On our outreach team I am in charge of Journaling, this is an excerpt from our best day by far...
Its Christmas Eve and after a good Christmas service we loaded into the bitter cold cars to return to the wonderful hostile for some maybe merry festivities. But on the way back, our caravan seemed to be heading in a new direction. After we saw a sign welcoming us to a new city, we knew that we were not just following our leader to a quick errand. 25 minutes of driving in pure darkness through white Bulgarian country side, thoughts of question filled many of our minds.
“Where are we going? Seriously.”
“Maybe Palman (our guide) forgot that we were following him.”
“Maybe his car was hi-jacked.”
“Maybe it is a surprise for us.”
“Well, if it were a surprise it would be nice if we had known, we are going to run out of petrol (gas).”
It was about 45 minutes later when we arrived at our destination - wherever that was. Climbing out of the car we were all really wondering what was going on.
“Jarrod, get your guitar, we are leading a church service.”
Unprepared was an understatement for what happened next. We slid up an icy hill and found ourselves outside a building that must be a church assuming upon a lit cross. As cold as we were we quickly shuffled inside, only to find a packed room of gypsies jumping to their feet out of joy. They squeezed closer together, some sitting on laps, just so that we could sit on the benches in the front. I wonder what we must have looked like to them the moment we looked around and realized exactly where we were. A gypsy church in Bulgaria had been waiting for us and were waiting to hear what we had to offer.
This was one time when the word “schedule” did not exist, they held the mic out and the leaders were in as much shock as the students. So we did the only thing we could do - we preached the gospel, we sang songs, we gave testimonies. One by one we got up and shared from our hearts, a little fearful maybe, but full of faith, wonder and excitement. But the Lord had more in store for us then we had for ourselves.
The phrases “divine appointment” or “being in the right place at the right time,” they don’t do justice for the opportunity laid out before us like a great feast at a table. We asked if anyone wanted prayer, hands shot up like rockets all over the room. It was too packed for people to come to the front, so we worked our way through the crowed laying hands on every person who grabbed us to do so. The presence of God was as strong as a think blanket of snow - it covered everyone completely.
As we got in the cars once again, shock still covered us. “Why us? Why would God allow us to experience this?” We may be away from home, but this year, for Christmas eve - we were filled with the spirit of God in a way that none of us shall ever forget.
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