EXTRAordinary
Sunday, April 18th, 2010Last Saturday I had planned a very ordinary day doing normal things.. A day off to pay my bills, clean my yard, do up some paperwork, maybe even grab some rest. Etc. All of a sudden I received a phone call that the mother of our close Pastor friend had died. I quickly got ready to go to their house. By the time I arrived there was a tent sent up outside the house and many people were there. I stood back and watched as the family carried on their Hindu rituals for quite some time. The Pastor is one of 14 children and there is only one other who is a believer. He decided that the funeral was the right time to share the gospel to his family … and asked me to do it! So after they finished their rituals I stepped in to the circle that this huge family had made around the body. I stood at the foot of the coffin with a little megaphone. And with the family all encircled around me I preached to them that the only surety of salvation is Jesus and Jesus alone. They stood there and listened to every word! It was an incredible honor and joy for me! It was an experience I will never, ever, forget!
I may have planned an ordinary day.. but God had something else in mind. More than I ever could have imagined! I preached to the whole family of one of the hardest Hindu families in our entire city! Truly amazing!
After I finished speaking we prayed and sang a son and then they took to the body to be cremated. I was asked to join.. so I did. But thinking there would be another ceremony before the body was cremated and that was it. But when I got there and saw them stacking firewood below and above the coffin I realized this was going to more than I was expecting as well!! I kept telling myself it couldn’t be real.. it was like something you’d see out of old movie of a knight’s tale. But once I heard, and saw the flames, it became very real indeed. It was at moment I realized I had never attended a Hindu funeral before. And considered that next time I would skip the cremation ceremony.
Another extraordinary day was the Saturday before. I was not feeling good that morning. But felt that I had to go see the women in the prison. When I got there many of the women were in one cell playing their gambling games. I didn’t think anyone was going to even come and join me.. but to my surprise 8 of the 13 women were suddenly all in the cell with me. I explained the real meaning of Easter to them, starting from creation; What Jesus really did for us. When I asked who wanted to receive Jesus all 8 women raised their hands! They all repeated the prayer with me. Right after I said “amen” I continued by saying “now, let’s all just take a few moments to thank Jesus”. After a few seconds I realized I could hear many of their whispering voices so I looked up and around and saw the most beautiful thing.. all 8 faces were tear stained and their lips were shaking and they whispered out their gratitude to Jesus and what He had done. It may have been in a prison cell.. but that moment was so holy, so precious and so beautiful and full of God’s presence!
Last weekend I was also asked to speak at a special children’s service. For the first time the church had decided to invite all of the poor children that are sponsored by “Compassion” there and join them together with the Sunday school children. There was almost 200 kids. I have not preached to children in a very long time and was wondering if I could do it! Haha.. But God is good and when I asked who wanted to receive Jesus in their hearts over 100 of their hands shot up in the air.. I was so happy to see it!
Don’t forget!! The next big event is only a few days away!! Last week I asked you to pray for two things: the permissions and the finances to do it. Well.. a few days ago we got the final permissions!! So now just waiting to see how God wants to pay for it. J thanks for your prayers!
In Him,
Susan Joy
