YALL. Yesterday was Nepalese “Children’s Day,” so we made bracelets to pass out to children that we felt called to evangelize to… pretty clever way to bring up Jesus in a country where religion conversion is illegal. Props, Pastor Brian.
We broke into groups of 3 and caught a bus to somewhere in the city with bus money to make it back home that night. Gabbie and Stephanie and I prayed and then asked which direction to go. It was a toss up, so we followed the wind.
Ok, here’s where it gets cool. Or weird. Or spiritual. Or just funny.
The wind blew to the right so we turned to go right and I saw this grown man with a graphic t-shirt on. Just a random guy with a random shirt on and I just thought/knew/saw/IDK the same shirt but with Justin Bieber on it. His shirt did not have said pop-sensation on it, but it was just a thought(?) that I kept to myself.
Let me clarify: I DO NOT HAVE AN OBSESSION OR INTEREST IN JUSTIN BIEBER; I do not go about my days thinking about Justin Bieber. I do not seek out his music or keep up with his latest albums. His face and music have not been put on blast around Nepal.
So I thought it was weird that I had that thought and I followed my friends across the street to get a juice before we started our endeavor. BUT THEN we turned around from the counter slowly (or, despacito) to walk down the stairs to start trusting the Lord’s guidance AND THERE WAS A YOUNG GIRL WALKING BY WITH A GRAPHIC TSHIRT WITH BIEBS ON IT!
Now, you may be doing the same thing I did. Rationalizing it. “Well, he is an international celebrity… Young girls love him so of course they are wearing him on their shirts… it’s probably just a coincidence… had I seen her subconsciously before?”
This is what I always do, it’s a constant battle between my head and my heart.
“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” -1 Corinthians 2:14
Giggling at the internal battle, I decided to share with my teammates, and I am so grateful that instead of laughing at me, they encouraged me! Even though we were a few blocks away at this point, they willingly turned around and went back with me to speak with this girl and see what the Lord had up his sleeve.
We made friendly conversation with this girl who mostly nervous giggled when we asked her questions (relatable), before I not-so-subtly jumped to it and asked her if we could pray for her. She said no. So… there was that curve ball.
BUT before she ran for the mountains, Gabbie reminded me about the bracelet I had made to give away so I took it off and offered it to her. She was so full of joy and seemed to visibly make up her mind that maybe we were worth talking to a bit longer. I asked this girl if she knew of Jesus and she said YES but that she was Hindu and did not want to hear more at the time. All in all it was a lovely moment that did not necessarily produce immediate fruit but could have been a seed planted or a sprout watered.
“And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness- timid and trembling. And my message and preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied on the Holy Spirit.” -1 Corinthians 2:1-4
I love you all and I pray that you seek the Lord with a new perspective this month, whether it is through a gentle gust of wind, a smile from a stranger, or even a Justin Bieber tshirt.
Is it too late now to say Sorry…. for all the Bieber pics?
“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” -Hebrews 2:1
