The Shopkeeper

Last weekend I had the privilege of going shopping for jewelry for our business here. It may sound glamorous but it's pretty tough work. Remember, we're not in Kansas anymore! ;) But I really had a great time laughing and browsing with my team leader/ mentor. We had quite the experience throughout the trip and really enjoyed ourselves!

The icing on the cake, though, was during our last stop. All we had left to do was to pay the shopkeeper and be on our way. Well, this particular guy spoke better English than he did Hindi. He was kind enough to help explain the business process a little better to us "small business" folk and we then ended up on the topic of "Why in the world are you are?" This question comes up often since people here think it absurd that we would CHOOSE to live life here! Especially when we tell them the city we live in! Well, my friend was able to share that she was a follower of Jesus and so he looked at me and asked if I too followed this Jesus! When I said yes, he called for his helper because he had a free gift he wanted us to have. I'm sure you can guess what it was. We knew immediately it was some type of a 'cross' jewelry but, do you know that he had to draw it for his helper to know what he was talking about! How many people do you know who wear this object around their neck flippantly while people on the other side of the world don't even know what it is!

Needless to say, this "free gift" opened the door wide for us to talk about a different free gift! And, would you know that in a land of so many Hindi speakers, The Lord allowed me to be able to share the Gospel with this man in detail!!!

I asked him if he knew why that symbol was so significant to us and he said he did not. So I explained why it is so special. The Holy Spirit gave me the words to say and I was bursting with excitement to be able to share. The best part was that he was very interested.

He, of course, combated me with "I believe every way is ok" to which I replied "Jesus said 'I am THE Way, THE truth, and THE life!" So, if He claims to be the only way, then someone has to be wrong. He also said that we all serve a "guru" who is dead! This got me so excited because I was able to point to the cross necklace and ask if he knew what happened three days later! Sadly, after saying that his guru was dead, he then said "oh! But our guru vanished as well." So much contradictory in these false religions. But the Holy Spirit gave me such a zeal and I was able to reply with "My God's not dead! He's alive!"

It was awesome having the opportunity to share and actually be completely understood for a change. And I was excited that the man could sense my excitement for my faith.

My friend was able to leave him with a tract and our husbands' numbers and we were on our way. My friend told me that he has been shared with multiple times before but has never been this open. Praise God! His timing is perfect and His Word never returns void!!

The feeling I had after leaving that place was amazing. I was on such a high after being able to talk about my Savior to someone who doesn't know Him! It made me think, "how many times did I take for granted to opportunity to share with anyone and everyone I meet in a land where we all speak the same language?!"

I was encouraged and motivated to learn more to be able to share more with the people who are all around me.

Please pray for this shopkeeper that he will be overtaken with a curiosity and a conviction to want to know more!