A God-Appointment

The spreading of this water reminds me of the need to spread the Gospel. I recall while taking a trip with Faa in February to meet some children in Thailand, God gave her the opportunity to do just that. We had been driving all day and were almost out of gas. Being just minutes from our lodging for the night, Faa decided she was too tired to fill the tank and that it could wait until morning. After what seemed like a short night, we headed out again for a two to three-hour trip to our next destination. About an hour into the trip, Faa noticed the bright orange color of the gas gauge light indicating that we were very low on gas. We were in the middle of nowhere. So, we prayed. We didn’t know how long the light had been on, and no gas was in sight. Finally, we came upon a little spot along the road where there were a couple of modest places to get a bite to eat and a few people who had set up shop on little tables alongside the road. We decided to stop and ask how far to the next gas station. We pulled up beside one such table, and Faa got out to make the inquiry. Time went on, and Faa was still engaged in conversation with the women at her humble stand selling avocados and other produce. About twenty minutes later, I see Faa making a purchase. I stepped out to see what was happening. Next thing I knew the lady was
putting extra avocados into Faa’s bag. When we returned to the thirsty vehicle, I asked her what that was all about. Faa told me how she had engaged this woman in conversation. When the women learned that Faa had her social worker’s license, she began sharing her life’s story with Faa. She unfolded her past hardships and current struggles with losing her husband, working to pay off their debt and the loneliness she experienced every day. She had nobody to talk to. Faa asked her if she went to church or to the temple. Then Faa shared the Gospel with this thirsty woman. I realized then that this was a divine appointment. There was purpose in our “forgetting” to fill the tank that morning. Faa encouraged the women and told her the next time she passed through here, she would stop and ask her how she was doing.

This occurrence was not a one-time event for Faa. She actively searches for people with whom to share the Gospel as she goes about her days. How can we also search out the divine appointments God may have for us?

We did end up making it to the gas station just 10 miles farther down the road and on to our next scheduled appointment, but I’m sure glad we didn’t miss this God-Appointed appointment.