Day 17

Sometimes we get so focused on our schedule and on where we need to be next and just getting out of the town we are in to get to the next one that we may miss what God has for us. Well today started out as one of those days. We were all set to get out of this small little town and down to Phoenix, when we began to run into problems. First we were going to just right on the freeway and get gas a little further down the road when we missed the freeway on ramp. So we decided to head to one of the gas stations still in town, once there we noticed that the left rear tire on the Trailblazer was low on air, upon further inspection there was a nail in the tire. So we headed over to a tire shop just across the street, got our tire fixed and headed out again. But now we thought that we should check the air in all the tires on both vehicles. When we were done we circled up, joined hand and I began to pray, thanking the Lord for our time here in Holbrook and asking His blessing on the day that we will do the work that He puts before us.....when it happened.........I could feel that someone had walked up to us, then from behind Ryan came this voice "What are you guys doing?" Standing there was a man and from the smell he had been drinking for a little while. I looked at him and said, "we are praying......would you like to join us?" We made a spot for him in the circle and he took my hand and Dave's hand. I prayed for our new friend and for the rest of the day and ended the prayer. Ryan turned to the man and asked him how everything was going. And he started to tell his story, as he spoke with us he said that he needed to confess so things but he didn't want to do it in front of all these people, he said this 2 more times and we asked if would like to talk to just the guys. He said that he did and when the girls had left the circle he opened his heart up to the three of us. His name is Benny and he has been racked with guilt over sins that he thinks are unforgivable. We started to tell him that Jesus Christ came and paid the penalty for ALL sins 2000 years ago on the cross and if you come to Him, He forgives you of ALL your sins. We spoke with Benny for a little while longer, gave him a bible and encouraged him to stop drinking and to read the bible. Benny thanked us for the time we spent with him and for the bible. We then all came back together and prayed for our new friend. With that we were on our way once again, but always looking out for those chances when God has someone who He wants to reach out to. As we drove Ryan and I talked about how God will go to great lengths to have us stop to minister to just one person. His love for everyone of us is so great that there is nothing more important than the soul of someone in pain and Benny was in pain and crying out to God today. Thank you Lord for allowing us to bring Jesus to Benny today. Our drive today was only 3 hours and we were in Phoenix. Tomorrow will be our last free day of the trip as it is coming to an end soon, with only 2 more teachings to go. Tonight we are going to an event called Element, where Chad will be speaking on what the Lord has been doing through him over the last year. Then we will have a chance to spend so time with Chad as we will be staying with a friend of his.