Let’s backtrack in time just a little bit and go back to Taiwan…
It’s 7 a.m. and this is the first time that our team is officially by ourselves away from our squad after all-squad month. So we’re on the way to the train station and I’m just mentally preparing for our 5 hour train ride to the southern part of Taiwan.
Okay 5 hours, no sweat, I’ve been on long planes and it was no problem. I’ll just sleep for a bit since I had a late night packing, maybe talk to whoever I’m with on my team, nah we’ll just play it by ear.
So here I am boarding the train and this fear and disappointment just swept over me. I didn’t get to sit with ANY of my team! I had to sit with this woman that I’m thinking probably doesn’t even speak English.
Woah, wait a second, why the heck am I thinking like that?! That’s not why I came on this trip, I’m here to show the love of Christ to everybody I meet! Get your act together dude! So thank you Holy Spirit for convicting me of that passive Christian life that I lived for so long.
Let’s be honest I may not ever have the chance to see this woman again. My first interaction with this lady was helping her move her luggage to the top of the train, which really was nothing compared to my 35 pound backpack haha. We sit down and there is no delay in conversation. We talk about so many different topics all the way from sharing about my family, and hearing about her husband and all her children, to getting married one day, our individual adventures, and so much more.
Funny side note: She told me all the young women here want a husband that has a lot of money to give to them so they can spend it. Learned where all the “pretty women” live also. Literally having such a hard time keeping it together in these moments of conversation!
We had such good conversation though about most everything under the sun and all the while I’m just praying Jesus please give me this opportunity to share how good you are and how much you love her. Give me the boldness to speak only what you want me to speak. I just want to see your name glorified.
So one moment as we are talking she mentioned a proverb and I asked where she heard it from trying to make a connection and just went blank and I thought dang I missed my chance. But moments later she mentioned heaven and hell out of nowhere and I felt Holy Spirit say this is your opportunity that you asked for, now run with it.
“Are you a Christian?”
“No, my father was not a Christian, so I am not because I want to honor him.”
“I am a follower of Jesus Christ, have you heard about Jesus?”
“Oh yes, yes, I’ve heard of Jesus. Doesn’t Jesus have poems?”
“Oh Yes we have so many poems written about Jesus!”
I pulled out my Bible and began to open it to Psalms and she took it from my hands and just began to flip all through the different psalms reading many of them excitedly! I was able to share how Jesus loves every single person and wants to know each of us personally. How he loves talking with us and spending time together. How he took all of the pain that I used to feel and replaced it with His joy, when I am worried He gives me peace, and when I feel alone I know He is there and is my friend.
We talk on and off of the subject multiple times from then on and there was one moment that I had such a heart for her. She began talking about different places that have a lot of crime and those that don’t. But she would stop in the middle of telling me this and say, “oh, but you don’t have to worry about any of that because you have Jesus and He gives you peace and is your friend.” My heart was so full when she said that. This lady honestly understands it more than half of the Christians that I know and I just told her about the Jesus that I know.
She was with her brother and sister and a couple other friends and introduced me to all of them and we all talked together and became like family. They said we will buy rice boxes for you and your friends. I tried to tell them they didn’t need to do that but they kept insisting that they wanted to do that for us!
What blows me away with this whole story is how much of Christ they were showing to me who was but a stranger only a few hours prior to our encounter on the train. That challenged me so much to really think about who is Christ really to me? And if Christ is who He says He is and I believe that to be true, then how does my life reflect that truth? How much more should I, a follower of Jesus, let my life be an example to those who have not seen the light. They should be able to see through the way I live my life, through word and deed, what it means to love Christ and to love people.
Prayer Requests:
I’m hitting that point in the trip that there’s not that constant excitement always there but am having to really learn how to choose joy when I’m just not feeling it.
Unity in our new team, Freaks and Geeks
I’m missing home more often and wandering thoughts of post-race but I want to keep my focus on the here and now during this time that God has me out here so just pray with me in that.
And lastly, I’ve only got about $1000 left on my support raising! So prayers for finishing that out and if you feel led to give that would help so much!
Love you all and I am so thankful for your constant prayers for me and my team. I couldn’t be here without you so thank you for all your love and encouragement!
