We have been in the States for nearly 5 months now and we are enjoying our time here immensely.
A few months ago, Clyde saw a hitchhiker on the side of the road. Clyde learned as a young boy by his dad that picking up hitch hikers was a normal activity. Many times his dad would pick them up with the entire family in the car and all the kids would just know to jump in the back and let the stranger in the front seat.
Clyde has kept this practice since I met him. It's been a challenge for me, who was raised by a single mom. We NEVER picked up or even gave thought to picking up strangers.
It wasn't "safe".
So he picked up "Lee" and began to hear his story. It was a sad, heart breaking story.
He opened up and shared how he had 5 children and his family was destroyed due to unfaithfulness. His children were not with him anymore and he was pretty much homeless and sleeping on couches of all his friends.
Clyde offered him his van to use as a vehicle/house. Put a bed in it, have curtains etc.
Lee ended up agreeing to that and stayed with us for the night.
We treated him like family!
Note* Since being on the mission field, my(Kelsie) heart has opened up more and I'm not so uncomfortable with strangers in our home.
Lee left our home with the title to the van and went about his way to make arrangements to get the tags and insurance on it. We didn't see him for weeks. He finally called and told Clyde that another van came his way and it was more economical.
He came by to return the title and get some of his things that he left at our place. We had a great chat and some lunch with him. Before he left, he shared that he was on his way to work a seasonal job and how he was sad to leave his kids behind with the disfunction. We prayed for him and had a wonderful time encouraging him. He had already accepted Jesus a year or so ago and it was good to encourage him in the Lord. He really didn't have relationship, so we shared more with him.
He left a happy, taller man. He considered us like family and I'm sure we have a new friend for life! Don't know if we'll see him again, but here is a picture to remember him by!
Thank you Jesus for special encounters whether we are half way across the world or right in our own home town! His Spirit is EVERYWHERE and accessible to ANYONE, ANYTIME!!!
Are you willing to be used? It will bless your socks off!
