On the plane from Nashville to Atlanta
*owner of an information technology company originally from India.
"I'm a practicing Hindu. My wife is very religious and so is my son. I got serious about it when I married my wife and have been consistent ever since... Shivah is the main deity I believe in."
"That's interesting. So, do you know anything about Jesus?"
"Actually, when I was a child, I lived in Sri Lanka for a few years. My father was in the military so our family moved around quite a bit. My siblings and I attended a church every week and I heard a lot of Bible stories from the teachers there. They're not faded memories, I mean, I have very vivid memories of the stories about Jesus."
"Wow, that's cool. What do you think about him now?"
"Well, they told me that he was God. Not so sure now. But I think it's great that you believe in him so strongly. I think everyone needs something to believe in. If they don't, they're lost."
*still praying for him to know Jesus as God.
Next to the cruise ship quay downtown Nassau (Bahamas)
*young Bahamian guy
"Yeah, I'm backslidden. I'm not living for Jesus and if I died today, I would go to Hell."
"You know you don't have to. You can change that right now."
"Yeah, but I'm just gonna wait for the right timing. Not today."
"That's kind of risky. What if the end comes before you're ready?"
"Well, I just won't be ready. I don't want to change today. Not today."
"What's the thing that's stopping you from following Jesus?"
"It's just.... I'm not ready."
"Ok... well... we're here talking to you right now because we don't want you to go to Hell. We want you to be saved and start a real relationship with Jesus. We don't want to preach down at you. We just really care about you."
....*head nod, pursed lips*
College of the Bahamas sitting under a gazebo
*college girl, giving her a survey
"So this is the most important question: If you died today, do you know where you would spend eternity?"
".......uh.....no......ok, so I have a question. If you get saved, can you lose it?
"Well, it's kind of like when you decide to get on a boat. God's not gonna keep you on there if you change your mind and don't wanna be on it anymore."
"So... I could lose it?"
"Yeah... basically... you make that decision."
"Oh... *nods head, serious look*... ok. Go ahead, what's the next survey question?"
*at the end of the survey, my friend and I prayed with her to be set free from whatever was separating her from God.
Nassau Airport, Gate C51
*traveling muscian
"So do you ever go to any churches when you travel?"
"....*shakes head, smiles warmly*....No, I don't really believe in anything. I'm originally Hindu, but since I moved to California, I just follow my heart."
"Has your heart ever lead you in the wrong direction?"
"No. Never."
"Not even one time that you can remember? Have you thought about it before?"
"I don't think. I just do." *casual shoulder shrug
".......So.... where do you think you would go if your life ended today?"
"I don't think about that."
"What if you....?"
"I don't like this project. Let's start a new project."
"....Ok.... uh.... well, how long have you been playing the bamboo flute?"
Seaside outdoor restaurant
*waiter who just read our message written in ketchup: "Thanks for excellent service. Jesus loves you."
"Oh wow." *big smile
"You like it?"
"I'll have to show it to the guys in the back." *starts walking away
"Sir! Are you a Christian?"
"Does goin' to church count?"
".....uh.... no... not really." *smirk
"It's been years since I was really livin' for him. I've been waiting for the right time to come back to him."
"Well....*suggestive smile*....how bout now?"
*he prayed with us and decided to start living for Jesus again.
Great spring break mission trip to the Bahamas with the best campus ministry in the world. Lots of good conversations no matter what the end results were. We trust that the Holy Spirit is still working. Our team members collectively saw 75 salvations/re-dedications.
You can share your faith, too. Christians are called do it. Go ahead.
Showing posts with label real talk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label real talk. Show all posts
Friday, March 21, 2014
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Most Valuable Puh-campers
This summer I'm working at an incredible Christian summer camp called Camp Beechpoint. This is a ministry that focuses on child evangelism. Some kids come from local areas and others, from the inner city neighborhoods of Chicago. Ranging from ages 8 to 14, these kids need Jesus. As a cabin leader, I want to give Him to them.
These are a few of the incredible kids I've met and discipled.
First, there's Kira--the girl in my cabin who I fell completely in love with. A beautiful eight-year-old with dark hair, dark eyes, a dark complexion, and a smile that seemed like a great reward given to the one who triggered it. Her presence was sweet and refreshing like vanilla icecream. Her voice was calming and soothing like doing a back float in Lake Doumont (at Camp Beechpoint). Underneath her meekness is an ocean of bravery and passion. Despite her undeniable fear of tubing on the lake, when the time came, she cautiously eased onto the intertube I was laying on and said with a soft, shaky voice, "I wanna ride with you, Miss Liz."
I felt joy and pride flow out of me as I belayed her up the scary height of the rock wall. At that moment, I wanted nothing more in life than to see her reach the very top--and she did. I gave her a great big hug as her feet hit the floor mat. That night, when devotions were over, Kira raised her hand to say yes to Jesus--to allow Him to use her life to tell others the Gospel. Lord, let it be done.
Next, there's Morgan. My first impression of her was a bit sour. She subtly communicated that she didn't want to be at camp. She pretended like she couldn't understand what I was saying and bluntly stated, "You talk weird." Her comment poked me right in the pride. This pattern of miscommunication continued and I decided to boldly say, "Oh Morgan, we're gonna be best friends."
By the end of that first night, we were. She was always by my side and always asking to sit next to me at every meal time. She would surprise me by her willingness to help set the table or to encourage her cabin mate to drink all of her water.
Once, she was talking to one of the other girls about homesickness:
"You know, you're lucky. You get to see your parents all the time. My mom died when I was four and my dad's in the army."
On the last night, she told everyone the incredible story of how God healed her. She was born as a premature baby with a hole in her heart. The doctors determined that she needed surgery, but didn't proceed without a prayer spoken by a pastor. Morgan was healed thanks to a faithful man of God, skillful surgeons, and God's anointing on both.
I'm so convinced that girl has a beautiful destiny.
Then, there's Shane. The boy that I first saw standing by himself under an occupied bird house. He was flapping his arms frantically and making bird noises... actually it was more like the sound that Mario makes when he's fighting Bowser (Wah! Wah! Wah!). Naturally, I stopped and then stared and then started laughing and then started doing the same thing. He noticed my appreciation and gave me a big, radiant smile.
Instant friends.
I learned his name from his cabin mates shouting for him to hurry up and leave the birds alone. He walked away smiling at me. We would always do the strange bird calls to each other whenever we randomly crossed paths during the day.
The next evening at fireside, like always, campers were invited to stay behind and talk with their cabin leader if they have something on their heart. I was with my girls planning to walk them back to our cabin and leave my co-leader there to talk with campers. Before I could lift myself from the log, I heard Shane say, "Hey, lady! Can you come talk to me?"
I paused a bit, thinking about my girls, but then decided to ask my co to take care of them--I was wanted by a young man with a chewed up name tag hanging from his neck. I walked across thinking that he just wanted some attention from me. Once we sat down beside each other, he began to say things I wasn't expecting to hear:
"Ummmm... I... I'm really having a hard time doing what God wants me to do. Like today I told so-and-so that I hate him, but I didn't really mean it and I feel bad now."
and things like:
"When everyone was throwing paper planes today, I tripped so-and-so, but.... I know that's not right and.... I just... wanna do the right thing."
"...but I hate him. He's always mean to me... and to everybody in the cabin..."
"I come from a hard family... my bothers say stuff to me all the time."
"My cabin leaders said I have one more strike... and... and if I mess up again, I might get kicked out.... I don't wanna get kicked out..."
and then something that just pierced me:
"He called me fattie and a retard and he said I can't run or throw a ball or catch a ball... and... I wanna be an NFL player when I grow up."
He kept pouring himself out for about thirty minutes and then asked if we could pray. I agreed and suggested that he pray after me. He agreed.
I said my prayer holding back emotions and tears. And then... he started praying.
"Jesus, ummmm.... I just need you to help me. I want you to come in and change me, please...
I don't wanna be like my brothers, Jesus...."
He ended his prayer with "And, Jesus. It's been a really good Fourth of July."
I couldn't help it. I just let my tears come out as his head was bowed while lifting up one of the most beautiful and genuine prayers I've ever heard.
I told him that he was a king. He could hardly believe me.
These are a few of the incredible kids I've met and discipled.
Kira
First, there's Kira--the girl in my cabin who I fell completely in love with. A beautiful eight-year-old with dark hair, dark eyes, a dark complexion, and a smile that seemed like a great reward given to the one who triggered it. Her presence was sweet and refreshing like vanilla icecream. Her voice was calming and soothing like doing a back float in Lake Doumont (at Camp Beechpoint). Underneath her meekness is an ocean of bravery and passion. Despite her undeniable fear of tubing on the lake, when the time came, she cautiously eased onto the intertube I was laying on and said with a soft, shaky voice, "I wanna ride with you, Miss Liz."
I felt joy and pride flow out of me as I belayed her up the scary height of the rock wall. At that moment, I wanted nothing more in life than to see her reach the very top--and she did. I gave her a great big hug as her feet hit the floor mat. That night, when devotions were over, Kira raised her hand to say yes to Jesus--to allow Him to use her life to tell others the Gospel. Lord, let it be done.
Morgan
Next, there's Morgan. My first impression of her was a bit sour. She subtly communicated that she didn't want to be at camp. She pretended like she couldn't understand what I was saying and bluntly stated, "You talk weird." Her comment poked me right in the pride. This pattern of miscommunication continued and I decided to boldly say, "Oh Morgan, we're gonna be best friends."
By the end of that first night, we were. She was always by my side and always asking to sit next to me at every meal time. She would surprise me by her willingness to help set the table or to encourage her cabin mate to drink all of her water.
Once, she was talking to one of the other girls about homesickness:
"You know, you're lucky. You get to see your parents all the time. My mom died when I was four and my dad's in the army."
On the last night, she told everyone the incredible story of how God healed her. She was born as a premature baby with a hole in her heart. The doctors determined that she needed surgery, but didn't proceed without a prayer spoken by a pastor. Morgan was healed thanks to a faithful man of God, skillful surgeons, and God's anointing on both.
I'm so convinced that girl has a beautiful destiny.
Shane
Then, there's Shane. The boy that I first saw standing by himself under an occupied bird house. He was flapping his arms frantically and making bird noises... actually it was more like the sound that Mario makes when he's fighting Bowser (Wah! Wah! Wah!). Naturally, I stopped and then stared and then started laughing and then started doing the same thing. He noticed my appreciation and gave me a big, radiant smile.
Instant friends.
I learned his name from his cabin mates shouting for him to hurry up and leave the birds alone. He walked away smiling at me. We would always do the strange bird calls to each other whenever we randomly crossed paths during the day.
The next evening at fireside, like always, campers were invited to stay behind and talk with their cabin leader if they have something on their heart. I was with my girls planning to walk them back to our cabin and leave my co-leader there to talk with campers. Before I could lift myself from the log, I heard Shane say, "Hey, lady! Can you come talk to me?"
I paused a bit, thinking about my girls, but then decided to ask my co to take care of them--I was wanted by a young man with a chewed up name tag hanging from his neck. I walked across thinking that he just wanted some attention from me. Once we sat down beside each other, he began to say things I wasn't expecting to hear:
"Ummmm... I... I'm really having a hard time doing what God wants me to do. Like today I told so-and-so that I hate him, but I didn't really mean it and I feel bad now."
and things like:
"When everyone was throwing paper planes today, I tripped so-and-so, but.... I know that's not right and.... I just... wanna do the right thing."
"...but I hate him. He's always mean to me... and to everybody in the cabin..."
"I come from a hard family... my bothers say stuff to me all the time."
"My cabin leaders said I have one more strike... and... and if I mess up again, I might get kicked out.... I don't wanna get kicked out..."
and then something that just pierced me:
"He called me fattie and a retard and he said I can't run or throw a ball or catch a ball... and... I wanna be an NFL player when I grow up."
He kept pouring himself out for about thirty minutes and then asked if we could pray. I agreed and suggested that he pray after me. He agreed.
I said my prayer holding back emotions and tears. And then... he started praying.
"Jesus, ummmm.... I just need you to help me. I want you to come in and change me, please...
I don't wanna be like my brothers, Jesus...."
He ended his prayer with "And, Jesus. It's been a really good Fourth of July."
I couldn't help it. I just let my tears come out as his head was bowed while lifting up one of the most beautiful and genuine prayers I've ever heard.
I told him that he was a king. He could hardly believe me.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Real Talk
I had a conversation with some international students today at lunch:
Me: I'm going home this weekend for Father's Day.
-Oh, we will miss you.
- Will you say to your father, "I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU!"
Me: Ha ha! Maybe. I don't usually do that.
- In China, it is not common for children to say "I love you" to their parents.
Me: Yeah, actually, when I was growing up, I didn't say it very much, but when I moved to college, I started saying it more.
-*nod heads*
Me: And now I really say it more because in April, there was a big storm and a tree fell on my house. My parents almost died, but they didn't.
-Because of God? He saved them?
Me: Yeah.... because of God...
Me: I'm going home this weekend for Father's Day.
-Oh, we will miss you.
- Will you say to your father, "I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU!"
Me: Ha ha! Maybe. I don't usually do that.
- In China, it is not common for children to say "I love you" to their parents.
Me: Yeah, actually, when I was growing up, I didn't say it very much, but when I moved to college, I started saying it more.
-*nod heads*
Me: And now I really say it more because in April, there was a big storm and a tree fell on my house. My parents almost died, but they didn't.
-Because of God? He saved them?
Me: Yeah.... because of God...
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