THE TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN HIGH-TRIPLE-DIGIT OUTSIDE so you
can be certain we are ready for some cool air. No doubt our friendly 2006 Chevy
Equinox knows exactly where to go. Sure enough--- this “Red Salsa” swings
around a curve and pulls into another Texas mall.
WHO KNOWS WHAT OPPORTUNITY IS HIDDEN BEHIND THOSE HUGE
GLASS DOORS? I HAVE THE FEELING THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.
As senior citizens, we know our need to exercise more so
we frequently make use of mall walking space. But don’t’ think that is the main
reason we are here. One look and your vision is filled with shoppers and
walkers from all over the world. The Lord must surely agree when we transpose
His command into “Go ye into all the malls…” for all the world has now appeared
within their walls.
I LEARNED TO LEAVE MY HUGE PURSE AT HOME and instead use
this unique lightweight, over the shoulder bag that has about four zippered pockets
to hold my variety of gospel tracts. One pocket gets international and
specialty tracts, in different languages, or for specific religions. Another
holds my small business card type tracts like the great Man-Card tract and the
ones I get free from the online Bezeugen Tract Club. Another holds my million
dollar tracts and larger sized gospel tracts. I save the back for my personal
items.
NO ONE IS SITTING ON THAT BENCH.
Let’s just stop here and
leave a million dollars! It is always interesting to look back and see who
picks it up after you walk away. Each tract is a gospel seed planted.
BOB SEES A SOLDIER SEATED IN A SMALL SIDE AREA and heads
over to him engaging him in conversation and leaving a ManCard in his hand. The
friendly smile of appreciation for just being thanked means a lot. We often try
to express appreciation to military people and offer them the gospel.
I leave a few more million dollars along the way hoping
for an opportunity to converse with someone.
After walking steadily for awhile we find a sitting area
where others are also relaxing in the comfortable coolness of the mall.
MY EYES ARE DRAWN TO A LADY SEATED ACROSS FROM US.
She seems to be staring at a card and not moving. What is
she doing? Her long flowing, colorful dress, and uniquely twisted head wrap appears
to belong to another world.
She is still looking at that small card and now her lips
appear to be slightly moving. Is she praying? Looking closer I realize that she
is holding a prayer card with the picture of either Mary, or some other saint
on the back.
ALMOST HIDDEN IN THE FOLDS OF HER MODEST DRESS ARE BEADS
OF VARIOUS COLORS---a long strand of beads. I conclude that they must be rosary
beads and continue to pray that the Lord will allow me to speak to this lady.
Having been to Kenya, East Africa, and associating with
people there makes me suspect that this is an African lady—not a young one, but
perhaps a grandma.
THIS IS MY MOMENT.
While she is still seated there I get up and walk over to
her with a smile and kneel down beside her as she turns her eyes toward me with
curiosity.
“Who is this woman and why is she kneeling here?” I’m
sure she wondered.
“HELLO,” I SAY, AND QUIETLY WHISPER, “ARE YOU PRAYING?”
“Yes,” is her quick response as she shows me her prayer
card and tells me that she always prays.
“DO YOU KNOW JESUS?”
She becomes exuberant, and her face becomes one large
grin. She knows about Jesus.
I tell her, “Jesus loves you.”
Her gentle brown skinned face nods in agreement as I tell
her how Jesus died for her sins, and that He is the only One who has the power
to forgive her and to save her.
“DO YOU KNOW THAT JESUS WANTS YOU TO TALK TO HIM? HE IS
WAITING TO HEAR YOUR VOICE TALK TO HIM.”
Although she has been earnestly talking to someone else in her prayers, she seems
to be receiving the words I am speaking to her.
“You can talk to Jesus! He will listen to you. You don’t
have to ask someone else to talk to Jesus for you.”
“Are you from Africa?” I ask.
“Yes, from Lagos, Nigeria.” She is anxious to tell me
that she is here visiting family and will soon return to Nigeria.
MY HEART REACHES OUT TO HER, WANTING SO MUCH TO MAKE THE
GOSPEL CLEAR TO HER, BUT TIME IS SO LIMITED.
So I turn to another tool that I have tucked away in that
little over-the-shoulder bag---the JESUS DVD that is used all over Africa and
other mission fields to present the whole story of Jesus to Muslims, and
others, concluding with a wonderful invitation to come to Christ for salvation.
“I am so happy to meet you,“ I tell her as she reaches to touch my arm
expressing her thankfulness that I came over to talk with her.
“I HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GIFT THAT I WANT TO GIVE YOU TO
TAKE BACK TO NIGERIA WITH YOU.”
I hand her the DVD and explain that it is the story of
Jesus, and is in English, as well as some African languages.
This dear lady seems overjoyed to receive my little gift,
and my heart is filled with thanksgiving that I could present even this much of
the gospel to her. It was with smiles and handshakes that we parted and went on
our way.
She may listen to that story of Jesus and receive Him as
her own personal Savior. She may let others listen to it also, and who knows
how many may be touched, through that little meeting in the center of that
Texas mall. Thank you Lord!
DO YOU KNOW THAT A
MALL SOMEWHERE IS WAITING FOR YOU? NOT TO SHOP, BUT TO GO ON A SPECIAL MISSION
FOR THE MASTER! GO AND DO IT! YOU CAN
