When the earthquake hit Haiti in 2010, my heart began to thump. My wife noticed the rapt attention with which I watched the CNN report by Anderson Cooper and she knew without a doubt that I was going to head there in the coming months.
I am a firm believer of this: "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps." A few months later I received a mail from Dr Ebere Azumah who gave me leads to serve in Haiti. We have now ministered in Haiti for several years.
While there, I met a Catholic brother Thomas Graves who loves Jesus. When you fall ill, pray Dr Tom is the one on duty. He is a true and compassionate servant of God.
A few days ago I read a post that he wrote and just had to share.
Last night, at the Encounter Ministries Conference in Toledo, we walked to dinner.
The restaurant we chose was closed...so we went to Jimmy John’s instead (it was next door).
Our group of 7 included Anne Graves and Beth Allison, two young girls from Flint (Beth and Taylor), Joseph Serwach, and Fr James Mangan from Flint.
I was picking up our sandwiches for the group and was delighted by Barbara, an animated woman busily slicing bread and creating our Jimmy John’s dinner.
I had brought a silver crucifix on a chain from Saint Paul Street Evangelization (they handed these out at the conference).
I gave it to Barbara, and asked,
“Is there anything I could pray for you?”
She looked at me for a long moment...as if deciding if she’d ask for something...
Then Barbara surprised me!
She said, “I’m an atheist! But I don’t want to be. So if you’re going to pray, pray that God makes Himself real to me.”
By that time, young Fr James was standing next to me to help carry our food to the table.
I could feel the depth of his love and compassion for Barbara - as Fr James said,
“We all need that prayer sometimes. You’re not alone.”
This priest in His young 30’s was so gentle, so kind...so patient...
His love and gentle respect were obvious - and Barbara smiled...
I wanted to pray for her right then, but a crowd had formed of hungry Jimmy John customers.
So I promised to pray, and took our sandwiches to our table.
There, Fr James and I shared with our group what happened.
One of the young girls waited until after all the other customers were gone, and then silently moved to the counter and engaged Barbara in conversation.
They began laughing together and chatting like old friends.
Then she called the rest of us to join them.
We did...and since there were no customers waiting, we asked Barbara if we could pray for her now.
Barbara said, “Yes,” and she bowed her head.
We prayed - and the words God chose to speak through us were:
“I love you!
You’re my daughter!
You are very special and full of love.
You have been given the gift to make people happy, a gift I hope you use a lot.
I will never leave you.”
We asked God in prayer to fill Barbara’s heart with love.
To make Himself undeniably real to her.
Barbara at once looked joyful, but with eyes filled with tears.
We told her we loved her, too.
And we left.
Barbara remains in our hearts, and in our prayers.
She is our sister - who we hope falls deeply in love with Jesus.
And who we hope shares that love with every person who enters Jimmy Johns.
Please pray for Barbara.
PS: Father James, Beth and Taylor are associated with Dorothy’s House of Coffee in Flint...
It’s a special place where people can get coffee, but also where kind hearted people who volunteer there will chat with you, and pray for you.
If these are the folks working there, on a bad day...I might be driving to Flint for prayer!!!!
Our group of 7 included Anne Graves and Beth Allison, two young girls from Flint (Beth and Taylor), Joseph Serwach, and Fr James Mangan from Flint.
I was picking up our sandwiches for the group and was delighted by Barbara, an animated woman busily slicing bread and creating our Jimmy John’s dinner.
I had brought a silver crucifix on a chain from Saint Paul Street Evangelization (they handed these out at the conference).
I gave it to Barbara, and asked,
“Is there anything I could pray for you?”
She looked at me for a long moment...as if deciding if she’d ask for something...
Then Barbara surprised me!
She said, “I’m an atheist! But I don’t want to be. So if you’re going to pray, pray that God makes Himself real to me.”
By that time, young Fr James was standing next to me to help carry our food to the table.
I could feel the depth of his love and compassion for Barbara - as Fr James said,
“We all need that prayer sometimes. You’re not alone.”
This priest in His young 30’s was so gentle, so kind...so patient...
His love and gentle respect were obvious - and Barbara smiled...
I wanted to pray for her right then, but a crowd had formed of hungry Jimmy John customers.
So I promised to pray, and took our sandwiches to our table.
There, Fr James and I shared with our group what happened.
One of the young girls waited until after all the other customers were gone, and then silently moved to the counter and engaged Barbara in conversation.
They began laughing together and chatting like old friends.
Then she called the rest of us to join them.
She said, “I’m an atheist! But I don’t want to be. So if you’re going to pray, pray that God makes Himself real to me.”
We did...and since there were no customers waiting, we asked Barbara if we could pray for her now.
Barbara said, “Yes,” and she bowed her head.
We prayed - and the words God chose to speak through us were:
“I love you!
You’re my daughter!
You are very special and full of love.
You have been given the gift to make people happy, a gift I hope you use a lot.
I will never leave you.”
We asked God in prayer to fill Barbara’s heart with love.
To make Himself undeniably real to her.
Barbara at once looked joyful, but with eyes filled with tears.
We told her we loved her, too.
And we left.
Barbara remains in our hearts, and in our prayers.
She is our sister - who we hope falls deeply in love with Jesus.
And who we hope shares that love with every person who enters Jimmy Johns.
Please pray for Barbara.
PS: Father James, Beth and Taylor are associated with Dorothy’s House of Coffee in Flint...
It’s a special place where people can get coffee, but also where kind hearted people who volunteer there will chat with you, and pray for you.
If these are the folks working there, on a bad day...I might be driving to Flint for prayer!!!!
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