Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Missing the Bus

Morning- April 14th Pray for Gabriel and Ted

Amber and I took the bus to work for the first time this morning. We met at her house near Roger and 1st and went to the wrong bus stop at 6:57a.m. Once we figured out where we actually needed to be, we moved over the other bus stop. So far the two ladies who we had waited with were not really interested in conversation. Once on the correct bus we found that people were listening to ipods, reading, or simply not wanting to talk. Once we got to Campbell and Speedway we once again walked over to the wrong bus stop. Once being directed to the correct bus stop we walked across the street and finally met some more talkative folks.

A middle-aged man who was a little too friendly was astounded that we were not in High School as he thought we were teenagers. After some small, kind of awkward talk with him, he hopped on his bus. There was another man sitting next to us though. And now it was just the three of us. This man, named Gabriel began opening up to Amber and I. He shared much of his story. He shared about his past of substance abuse and how he lost his family because of it. He showed us the pictures of his three children. Twin boys who are 8 and his 6 year old daughter who he said is "his princess". As he continued to talk and share, Amber and I also shared where we work and other small things. He said that Amber and I must love what we do because we seem so happy and that he could see it in our faces. Amber said, "Well, I think that is God". This lead into more conversation. He began saying that God had helped him be free from his addictions a year ago when he went through rehab. He said it was God's grace. Amber asked him if he knew God and if Jesus was his savior. He said, "yes". We continued listening and hearing his heart for some time. His bus pulled up and he didn't really move. He said, "oh, I'll just catch the next one". Before long, Amber asked Gabriel if he had a Bible. He said, "well, I have a little pocket Bible, but I think it is just a New Testament". I opened my backpack and began pulling out one of our Bibles, he said, "Do you have an extra one?!" with excitement in his voice. When we put it in his hands, his face lit up. He looked like a child on Christmas morning. He was so thankful and grateful. He kept running his hands over it and looking it over. Soon after our bus came and we shook his hand and said, "God bless you". He said he hoped to see us again. As we pulled away we could see him beginning to read it. We know God's Word is powerful and effective! Praise the Lord for our first day. He is Sovereign!


Evening
Well the way home had a theme of missing the bus as well. We ended up sitting at a stop at Fort Lowell and Alvernon for over thirty minutes. We talked with a man named Ted. He goes to a church called Metropolitan Community Church and believes himself to be saved. He told us that he is bi-sexual, has been married two times and divorced two times. Amber and I were able to share out faith in Jesus and His salvation from sin. He was pretty open about things. Amber and I just talked about different things with him. On the bus ride home, I got the chance to visit with a lady for a little while, just small talk. There was a man and woman on the last bus that made me very sad. Her face was bruised and she looked so sad. I believe that the man she was with was probably the culprit.



Some Thoughts: Getting out of my bubble

This was my first time riding the city bus in Tucson, and I am glad that I did. I learned patience and how to rely on God's sovereignty through it. I got out of my comfort zone and my Christian world and saw all kinds of people. Old, young, sad, lonely, distracted, every time I scanned the bus I wondered about people's stories. When my eyes would meet another's, I would smile. I felt curious about people's lives, their stories, what was going on in their life, what they had experienced. God has people He will save in Tucson, I feel privileged if I get to be a part of that, to truly be the hands, feet or voice of Christ. Most of all, I rejoiced that I could lift up Christ's name today, to speak of what He has done in my heart.