Monday Nov. 30, 2009
Summary ::
Today the HSE class split up between the two buses, one bus went to a shopping center in Desert Hot Springs to hold a free car wash and subsequently went to an RV park to pass out roses and copies of “The Father’s Love Letter,” a collection of Bible verses arranged in such a way that it reads as a love letter to the reader from our Heavenly Father. The other bus went to the College of the Desert to share God’s love with the people on the campus.
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Testimony ::
Brent Williams ::
Rick, Coop and I were talking with people at the College of the Desert today. We joined a young man named Matthew at a courtyard table as he waited for his next class. He told us that he believed in a supreme power that created the universe but that he did not think there was any way to know which religion was true. We talked to Him about the Bible and shared the gospel with Him, to which he replied that he heard it before.
It turns out that Matthew was raised in the church, his parents made him go to service every Sunday. But he did not know Jesus nor looked upon his childhood church experience favorably. At this point we dove into the difference between religious routines and having a personal relationship with the living God, which has always been God’s plan and desire.
As we described God’s spirit living within those who put their faith in Jesus, and Jesus walking with and guiding you through life, you could see Matthew’s entire countenance change as the walls around his heart melted. He told us he could see that we knew God in a way he never knew was possible, and expressed his desire to also know God and experience a loving relationship with Him. To our great joy Matthew tenderly told God he wanted to know Him and surrendered his life to Christ!
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Caitlin Gibson ::
Last night we went to a Baptist church to help with dinner and teaching. Before-hand we went door to door inviting people. We ended up inviting this girl, turns out she came! She brought her sister and her friend. She is 18 and has a 2 year old. She (Sabrina) was such a sweet girl and we asked her about death, if she knew where she was going. Ironically she was going to a funeral that night. She ended up coming to the dinner and she was so ready for Jesus, she wanted His love. She cried in my arms and just knew God could take away all the pain from her sin. I had a chance to pray for her and her sister and friend.
I know even though she didn’t pray “the prayer” she opened the door of her heart to Jesus. The other two were just receiving information they never knew before, and I pray that they will open their hearts too.
Now, today at the RV park, I met a girl named Maribell, she had a sweet heart and trusted the Lord. She just needed encouragement and a boost, so I gave her the love letter to read and for her to give to her neighbors to share the love of God. It turned out that we share similar stories, both being married at a young age and having to struggle with lack of support from our families. Despite all this she too recognized that God is good.
She was a little confused about who God is, so I was able to share scriptures with her and pray for her and her family and neighborhood. While delving deeper in conversation, I found out that one of her neighbors, a 15 year old girl went to the same funeral that Sabrina, from yesterday went to. So I encouraged her to give a “Father’s Love Letter” to her neighbor and love on her. I know God is doing a great work in Maribell.
