Richard,
Happy Easter! My name is Russell. I met you in Mexico at YUGO. I was sitting next to my son in the Chapel on Monday morning. Thank you for sharing your love for Christ with our group. You blessed us all. And God absolutely spoke to me through your words each day during Chapel.
Richard please know that I am a police officer in MD (in a large suburb of Washington, DC). Since 2003 my assignment has been to serve as a School Resource Officer (SRO). My role is to provide emergency preparedness, outreach and prevention through teaching, counseling and law enforcement (high school, middle and elementary). The Lord put a love for children in my heart. And everyday God opens doors that allow me to share the love of Jesus Christ and my faith in remarkable ways with students, parents, teachers, administrators, etc. Richard you reaffirmed that God wants me to “stay the course” and continue to serve Him as an SRO.
On the return flight home from San Diego yesterday I sat in a row of three seats with a guy from our group. He sat in the aisle seat and I sat next to the window. I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to move to the middle seat. Within minutes a teenager (I later learned his name was Chase) asked if he could sit in the vacant seat. We moved and allowed him in.
From a worldly perspective Chase carried a billboard that read “Stay Away”. Richard it reminded me of the “sewer cleaners” and “pipe village” people you talked about. He wore a hipster style ball cap and a long earring piercing his left ear. I prayed that God would allow me to have a meaningful conversation with him. Chase began to look through a magazine that contained a variety of edged weapons. Again, to go with the “Stay Away” from me perspective.
Long story short Chase offered me a piece of gummy candy covered in sugar. This was not appealing to me at all. However, I new this was God’s answer to my prayer and I took a piece and ate it. After that we talked until we landed in Baltimore. Our “hearts” connected. He lives in San Diego with his mother and was visiting his father in Pennsylvania (outside of Gettysburg).
WOW! (Work of Wonder) Richard I was blessed. This was an amazing 17 year old with Godly wisdom that he did not realize came from God. Chase was open to talk about God and Jesus and I told him that God had a special plan for his life. Chase shared that he would sometimes attend church with his grandmother when he visited his father. We talked about the bracelet and I prayed with him. Then he cheerfully received the bracelet and track you gave me and immediately put on the bracelet. WOW! What a blessing.
Richard..thank you for being a warrior for Jesus Christ. Thank you for openly sharing your “trash” with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Please be encouraged to know that Pastor John used your “onewish4u” lesson themes while preaching this morning. Thank you brother.
I will go to the website and order a bag of bracelets and tracks to distribute at the schools I work with. I will also train other believers as you trained me. Please pray that I continue to hear the “Voice of God” and that I do His will at work and home with my wife and three children. Also, please pray that Chase will have a personal relationship with Jesus.
Richard..my prayer for you is that you and your family be encouraged by the Holy Spirit to humbly serve the Lord with even more boldness. Amen.
Your brother in Christ Jesus,
Russell