reflections from the airport

Well, here we are, finally, sitting in Seattle airport, waiting to board our plane. We left Royal Heights Baptist Church this morning at 8:45a.m. It has been a long, but fun day, filled with adventure. We took the Amtrak Bus to Seattle and then after dinner boarded a rail train to the airport. Minutes after boarding the train, it came to a complete (and unexpected) stop on the rail. Moments later, we were instructed to get off the train as it had broke down. After a while, that one was moved and a new one came and picked us up. Then our flight to Dallas has been delayed over an hour. The adventure never ends!!!! :)
In looking back, it has been such an incredible week. I don't think I have walked this much since the last olympics in Italy!!! Speaking of former olympics, during my mission trips to Salt Lake City and Torino, God revealed to me a specific person or persons who were my reason for coming on those trips. As we began the week in Vancouver, I wondered would it happen again. Would there be that one person or family that I would know I was called there to minister to or would it be more of a general calling this time? As the week began, it seemed it would be more of a general ministry experience, but then, as the week progressed, God began to open my eyes to one particular person.
As I have mentioned in my previous posts, we were volunteering at Aberdeen Station, near the Oval center, where some of the skating events were held. Because foot traffic was so heavy before and after events, the city positioned crossing guards at the major intersections to ensure safety. The crossing guard assigned to our location was J.T. We met J.T. on Tuesday when we arrived to begin our hot chocolate ministry and he helped us cross the street. We thanked him, told him we would be there all week and found out he would be as well. As the day progressed, J.T. would take hot chocolate from us and then he would stop the highway traffic and let us cross the road with our backpacks full of hot chocolate. Near the end of the day, I was able to offer one of our More Than Gold pins to him and he accepted it and promised to read the card that told about it. I asked him if we could pray about anything for him and he said that he needed work after the olympics. Please join us in praying for him in this area.
Each day, we would talk with J.T. a little more and I began to build a friendship with him as he would call me by name and we would talk as opportunities would come available. The week was nearing the end and I began to feel a burden to talk with J.T. Each day before our shift began, we would arrive early and go to Tim Hortons (think Starbucks) get something to drink and sit and eat our packed lunches. Friday morning, as we sat there, I saw J.T. coming toward Tim Hortons. I felt impressed to buy his lunch, but, he was only taking a quick bathroom break and headed back out the door. Our paths crossed briefly that day, as usual, and we talked of how Saturday would be our last day.
Saturday arrived and again, we were eating lunch at Tim Hortons. Again, J.T. came over and this time he got in line. I, again, felt impressed to ask if I could buy his food. So, I went up, spoke and asked him. He was a little shocked at first, but said sure. I told him how much we appreciated all that he had done for us during the week and how great it was to have met him. He told me how much he had appreciated meeting us and wanted to know if there was a website where he could learn more about why we were doing what we do. I told him there was and that before we left I would give him the address, some other items and that I wanted to talk with him some more. He said that would be great. The day went by and after 3 hours of being on our feet, carrying backpacks of hot chocolate, Robin, Joe and myself decided to take a break. Upon returning from the break, my heart sank as I saw no crossing guard standing at our corner. I asked where J.T. was and one of my teammates informed me his shift had ended earlier than normal and he had left. And then she smiled a big smile and said, "but he left you this". J.T. had come over to the corner looking for me and when I wasn't there, he took the material I had laid out for him and he left me his e-mail address so we could communicate more. Praise God!!!! Even when things don't go the way we think they should, God is still in control and still so very faithful. Please pray for J.T. that God will continue to reveal Himself through people, scripture and through our e-mails. And please pray the same for all those we encountered while at the 2010 Winter Olympic games. May God be praised and glorified in all things!!!

Serving together,

Larry