End of Kingdom Interruption and the start of Gap Year

Hello everyone, I hope you’re doing well. I’ve made a couple videos to update you, uploaded in chronological order, along with some stories to share.

Story #1

I went to my friend’s wedding last month and it was beautiful. I was at the wedding to celebrate Dara as she was stepping into marriage, in addition I was there to live with purpose, so I got to encourage the groomsmen and the groom. I was able to pray for them and remind them of who God is, and who He says they are. After that, I see an older man on crutches and walk up to him and ask him “What happened, why are you on crutches?” He looked at his wife and gave me a smile. He told me nobody had ever asked him that before and asked me why I would ask such a question. I told him that the God I serve brings healing. After hearing that he shared some of his life and his family’s story with me, then he told me he recently fell and cracked his hip and was waiting for surgery. I asked if I could pray and he said yes. After I prayed he asked for my number. He said he would let me know what the doctor’s says.

A few weeks pass and I receive a text from an unknown number. It was the man from the wedding! He said that his hip no longer had a crack! That the doctors didn’t have much else to do. They told him to take it slow for a few weeks and they expect him to be completely recovered.

I love that I got to be a part of this miracle. I’ve learned that if I live my days with purpose, I won’t miss these golden opportunities even though I went to this wedding to celebrate my friend. I still know there are always people around that need some love and prayer. 

Story #2

 I love arriving to places early, because it gives me uninterrupted space. I was on my way to the Atlanta airport for a flight that night and traveling with my friend Justin, also traveling that day. We took the train from Gainesville to Atlanta. Once the train arrives in Atlanta, another train takes you into the airport, but that second train is a few blocks away, so we walked to the airport train station. As soon as we entered a man asked for help. He asked if I had cash for a train ticket and I told him “no”, I didn’t have any cash. But I would happily buy him a train ticket, so I did. Afterwards, I went back outside to give him the ticket and we started to talk. He shared about his life, how he had presently been thinking about suicide. We ended up accompanying him for few hours, then it was time to get to the airport. My new friend had a day full of pain and sorrow until a train ticket was given to him. He said it was the best day of his life. All we did was listen and encourage him, sometimes that’s all it takes. People need to be loved and heard. If all it takes is me making some flexible time in my schedule consider it done! 

 

Story #3 

I went out to eat some food on Sunday and pulled up to a restaurant on my motorcycle. There was a couple walking by and the man stopped to tell me he really liked my motorcycle. I thanked him and told him I was looking to get some food, and that I would love to treat him and his lady friend to a meal. They were a bit skeptical but eventually said yes. I took them to this delicious Mexican restaurant. I could tell they have never been to it since it is in the back of a market. We ordered food and I told them I was going to stay and eat at the restaurant. At first they said they wanted to take it to go. But they changed their minds and sat with me. I was able to share food with them and stories of my life, even the Gospel and what God is doing in my life.They thought my life as a missionary was wild! They were blown away, and they couldn’t believe that a stranger would buy them food and eat it with them. This is a problem I see often. So many times we see people in need and our first thought is to fill that need. “Oh you need money, here take some money.” But the reality is people need love and time, much more than just money. After lunch together we got to pray and they told me that they wanted to buy me lunch someday. They told me they will be at the same restaurant the following Sunday to share a meal with me again. I am so blessed that I met them, and I hope I get to see them again to share more food and more friendship.