Guys, this experience is a taxing one for the body and soul. When we first arrived, we got to our hotel only to discover they were completely booked! You cannot imagine the sudden fear you get walking down a horribly busy street with your luggage in tow, walking past truly the poorest of the poor. Knowing your one luggage bag contains more riches than they will see in their lifetime is heartbreaking and surreal. Hotels here do not look like hotels at all, so we could not find one walking. Eventually, we arrived at the hospital exhausted and at a loss for what to do. We dropped our luggage in a hallway and sat, homeless. It was a terrible feeling. I lowered my head and prayed for a place to stay.
Afterward, I walked up to a random person in the hallway and began to explain our situation. He introduced himself as Collin, shook my hand and said, "Give me half an hour. Sit." So we sat there in the hallway with no way to form a plan as to what to do. 27 minutes later, Collin returned. "Frank, come. Rest stay with luggage." As we walked, I asked what he did at the hospital. Miraculously, my random person was the hospital chaplain. He came out immediately saying he was a Christian, and so I will find best lodging for you and friends. Then he asked if I was a Christian. I told him he was actually an answer to my desparate prayer for a place to stay. He then explained to me in very broken English, "You should never worry. The Lord always provides. I am happy to serve you. Many staff here call me 'Angel.' I have knack for showing up and providing God's service, then disappearing."
I asked, "Disappearing? Why?"
He responded, "Much work to do, so many souls need Lord. Must keep moving to reach them all." We talked some more about his church services and times and invited me to them, which I was grateful for. We arrived at the hotel, and it was small, but extremely clean, a real surprise. Total cost: $7 per day. Sold! I went up the stairs to the room to make sure it was actually clean, and it was indeed very clean. I breathed a huge sigh of relief and ran downstairs to hug and thank this man, but he...well, disappeared. I scanned the mass of people outside, but couldn't spot him.
I smiled, eternally grateful. Not just for the room, but at meeting a man who was hurrying because he had a world to save. That first night in the hotel, I ended my prayer in a huge smile. Never before had I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for having a roof over my head.
Afterward, I walked up to a random person in the hallway and began to explain our situation. He introduced himself as Collin, shook my hand and said, "Give me half an hour. Sit." So we sat there in the hallway with no way to form a plan as to what to do. 27 minutes later, Collin returned. "Frank, come. Rest stay with luggage." As we walked, I asked what he did at the hospital. Miraculously, my random person was the hospital chaplain. He came out immediately saying he was a Christian, and so I will find best lodging for you and friends. Then he asked if I was a Christian. I told him he was actually an answer to my desparate prayer for a place to stay. He then explained to me in very broken English, "You should never worry. The Lord always provides. I am happy to serve you. Many staff here call me 'Angel.' I have knack for showing up and providing God's service, then disappearing."
I asked, "Disappearing? Why?"
He responded, "Much work to do, so many souls need Lord. Must keep moving to reach them all." We talked some more about his church services and times and invited me to them, which I was grateful for. We arrived at the hotel, and it was small, but extremely clean, a real surprise. Total cost: $7 per day. Sold! I went up the stairs to the room to make sure it was actually clean, and it was indeed very clean. I breathed a huge sigh of relief and ran downstairs to hug and thank this man, but he...well, disappeared. I scanned the mass of people outside, but couldn't spot him.
I smiled, eternally grateful. Not just for the room, but at meeting a man who was hurrying because he had a world to save. That first night in the hotel, I ended my prayer in a huge smile. Never before had I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for having a roof over my head.
2 comments:
I love it!
This Collin sounds really cool. Thanks for telling us about him. What a mindset!
I read this and tears came to my eyes. I always love hearing the amazing ways that God touches us through total strangers. We truly are surrounded by angels.
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