PTL!

We went sharing downtown today. I honestly wasn't really looking forward to it because, in the past, I haven't had many fruitful conversations with people. Today, though, Kelsie and I didn't even get past the parking deck before we met someone to talk to - and who we proceeded to talk to for almost two hours!

We were first stopped by this homeless man in his mid-fifties asking for money. We each gave him a dollar or two, not much, and Kelsie asked him if he was from Juneau. He responded that he was, and just kind of looked at us. He then said, "Is there something else you were wanting to ask me? What do you want to know?" Well, what a perfect conversation starter! This man, Russell, is in his late fifties and is a Tligit (Native American tribe) shaman, or medicine man. He loved to talk and share stories about his life. He let me read this e-mail his grown-up daughter sent him eight years ago (which he keeps folded up in his backpack) thanking him for the dad he had been and the things he had taught her.

After talking with him for about 20 minutes, he went over to talk to his lady friend he had been waiting for, and she wanted to meet us. Her name is Marla and she's in her early fifties. She was very animated and energetic - partially due to drinking, I am sure. She had a bottle of wine in a paper sack next to her. Marla told us about her hard life and her grown-up daughter, how she came to Juneau and how she dealt with her terrible divorce. She then mentioned how Jesus saved her and given her the ability to deal with all of the hurt she had experienced and helped her forgive people in her life. She admitted that she still struggled with alcoholism, but how she wanted to be better and was slowly getting there. It was really neat to see her eyes light up as she talked about Jesus and being healed inside.

Russell told us how he had gained everything a man could want out of life - college degree, his own house, really nice cars, a trophy wife, and three kids - but now he was at a point where he didn't know what he was supposed to want for the second half of his life. The only thing I know about his turning point from being successful to homeless had to do with a bad divorce as well. I told him how interesting it was that he had everything you could want and still didn't end up happy and knowing what to get out of life. They both felt that worshipping Jesus Christ was the same thing as worshipping Tligit spirits.

Russell played the harmonica and Marla sang, so they serenaded us a little, which was so cool!

At the end, Kelsie and I asked if we could pray over them. I prayed for freedom in Marla's life and that she would continue to seek the Lord. After we both prayed, Russell asked if it was his turn, and he then prayed over us in Tligit. The whole time I was speaking the name of Jesus and praying that He would turn Russell's heart to seek him - I didn't know what he was praying, obviously, so I just prayed for a hedge of protection over us as well just because I am not as familiar with their beliefs in spirits. It was a really unique experience, though, and so cool to see the way the Lord just put them in our paths. I don't know if Russell actually needed the four or five dollars he got from us, but it was worth it for the conversation we had.

You can pray that Marla becomes more solid in her faith and consistently goes to church, and that she is able to influence Russell and that his heart is drawn to the Lord. Also, pray that Marla overcomes her drinking problem and follows through with her plan to go to AA.

And don't worry, Mom and Dad, anytime we go sharing we stick with partners. And I am not giving away all of my money. And I am being careful and cautious. Because I know those are thoughts going through your heads :)