Ava Cunningham
The other day my team & I didn’t have an “assignment” for the day from our ministry host so we took it upon ourselves to go into town and evangelize. It’s a bit difficult to walk up to someone and straight up start evangelizing through a language barrier. I decided that I’d pull out my camera, walk up to people, tell them that I’m trying to capture the story of the town, and ask if they’d be willing to let me photograph them.
This opens up a door for a conversation that could lead to the truth of their Creator.
I walked up to a few different people with my team. Some said yes, some said no. Some lead to conversation, some didn’t. Then we walked up to Ava Cunningham. Miss Ava is an interesting character. After I had taken her photo, I asked if I could photograph her friend that was sitting next to her. Her reply was, “You can for $1 so we can buy rum!”
I told her that I could give her something better than rum. Here’s how the conversation went.
Her: “Marijuana?”
Me: “Nope.”
Her: “Cigarettes?”
Me: “Nope, its way better than those. As a matter of fact, it gives you eternal contentment and eternal joy.”
Her: “Oh! Heroine!”
*My team and I laugh hysterically*
Me: “Nope, keep guessing!”
Her: “I have guessed everything that gives me happiness! There is nothing left!”
Me: “Have you ever heard of Jesus?”
Ava continued on to tell me about her past. She told me that her daughter lives in New Jersey as a minister & choir singer in a Baptist church. She told me that she once was very involved in the church but she backslid. She said, “There are too many distractions for me – Alcohol, drugs, parties, money, everything gets in the way of Jesus.” Our conversation was interrupted when she received a “business” phone call.
I wrote this blog because I want you – yes, you – to pray for Ava. Pray for her reconciliation. Pray for the Lord to draw her back into
