Today was our off day so I slept in until after 10 o’clock! If you know my early bird self, you know that’s a rarity. I spent the next few hours hiding out in our bedroom ‘cave’ spending time with the Lord. When I was done, I ventured out to see what I should do next.
As I walked down the street, I saw a little restaurant our team had eaten at a few nights ago and I remembered there was some kind of delicious french toast on the menu. So, I peeked my head in the door but then decided I would keep going. As I turned to leave, a man joyfully greeted me. He asked me where I was from and told me with great English that he was from here but had lived in Chicago for awhile. He gestured me to come inside and I politely declined telling him I was going to keep walking. But, just as I said it, I heard a little whisper in my head say “no, stay here”. I didn’t really want to but I said “Ok, Lord.”
He enthusiastically showed me the menu and helped me order that french toast explaining to me this was his brothers restaurant. I noticed right away that this man was eager to chat and share his story with me when he came back over and sat down at the table across from me. As I sipped my coffee, he told me how he had worked 14 years at the same well paying job, recieving awards for his outstanding performance even, until in 2009 he was accused of stealing and was fired. “I didn’t do it” he told me.
“I believe you” was my response as I looked into eyes filled with hurt and frustration. Here he was, years later, sitting at his laptop with paperwork splayed out, still striving for justice to prove his innocence. He told me that since being laid off it has been hard.
As we continued talking, I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to get out my bible which I had tucked in my backpack. I told him that I know someone who also loves justice. I opened up to Deuteronomy 33:36 and read to him this verse “Indeed, the LORD will give justice to His people.” He repeated it out loud a few times as he eagerly jotted it down on the back of his packet of legal information. Then I read him Matthew 5:6 “God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.” Again, he gestured for me to slide the bible across the table and copied the verse down. I saw glimmers of hope come alive in him as God’s Word has a tendancy to do to one’s soul. I told him that God sees his situation and can help. I encouraged him to start praying to the Lord and he said he would. Before we parted ways he asked for my email and I told him to contact me anytime. I am hopeful that our encounter showed him that God does care about his situation but more than that wants a relationship with him.
I am so grateful that God doesn’t cause injustice or allow it forever, but He can work good out of it maybe even using it to draw someone closer to Himself. I also thank God that a simple yes is all it takes for a divine appointment to happen. When we slow down and for a moment remove from our hearts the idols of business and our own agendas God can work out impactful encounters before our very eyes. What an awesome and compassionate Father He is.
Just to give a quick update on everything else…
Ministry this month has been focused so far on PRAYER! We have done lots of interceding and praying as a team. It has also involved EVANGELISM at the University, cooking and cleaning at our YWAM base, some teaching and sharing at church and at weekly meetings, and some manual labor! On Monday we leave for the villages for a week. We will be doing a variety of things there, as always it’s an adventure and we don’t really know until we get there. Then, at the end of the month we will be meeting back together with our whole squad for a few days in Bangkok before flying to EUROPE!!! We have a 14 hour layover in Rome and then we are off to Albania. Truly, I thank you for reading this and supporting my journey. Love and hugs… -Jenna
