THE GRANDMA WHO BELONGED TO ANOTHER WORLD

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