Some might call it chance. Others might call it coincidence. I call it Divine Intervention. It may seem like a trite, insignificant moment in time to some people, but the casual acquaintance that I made with a university music professor in a corner store last night was what I believe to be a meeting initiated by hand of our Heavenly Father.
Realizing that Lena was out of diapers, I headed out on a heroic mission to save her bed sheets from the inevitable soaking that comes during a relaxed night of rest. As part of the mission, I was also given a list of other necessities to purchase. With list in hand, I walked the ten minutes to mall only to arrive just as the grocery store was closing. Apparently on holidays they close an hour early. Undeterred, I tried to convince the armed security guard and the manager at the door to let me rush in a get a package of diapers. My best sob story in broken Spanish was not convincing enough, so I headed home a little disappointed.
About a block from the mall, a light bulb flashed over my head! Alicia said that some corner stores cell diapers. I made a quick b-line to the corner store. I was greeted by a nice elderly couple who laughed when I tried to communicate my need for diapers. After a couple minutes, I was ready to begin another search for a corner store with diapers. Fortunately, a young man entered and was quick to offer assistance. His translation efforts were well received and the kind store owner produced the needed diapers. She open the packaged and pulled out five. Another cultural experience that would never happen in Canada! I paid the required $2 and was on my way triumphant.
Over the course of that short interaction, I discovered that the young man was actually a music professor at the university. He had learned English because his classical piano teacher was from Canada. I asked him if he was interested in improving his conversation skills as my brother-in-law works at a foundation that offers free English classes twice a week. He was ecstatic. He told me that he was planning to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) test so that he could further his education in the United States. When I mentioned that my wife was high school music teacher with a vocal specialty, he suggested that she could teacher his daughter voice lessons. I told him that we were only here for another two weeks, but his daughter could come to English lessons. This sealed the deal. He told me that he was going to call Travis on Wednesday and he and his daughter would be there.
This 'chance' meeting really helped me discover that being able to use the skills that I have acquired to help people free of charge is an amazing way to show the love of God. The people who come to English conversation evenings are aware that we are Christians and as relationships get built we pray that they we see the difference in us and desire the freedom and hope that we have in Christ. May God place 'chance' encounters in your day today!
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