By J.S., a SEND missionary in Russia | Eurasia
Over the years, since moving to Spring Village, I would occasionally drive past a man walking on the side of the road as I drove to and from home. Every time I saw him, I remembered him because he had a very distinct walk. This man is handicapped and walks with great difficulty. While I didn’t know him, God laid it on my heart to pray for him as I drove by.
I thought about how difficult it would be to live life as a handicapped person, especially in Spring Village, where many people live without indoor plumbing, so far from the city and not having easy access to stores or getting to the doctor. I prayed that God would bless him and give him the opportunity to hear the Gospel. But then I forgot about him for a long time as I was in America last year and traveled so much over the summer. Then I returned to Russia in early October 2022.
One day, I was sitting in church and a man with a cane walked by and sat on a bench in front of me. It was him! It was the man in Spring Village that I prayed for! I remembered how God had me pray for him as I drove by him. And it struck me that God heard those quick prayers I prayed and he answered them...
This man briefly met a believer from our church while he was running errands, and she invited him to our church service. He took a taxi to get there. When they found out he was from Spring Village, I was asked to drive him home.
Since then, I have been taking Paul* to church with me every Sunday. Not only that, but I invited him to our home group in Spring Village and he is now attending every week. Paul is very lonely, and he is poor. He doesn’t have a family which is something he mentions often. He doesn’t have work, as he gets a stipend from the government as a handicapped man.
I can’t say it’s always easy to serve Paul. He believes his life has no purpose and often complains about being lonely. Sometimes he has a strong odor that makes it hard to sit next to him. But, I see so clearly how God has brought Paul into our lives and now God is blessing Paul with the opportunity to hear the gospel every week and to have people around him who treat him as a man made in God’s image.
I believe God has a good purpose for him. Please pray for Paul to understand how much God loves him, the purpose God has for him, and that God will bless him with the knowledge of Jesus and being part of the family of God.
*Names changed for privacy.
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