Catch the Vision


A Bucket of Water Opens a Conversation by Julie Schmidt


It has been a hot and increasingly dry month! Usually the rains start at the beginning of March, but now it’s the end of the month, and they still haven’t come! People are waiting for the first big rain to start planting. Meanwhile the water is cut in many of the towns around us, and our well is not producing enough water for the village because the water table is so low. Tankfully, I have plenty of water stored up in my rain tank.


Yesterday, the mother of one of my kindergarten students came to ask me for some water. Because I was going on a trip


soon and had plenty of water, I gladly welcomed her to take some. As the water flowed into her bucket, she thanked me for sharing. I told her that when we have been given a blessing from


God, we should share it with others. Aſter all, all blessings belong to God, not us. She agreed. Ten I told her that I have been given a blessing from God that is even better than water. Curious, she asked me what this blessing is. I explained the blessing of God’s plan to save us all from our sins through Jesus’ death and resurrection.


At the end I told her, “Tis is good news, isn’t it?” “Yes,” she agreed, “these are really good words!” “Do you believe that Jesus died and rose again?” I asked. “Yes,” she said simply. “Do you want Jesus to forgive your sins?” I asked, totally expecting her to back out at this point. “Yes,” she repeated, adjusting her head covering. Sure that we had misunderstood each other, I continued cautiously, “Many people pray to tell Jesus that they are sinners


and ask him to forgive them. Would you like to do that now? I can pray, and you can repeat aſter me.” To my surprise she said “Yes,” closed her eyes, liſted her hands heavenward, and waited for me to start. Repeating aſter


me, she admitted that she is a sinner and can’t save herself. She asked Jesus to forgive her of her sins, and asked him to be the king of her life, closing in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Mediator.


Aſter we prayed, I rejoiced with her that her sins are forgiven by Jesus and encouraged her to share the blessing she had


received with others in her family! I gave her an audio Bible and advised her to listen to the gospels to learn more about Jesus’ life. Tis is not a normal experience for me! Usually I get responses like, “Tat’s good for you, but God planned some people


to be Christians and some to be Muslims. We can’t do anything about that.” Honestly, I was blown away by this lady’s re- sponse and wasn’t quite sure what to do. Suddenly, what had been theory was happening! I was leaving the next day, and this lady was only visiting the village. How will I follow up with her? God, what are you doing? God encouraged me to trust him. I don’t know what kind of soil this lady’s heart will show itself to be, but I do know that the Gospel seed was planted. I have asked my teammates to follow up with her, and have committed to praying for her. Would you please pray for her as well? Pray that the Gospel will take root in her life and that she would share the blessing with others!


24 Fellowship Focus, July/August 2019 FellowshipForward.org


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