Looking for Goodwill and Sharing It

Binghamton, NY

Chaplains had been in the Bible College parking lot when a man drove up to donate a box of pots and pans. He was going to be leaving town that afternoon and would not have the time to look for another location, the chaplains took the box and offered to donate them for him. 
After driving around a couple of days, with pans rattling in the trunk of the car, chaplains started to look for a Goodwill Store.  Seeing an elderly lady out working in her yard, the chaplain got out and went to ask about a local Thrift Store or Goodwill that would accept donations.  The lady did not know of one, but continued to share with the chaplain about the flood and her recent fall down several steps, having to have 4 large staples in her head.  She then saw "Billy Graham" on the chaplain's shirt and remarked her husband used to watch Mr. Graham on television all the time, until he died.  The chaplain asked Ms Isabel if she had not survived the fall, did she know that she would go to the heaven that Billy Graham preached about.  She said, "No, I am a catholic and I am not sure you can know".  She listened as the chaplain explained that scripture, 1 John 5:12-13 says "you may know that you have eternal life".  The chaplain shared the Steps to Peace with her and she started to pray, asking forgiveness and Jesus to come into her life, before the chaplain even read the prayer to her.  Ms. Isabel smiled and waved as the chaplains drove away.  Goodwill had been found, in the driveway of Ms. Isabel!

 

The Language of Love

Binghamton, NY

     A few days ago, a Samaritan's Purse Team Leader was driving and saw a elderly, Japanese lady dragging a heavy garbage can to the road and stopped to offer help.  Finding that she had been flooded and her children had helped her mud out her home, the SP Leader offered for SP to come and power wash and do mold remediation. 
     The spray team went in yesterday and got started with the basement.  While there, one of the SP members talked with the lady and found out she was married to a US Army man after the war and came to America from Japan.  She self taught herself English.
    The SP member asked the chaplains this morning if they had a Japanese Bible.  The chaplains called the number for the local Gideons and asked if they had one.  The Gideon, Charles Kark, said he did have a Japanese-English Bible he used for speaking in churches and he was willing to give it to the BGEA Chaplains.  The chaplains drove out to the farm and had prayer with Mr. Kark over the Bible. 
   The chaplains took the Japanese-English Bible to the job site, where Reiko (pronounced Layco) lives.  The chaplains gave the Bible to the team leader and then went to talk with her.  She is 76 years old and was raised in the Buddhist culture.  She shared about the flood and getting older and her husband dying.  When the chaplains asked her if she believed in Jesus Christ, she said she had attended the Lutheran church in high school and she believed in Him, but was not sure of heaven.  Chaplains shared the love of Jesus and the hope and assurance He can give for eternity.  Reiko, in broken English, prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. 
  The chaplains signed the Bible, along with the SP team, and the Japanese-English Bible was given to Reiko.  She can now read more about the salvation and promises and hope Jesus gave to her. 

Heavenly Father

Heavenly Father



One day we went out to Samaritan's Purse team for prayer and the homeowner was there helping.  He was not supposed to have been there, but God had a plan.

When the Samaritan's Purse team first arrived at the work site, a neighbor walked over and told one of the team leaders that she thought this house was a rental and they were at the wrong address.  So the team lead called back to the SP Unit to confirm the address.  The SP Office contacted the homeowner and was assured this was their residence and the address was correct.  The wife asked when they would be arriving and after being told they were already there, she said she would call her husband because he wanted to be there to help them.  

We arrived as the team was just taking a break and spoke with the homeowner.  Sitting on a turned over 5 gallon bucket, the homeowner continued to share with us, as the team went back to work.  He started sharing about the flood, but then tearing up, he shared about his dad dying in a tragic plane crash when he was only 4 years old.  He shared how hard that had been on his mom as he was growing up and he grew up without a dad. We talked to him about Jesus and the peace and hope He can give.  He listened and he said he would like to receive that peace.  We were able to tell him about the promise of eternal life and a security and hope.  He listened and then he bowed his head and prayed a sweet prayer to receive forgiveness and salvation.  We then shared that he now has a heavenly Father that he can talk to anytime, one that loves him very much.
Through his tears, he smiled and looked up.  ...and I am sure his Heavenly Father was looking down...

Waiting to Meet Team and Meets Christ

 Samaritan's Purse was to clean out Mr. Weedeman's house and he was there waiting on the team to arrive.  Chaplains got there early enough to talk to him before the team was there.  Mr Weedeman knew of Billy Graham and asked about him.  Chaplains shared with him about Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Ministry, still telling people about Jesus.  Chaplains asked did he have a personal relationship with Jesus and knew for sure he was going to heaven.  Mr Weedeman said he knew about Jesus, but was not sure of heaven.  Chaplains shared "Steps to Peace" and he prayed to receive Christ. 
The Samaritan's Purse team arrived and celebrated meeting their new brother in Christ, who happened to be 81 years old. 

Another Billy Graham Accepts Christ

Yesterday my husband and I were riding in area which had been flooded and saw a contractor's truck with the name Billy Graham on it.  The Samaritan's Purse team had been working next door and had spoken to him.  When we visited the team, the contractor was working in the basement of the house, so the we left a book by Rev. Billy Graham in the seat of his truck.  This morning, we felt led to go back in the same area. When we saw the truck again, we decided to stop to meet Billy Graham. He was coming around the house where he had been working.  He told us he was here from his home state, Idaho, working on the houses that had been flooded.  We  talked to him about the Rev. Billy Graham and his belief in Jesus.  Contractor Billy Graham said he too believed in Jesus, but when asked if he knew he was going to heaven when he died, he was not really sure.  We shared with him, "Steps to Peace" and Billy Graham prayed to receive Christ.  It was with great joy that we were getting to  present him with a Billy Graham Bible. 
He then came to eat with us and the Samaritan's Purse teams for dinner tonight and spoke during share time. We thought it was really special, since tonight our share time was held out under a tent, due to the Wednesday night service at the church where we are staying.  Pretty neat, hearing Billy Graham speak outside in a tent! 

Later, by his request, his wife called and talked to me.  When I shared with her what had taken place and her husband accepted Jesus, she cried and said she had been praying for this.  She shared that she had just gotten him to go to church with her a couple of weeks before he came to North Dakota and had prayed that he would meet someone in North Dakota to invite him to church. We actually laughed that her prayer may have been what made me come all the way from Alabama and him from Idaho to meet in North Dakota!

But the best part of this story today was that:
Billy Graham's name was written once again in the Book of Life, but this time for another soul.

Walking to find Jesus

 The chaplains were making a follow-up visit with homeowners who had been helped by Samaritan's Purse.  A young mother and her son were passing by as they walked the dog.  The chaplains felt compelled to offer her books, and explained how they were written for people going through hard times.  As the discussion centered on 'hope' and where we people place their hope, she could relate to the temporal, unstable nature of things of this world.  The chaplains presented "  Steps to Peace" and Tessa wanted to pray the prayer of salvation.  As she went her way, she had a big smile. 

Minot State Uninversity Students Prayed

Thursday evening, I spoke at Minot State University at the meeting of Chi Alpha ( a Christian organization).  When I found out that the Praise Team had some problems with their instruments and we were not singing at the beginning, I requested the playing of the video on Youtube by Matthew West and his song "STRONG ENOUGH". It shows Samaritan's Purse volunteers in the aftermath of the Alabama tornadoes and my husband,  BGEA RRT Chaplain Denny, in the video.
I knew of hardships and the temptations of spending and borrowing money for college students.  How it is hard to get out of debt and stay out of debt.  God cannot use and bless you if you are burdened by financial obligations.  So, I spoke about finances and college and then weaved the gospel of Christ by sharing salvation stories.  At the end of the meeting, I then sensed the Presence of Holy Spirit and felt led to lead the group in the prayer of Salvation.  With every head bowed and eyes closed, I could hear the whispering of repeating the prayer.  When asked had anyone prayed that prayer for the first time in their life, 2 male college students raised their hands.  When asked did anyone pray that prayer as a renewal of a relationship with Christ, three people raised their hands.
Then, afterward we met with several students, one on one, and had prayer for their specific needs. Many students have a sense of loneliness and separation, even on a campus full of people.  But, this group of 26, tonight felt the completeness that only God can give them.  We prayed and asked them to encourage each other in praying and reading and serving God together here on campus.