knew talked to the police chiefs and defended me. He told them how I was just there to drive away the car once we stole the computers; how I knew it was wrong but I was in desperate need because I hadn’t eaten in two days. He told them that immediately when shots were fired I drove off, leaving the other criminals behind. He mentioned that I didn’t know they killed the owner of the computer store because I drove off; how I heard about what happened and ran for my life because I was a wanted man. After all of my friend’s pleading, the chief asked me one question, “Were there any computers in your vehicle that were stolen when you drove off leaving the other guys behind? “ “No sir,” I said, “there was nothing in the car.” “You’re free to go” said the chief. I was about to drop to the floor as my friend caught me and lead me outside. God turned an impossible situation into a fantastic testimony that now brings glory to his name. If I wouldn’t have called on Jesus to rescue me when I was on the mountaintop there is no telling where I would be right now. Since that moment I joined my friend’s church, have become a youth pastor and now work for Adventures In Missions here in Swaziland. I really want to help kids that are like me in situations that just need the light of Jesus shinned in their darkest moments.”
– Lucky
I hope Lucky’s story is a blessing to you as it has been for me. It is incredible looking back on life and seeing how God has been working and moving behind the scenes, even when we didn’t realize it.
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