Wednesday morning at the earliest kosher moment for a phone call the telephone rang. It was a dedicated volunteer from Wheelchairs of Hope wanting to fill me on the previous day’s happenings (I had been out of town).
Several years ago a dignified retired gentleman–Mr. S–started coming to Wheelchairs of Hope. His home is quite a ways from the wheelchair project, though, and as he finds it more difficult to make the trip, he hasn’t been coming as often lately.
On Tuesday Mr. S showed up, and he was “glowing. “ (She chucked when she said this, probably because “glowing” isn’t usually a word often used to describe stately, elderly Japanese men.) Over lunch Mr. S shared how when we start our work day with prayer, pray before lunch, and then end the day with prayer, it gives him great comfort and peace. He said he so liked working with the Christian volunteers and began remembering the church he’d attended as a young person some 40-50 years ago. He decided to look the church up again, and then began attending quite regularly. He came on Tuesday to let us know he’d made a public confession of faith and was baptized on Easter by the 80 year old former pastor who had first told him about Jesus those many years ago.
I know I was moved, and thankful that he’d come back to tell us. I can’t imagine the joy the 80 year old former pastor has, knowing that seed planted 40-50 years ago had born fruit. Thank you for your prayers for the many volunteers who come to Wheelchairs of Hope.
