A Man Named Park: part 2

If you received my most recent newsletter, you were introduced to a man named Park who I met during our mission trip. If not, here is the short version: the Lord impressed upon me to stop at this roadside barber shop to share with the owner. As it turned out, this man had never heard the story of Christ (or any Bible story for that matter), and I was able to share the gospel with him, along with my teammates Bobo and Madeleine. After taking in everything we had said, he had many questions and asked us to return the following day. We promised we would. 

The next afternoon he welcomed us once again into his little shop and we pulled out our Bibles. One of the most encouraging things about this man was his sincerity. He came up with question after question, genuinely seeking truth. Why did Adam and Eve have to leave the garden? Why did Jesus go back to heaven… is it because he was angry with us? Why is God white? (Don't worry, we were quick to straighten that one out!)

As we spent the better part of our afternoon there, several of his friends gathered and asked to hear the story as well. Once again we shared Creation to Christ, this time with Park helping explain the story to his friends! When we shared the two paths (Matthew 7), and explained how few people are on the narrow path that leads to life, they all listened intently. Finally Park broke the silence. "What you are saying is that Jesus is the gate, and he is the only way onto that path." 

YES. He was understanding it. And so were his friends. 

"So which path do you believe you are on?"

He stared at my drawing. "I am on the path of sin. WE are on that path. But all of us, we want to be on the path of life. It is the hard path but that is where we want to be." His friends nodded in agreement.

So right there in the barber shop shack, Park and three of his friends committed their lives to Christ. "One more thing. I am afraid to go to church; everyone will wonder what I am doing there because they know who I am. But I want to learn more from the Bible." We explained to him how the church is like a body and the parts need each other. He nodded and said, "I will go. But today I am happy to read my new Bible."

You may think that's a great ending to the story. I did too.

But the Lord knew better. Because that's not the end…

The next day we took the same dirt road back to the barber shop and decided to stop one last time. I was a little nervous about what we would find; what if their decisions had been insincere? Sometimes my faith is so small and my mind so limited that I forget what an awesome God I serve. Today, however, I was reminded in a way I will not soon forget. 

Park greeted us as we approached. "Hello! You must come in and share! My friends-- they have all come to here the good news you shared with me!" Three men were sitting there with him, looking at us expectantly. One of them held a small children's Bible, presumably the only one he owned. "I told them what peace I have now," Park continued enthusiastically, "how last night I slept with such peace like I have never had! I feel like a new man!" 

It was absolutely amazing to see this man sharing his faith with his friends, even though his knowledge was so limited. How many of us have used that as an excuse? It didn't stop him. As a result, these three men also received Christ as Savior.
Funny enough, one of these men also asked if it was necessary for him to begin attending church. Before I could open my mouth, Park enthusiastically said, "You must! It is like a body, and if you are not there, the other parts will need you! We all need to go to church together!" He had not forgotten what we shared.
 

That night, our last one in the village, we held a church service outside as the sun was setting. Park and his friends proudly joined the believers there for the first time. One of the leaders in the church agreed to disciple them and teach them how to begin studying the Bible. Words cannot express the joy in my heart to see what the Lord did that week from start to finish. 

On our drive home from Letlhakane, these questions I could not get out of my mind: What if I had ignored the voice of the Holy Spirit? What if we had not stopped? How many times have I chosen NOT to listen and missed such a huge blessing?

Nothing about this story has anything to do with my strengths, gifts, personality, or persuasiveness. In fact, I pray that it has nothing to do with me except my obedience. The  Spirit who prompted me to speak is the same one who also convicted these men of truth.  Pray that I would be faithful to listen and obey his voice every day!