So I posted about Syria on Facebook awhile back but I’m going to repost this as a blog. This was such a cool moment this month for sure. I love this guy so much, one of my favorite people in Nkhata Bay.
Following was written November 29th, 2019
“This is Syria I met him the first day we got to Nkhata Bay, he and I quickly became friends. He told me that first meeting that he follows Jesus and even ministers to others in the community. The other day I was going to go for a swim, I came down to the deck and Syria was sitting next to the steps heading to the beach. Honestly, I had zero intention of speaking to him. In fact, I thought to myself Syria is there, and he is going to stop me and talk to me, darn it. All I wanted to do was go swimming and cool off. So I headed towards the steps and something changed, Syria hadn’t even looked up yet to notice me and I was already engaging with him. Next thing I knew I found myself sitting in the chair next to him. I asked how he was doing and we quickly got into a spiritual conversation and I don’t even know how it came up, but I asked Syria how does God speak to him. He didn’t really know how to answer, so I gave him an example of how God speaks to me. I told him that very often God speak through literature and that the Holy Spirit will not let a lesson I need to learn slip by. Then Syria told me that he doesn’t know if he even has the Holy Spirit to guide him. I couldn’t believe it. Here is a man believing in Jesus Christ as his Savior and he is unsure if he has the Holy Spirit. I didn’t have my Bible on me at the time, but I was able to reassure him in a certain amount of ways that he does in fact have the Holy Spirit within him. I told him that somewhere in 1 Corinthians (1 Cor 12:3, sorry I didn’t have my Bible) it says that no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Syria was very encouraged by this simple truth and told me he has heard very little about the Holy Spirit and thanked me for sharing that with him. I told him we would meet later and that we would go through Scripture together that tells us truth about this blessing we have been given. I went swimming.
So today Syria came to the hostel to charge his phone, that is why he comes here in the first place. I just happened to spot him going downstairs to the deck. This had to have been perfect timing because it is very easy to miss people heading to the deck, depending on where they enter the hostel. Again, I had other plans in mind but I was urged to get my Bible and go meet with him. We spent 30 – 45 minutes going over Scripture together and no doubt this time was guided by the Holy Spirit. The amount we covered was WAY more than I had originally thought, and Syria was writing down every verse and chapter we covered to study later. This man was so happy during our talk and especially after. God ministered to this man so much right in front of me today. Before today, our brother didn’t even know the full amount of the blessing we have received in Christ. Syria is now walking with so much more power because of what God did today. Brothers and sisters I encourage you with this, God is so eager to use us to lift other brothers, sisters and especially a non believers up, let us pray to always be ready and be willing to speak truth into someone’s life. And as I have seen, even when we aren’t ready, God is going to use us anyway. I’m thankful for that today.”
