Treasure Hunt

Our ministry team tried a new prayer and evangelism method last week.  It is called “treasure hunting.” We gathered together as a team to pray and ask God to show us names, symbols, signs, anything that may lead us to His treasure (a person).  We have had an amazing opportunity since we home educate to have space for our children to participate alongside us in ministry.  While praying and asking God to reveal something specific to us for our treasure hunt Josiah says “like grandpa dying” and I had “sad woman.” Josiah was clearly moved by what was on his heart as he had tears in his eyes and asked if he could go play because he felt really sad.  Josiah is special.  I’ve seen before how God speaks to him uniquely and uses him; so when I saw him this moved I felt I should pay attention.
We all shared as a team what we felt God revealed and then looked at what more than one person may have received.  Then, we prayed and we set out by households to prayer walk and see what God may have for us.

This is where I wish I could say we had an incredible time as a family and we saw a miracle.  However, this is real life and we have two young kids. (The miracle comes later) As we set out to prayer walk both kids started complaining “I’m hot. I’m tired. How far do we have to walk? Are we done yet” and more.  Mind you, we barely walking a couple of short blocks.  Matt and I decided this time was a bust and we should just head home.

We get a text a few hours later asking if I can substitute teach the beginners English class that night while Matt teaches the advanced class at the center we both volunteer at.  I agreed.

That night when I arrived there was only one woman for my class.  I started the class as I always do; by asking “what is your name? Where are you from? Do you have family here?”  This precious woman answered my questions and began to weep.  As tears rolled down her face she shared through broken English that her father died in the hospital shortly after they moved to America.  She apologized again and again for crying.  I did my best to assure her that her grief was more important in that moment than the English lesson I had planned.
I prayed for Jesus to be her comforter and bring her peace.  I hugged her and held her hands and listened.  We transitioned back into our lesson for a bit.  Then, I asked if she could record part of our lesson on the video on her phone. As she reached for her phone she began to cry again.  She showed me the photo of her father on her phone.  I commented on how handsome he was and how she resembled him.  All the while, I am about to burst inside!! I’m looking at his photo and realizing he is an older gentleman and a “grandpa that died.” God brought His treasure to me so that I could show her His love!!!  This was the “sad woman” that I had felt God revealed to me earlier that day.  This was the “grandpa dying” that Josiah had felt in his heart earlier that day.

I have see my new friend at the English center a few more times after this night.  She always comes to hug me in my class.  I am praying she will accept the invitation to attend the Bible study that I facilitating with a teammate starting next week.

Praise God for how He is actively moving in and around us!

Pray this with me:
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.” Isaiah 61:1-3