A few experiences

I thought I would include a few recent experiences I have had....Before I left to the states a few months ago, I was walking home from service in a hugely predominant Tzotzil area. As I was walking I heard this rough little kid voice say "Hey, you speak english?" I turned and it was a kid about 11 or 12 years old, spoke perfect english! He told me he was staying with his dad's family here because his mom had to go back to the states to bury her dad. I learned that he had been in a few foster homes in the states as well. When I offered him the magazines he declined, but then when I showed him the section for young people and an article on animals he took them quite readily. Well, his name was Joe and he pointed out his house for me down the road. I told him that I was gonna be gone for a few weeks but that I would visit him when I got back if he hadn't returned home by then. Well, I did. I went to that big log house and knocked, all the while a ton of Tzotzil people in the neighborhood were staring at me and Sum. Nobody came, and then one of the locals told me they would knock. They not only knocked but they yelled for the owner to come on out, they had someone out here waiting! I was surprised when a blonde woman with green eyes came to the door and said "Can I help you?" This was Joe's mom, Tanya, from Texas. She was so pleasant and even gave me her number to text her and see if Joe could come to the Sunday meeting. When I returned I offered her a study from the BT book which she accepted as well as a Bible. As we were sitting there in her little front room we met the other children, all 6 of them :) We are supposed to start the study this week, and I'm very excited because she already has questions. The whole experience was exciting to me because it was an unexpected area to find someone (or for them to find me), as well as that I remembered Joe and returned :)

The next experience is brief, but it reminded me to always be thinking of kingdom interests, no matter where we are. I had to take a sprinter bus to Tuxtla last week (45 minutes away). I was in the very back seat and then a woman and her child and husband squeezed in. I was so cramped for room, but I ignored it. Then on the road right out of town the little girl vomited, and so then I was cramped and smelling not so good stuff. I wanted to tell the woman to give me more space or something, but I kept quiet. I decided to say a prayer for that morning of field service. As soon as I said amen, I looked and the woman had pulled out a spanish BT book and was highlighting in it. I just thought to myself "Thank you Jehovah, I see..." So I started a conversation with her in spanish. Turns out she was in chapter 3, and was in between teachers as she was moving to Tuxtla for her husband's work. Her grandparents were witnesses as well as various aunts and uncles. She told me that her husband wasn't interested and also expressed concern to the effect that she was worried of being alone. I assured her with Jesus words that we gain brothers and sisters and family many times over when we put Jehovah first. We continued an encouraging conversation until her stop. I was reminded by that experience to always be on the alert for opportunities to witness or encourage someone...