October 17, 2016
Before heading over to my next meeting, I texted my GoCorps coach, Mike. I had just experienced a God moment with my friend, Elaine, and I just had to share this unexpected encounter with someone! He lives in the Midwest, meaning, he’s two hours ahead of me. I asked him if we could set up a 6am PST Skype meeting so that I could tell him about what had just happened. He quickly agreed. HOWEVER, because of my eagerness and impatience, I asked him if I could just call him right then and there. Mind you, it was about 9:30pm his time. Over the phone, this unexpected encounter is what I shared with him...
Elaine and I were having dinner in downtown San Jose during happy hour! No, no. We didn’t have adult beverages. We went crazy on their appetizer selection. Kelsey* (name has been changed), our server, was so kind and made sure our orders came out correctly! The cooks had forgotten our bacon in our sliders! You can’t forget the bacon!
While updating each other about the 411s about our lives, I got to share my Mexico City presentation with Elaine. If you have met up with me, I have a whole presentation booklet with some juicy information about my ministry in Mexico City! Well, as I was sharing these paper slides with Elaine, Kelsey came around to check up on us. As she was doing so, she commented, “Is this your business pitch?”
Usually. For the most part. In my experience. Servers don’t sit with you. Ever. However, Kelsey joined us! Elaine scooted over to make room for Kelsey. I was able to share with Kelsey that I am going to Mexico to be a teacher for pastor’s and missionary’s children. I was also able to share a shortened version of my story of how I got to this point. As I was sharing all of this with Kelsey, she commented again, “You seem so much at peace.”
I was able to share with her that I was able to give ALL of my burdens up to God, and when I did give that all up to God, I was truly able to experience the depths of His love, grace, and mercy.
Throughout the conversation, Kelsey shared with us that she has been going through a lot. She shared that she is caring a lot of burdens and that it is hard to carry them alone. I totally related with her. It is hard and exhausting. She then asked me, “What should I do?”
Okay. Hold up. I am 24 years old. She looked maybe 36 years young, but she shared with us that she was MUCH older than that. I have only a fraction of the life experiences that she’s gone through and she was asking ME for advice? I had no clue what to tell her, but only to tell her that she should go and talk with God. HE knows all that she’s gone through. HE knows all the burdens that she carries. HE can lift all of that up for her. God is so good.
It appeared that Kelsey was taking all of that in. As she was, Elaine and I asked if we could pray for her, and Kelsey was more than willing to allow us to pray for her. However, Kelsey was still on the clock. As we were praying for her, she kept peeking to see if new customers had come in through the door. New customers had come in, and she had to go seat them. Reluctantly, she asked if we could pray for her before we left. We were more than willing.
As Kelsey was seating the other customers, I asked Elaine if she knew of any churches that Kelsey could possibly check out. She did. I ripped a piece of paper from my notebook and handed it to her. After writing down the church name, Elaine, a UC Davis student (who lives in an eco-friendly college town), looked at the paper sadly and said, “What a waste of paper!” hehe. I just smiled at her.
The restaurant looked as if it was starting to pick up, so I suggested to Elaine that we write our prayers down for Kelsey. That way, we wouldn’t waste the paper, and Kelsey could read and reread our prayers for her. Elaine and I had the opportunity to write our prayers and words of encouragement for Kelsey, and I am so glad we did.
When Kelsey came around to give us our check, she sadly said that she didn’t think we could pray for her because the restaurant was staring to pick up. I told her that it was totally okay BECAUSE Elaine and I had written our prayers for her!
That night was so surreal. Elaine and I were staring at each other, not in disbelief, but in awe of how God had been working right then and there. It was such a privilege just to experience that moment with Elaine.
I’m glad my GoCorps coach Mike was able to pick up the phone and allow me to share this cool, unexpected encounter because this story was too good to keep to myself. It still is too crazy good to keep to myself! Friends, if you have made it to the end, THANK YOU for reading! 3