Last night I went to visit my Irish girl friends before they flew out today to go home for the summer. I showed up late around 10 and stayed out till past 1. Shhh, dont tell. Thats not the point of the story. There were 5 girls and one guy living together in this condo by the beach. THey are so sweet and so fun to be around. I sat down to chat and the boy Rob started asking me why I was here. After explaining myself he said, are you like a Jehovah's witness? I asked him what the believed and he gave me this crazy image of a hellish purgatory that you spend time in after death and then go to some hypothetical heaven. Then he asked me what I believed. First words out of my mouth was Jesus. So we spent the next few hours, with another girl named Sinead, discussing so many aspects of the gospel. I got to share my story of faith and even my testimony. I would break out into random smiles as I considered my surroundings. Sitting on a couch in California, sharing my story of grace with these Irish kids. The Church in Ireland sounds so dead. Everything I told them was backwards from what they encounter, its irrelevant to their generation. Its old and boring!!! I told them about what it means to be saved, and have a relationship with Christ, and why I don't drink or have sex, and why I live my life the way I do. I explained to them the meaning of grace and freedom in Christ. It was the most beautiful picture. THey listened intentfully. Their minds are blocked by the need for physical evidence of the validity of Christ and the Bible. I asked them, I wonder if you tasted the way I have been raised for a day, would you be satisfied? I know that God is doing a great work in the lives of these people. I love them with the love of Christ and want so badly for them to not only believe but live a full and abundant life. I got their email addresses and look forward to keeping in contact with them.
Today Amanda, my deaf friend flew home. Its hard to believe and I can hardly comprehend it. She has been sick since weve been here. Everything from pink eye, to pneumonia, a bladder, kindey, yeast, and gall bladder infection. She needs surgery and thats why she went home. It happened in a matter of hours. I choose to believe again the good things I know to be true of GOd. I am continually considering the things that GOd taught me this summer through dealing with her. I Still dont know what she learned or what changed in her this summer. My heart breaks, I want so badly for her to be changed. I praise God for my time with her and trust in expectation of the good things He will do in her life. OUr God is a master planner and uses abrupt endings in His stories.
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