The warm air was humming to life beneath the setting sun as locals and foreigners alike emerged to enjoy Athen’s nightlife. It was a night like any other night by Race standards.
Our worship and intercession street team was weaving our way through traffic and metro stations, guitars in hand and delicious Greek food in our bellies. This was our second evening out during PVT (parent vision trip) week. And as parents and Racers stood together below the new site for our local hosting church, singing and praying aloud – I wondered what God had in mind for the evening.
Standing there in our odd-shaped circle, doing the only thing Papa had told me to do (sing) – a head popped into my peripheral line of sight. I thought it was my friend Kate being her normal, hospitable self – moving around the circle to love on anyone Papa highlighted to her.
I realize now that I WAS sensing that hospitality – but it was because Jesus had marked this specific spot for heaven to touch earth, to welcome a daughter home.
I turned my head to see a petit blond woman leaning her head curiously into the circle, speaking a language I didn’t understand.
No problem. I haven’t understood what people are saying for months. It’s funny how the familiarity of even that becomes comfortable on the Race.
I turned my attention towards her while quickly breathing: “Papa lead.“
As she spoke about who-knows-what, her big green eyes were shining with a clarity that told me Jesus had already been whispering Love to this woman for a long time.
Questions and responses came to my mind and somehow we learned each others names, about our families, and that neither of us were from Greece.
Tears began to shine in her eyes and I knew that this woman was my sister.
I gathered her up in my arms, letting the words Jesus was whispering in my ears flow out my mouth:
“Daughter, you are so beautiful.
I came all the way down here for you.
I have heard every prayer.
I am so proud of you.
I will look after you and protect you.
You are such a good mother.
I love you. I love you. I love you.“
I felt her arms tighten around me, and I thanked God that I got the privilege of sharing this moment with Him and this one He loved so deeply.
She stepped back from our embraced and in broken English said: “Even though we cannot clearly speak to each other, our hearts understand. Our hearts understand.”
She kept gesturing towards her eyes and to her heart until she was confident I understood the connection she was experiencing.
Then she grabbed my hand, taking the ring off her own finger and sliding it on to mine.
“Don’t forget Federah. Don’t forget me.”
“I will never forget you.” I’m not sure who said those words, really – Jesus or me. I just know it was spoken out of a deep place of Truth and Love.
We hugged many more times before she left my side.
Not once did I sense that I needed to push her and ask if she knew Jesus, or if she wanted to meet Him. I didn’t need to tell her that she was a sinner, or that she needed to repent and pray for forgiveness. I just knew that I was going to be with this woman for eternity and I had been given this wonderful opportunity to be there when she ran up the road towards the Lover of her soul.
Our hosting pastor introduced himself to her after she stepped away from our gathering, talking with her for only a few minutes. Then she was gone.
As it turns out, this woman was to be my sister! The pastor thanked me and said that Federah wanted to know Jesus and that she had prayed with him for forgiveness and to come into the Kingdom.
Looking back on that evening, I am so honoured that Papa would choose me to represent His heart for this woman, allowing me to see her with His eyes. She is His precious beauty and dearly loved daughter.
“Federah, I am so excited for your life, and to hear all the ways Papa touches your life between now and the moment we meet again in Heaven. I love you, sister.“
