IN LOVE ON THE STREET

I knew I had my opportunity.  I saw Atori Mario sitting on the ground on the side of the road with his feet hanging out and cars passing, missing him by about 24 inches.  I sat down about 10 feet away from him.  It was dirty and dusty and everyone was staring at me, but I ignored them.  Then, I just started talking while inching my way closer and closer to him.  I didn’t understand the local language he was speaking, but we had a good “conversation” for about 5 minutes.  I wanted to share the gospel with him again, but every time I looked at him, he got really annoyed.  So, I looked at the ground and talked about what Jesus means to me, who He is and what He is able to do.  Atori quieted down and the whole expression of his face changed.  I stayed and just sat there until he got up and started talking to himself, shouting and carrying on like he frequently does.  I was so excited about this special moment the Lord had given me.  It gets even better.  The next time I met Atori in the central market, he told people I was his friend.  Somehow, the Lord has touched his heart.  It's taken so long, but I will continue to pray for him and ask the Lord to save his soul.  If we love Jesus, we must aim to fall in love with the least of these that the Lord puts before us.  (Matthew 25:40)

Another time, I noticed a man at one of the shops with a book about Islam.  I didn’t feel the “nudge” of the Holy Spirit to talk to him like I usually do.  But, I knew he needed to hear about Jesus.  As I began talking, the Holy Spirit began giving me words and examples to share with him.  Most of all, the presence of the Lord was upon the area.  A customer came to buy something, but I didn’t want him there interrupting our time together.  I thought, “Lord if you don’t want this customer here, just have him leave now.”  Immediately, the man dropped what he was looking at and walked away.  The shopkeeper sincerely listened to the Word.  He allowed me to pray for him to encounter Christ in such a way that would leave him no doubt that the gospel was the true word of God.



The Lord sent this drunk man up to my car near one of the city's

smaller markets.  The gospel touched his life.  Here we are posing

and making muscles together.

Please pray for me, Tyren.  I need to be utterly consumed by the Lord's love.  His love opens one's eyes to see.  When we see as He sees, we see oppotunities for a harvest that is hidden (hidden treasure) to all except those who have the love necessary to pursue it.  I can cry to the Lord to use me, but I must also allow him to purify the filth of my own heart so I see what He sees in each person he sends to me.  People are dying in their sins and lost in the difficulties of this life.  I need the grace, I need the glory.  I must surrender my life continually and pursue His heart as He cries in the bars, the streets, the markets, the stores, to businessmen, to unbelievers, and even to sleeping saints.  Love matters if you know Him.  The harvest is truly ripe!

Staying in the simplicity of love,

Tyren and Tiffany Haynes