Public Transport Encounter

I am not usually one to have something happen to me and immediately start writing a blog, but I had an encounter with an Egyptian man on a bus today, and it really got me thinking. For the past few weeks I have had a burning heart to reveal Gods love and goodness to people through the avenue of healing, but struggle due to my lack of Arabic. I see people with casts or with crutches, yet feel there is little I can do but embarrass myself if I approach them with the message of God’s kingdom and can’t even communicate. That being said, I am fed up letting the language barrier stop me from doing what God has called me to do. I have been asking God to keep bringing people who have infirmities into my proximity so that I would be bombarded with opportunities, and He has been faithful in answering my requests.

While on the bus today, along with my wife and fellow friend, I noticed an Egyptian man walking outside with his arm in a sling. My heart went out to him, and I wanted to walk off the bus and begin ministering to him. This plan was not going to work however, since the bus was just about to leave (conveniently enough). As the bus rolled away from the curb, I forgot about the man and began pondering other things. We made it about 100 yards from the “bus station” when I turned my head to see the man with the sling standing next to me in the bus isle. I was shocked, as I had not even seen him get on. He was looking off to the front of the bus, minding his own business, when I tugged nervously on his sleeve to get his attention. He turned around and looked at me as I pointed to his arm and shrugged in such a way as to ask him what happened. He played along and made a slight motion with his body of him having fallen and broken it. I nodded my head and went back to staring at the front of the bus. I was nervous. I turned my head back to the isle where the man was standing and saw a small key chain hanging out of the mans pocket that portrayed a Coptic Orthodox print of Jesus on the cross. I took a double take; just to make sure that my eyes were not deceiving me. The man was Orthodox. This gave me an extra boost of confidence to continue.

I tugged on his sleeve for the second time and asked him “Moomkin Asalaylak”, which in my broken Arabic basically meant “can I pray for you”. I then asked “Yessua Yedar Yeshyk” which I am fairly sure means “Jesus can heal you”. He seemed to understand, but was still a little confused. By now others on the bus became interested in what was happening. A man behind me repeated “Asalaylak” to the injured man, making sure he understood that I wanted to pray for him. The injured man nodded after I kept asking. A Muslim man in front of me was getting a little agitated, so I quickly began to pray. I prayed for about 10 seconds, and when I was done the man grabbed me with his good arm and kissed me straight on the head. I then asked him “Tamam ---- Shway?” (which kinda means “Good--- a little?”) as a shrugged my shoulders in question. He replied “Enshalla” – which means “If it be God’s will”.

Even though this was an Egyptian believer, he questioned whether it be God’s will to heal him. In my experience as a Christian, I have found that many people have a hard time establishing what the will of God is for their life, especially in regards to healing. They are unsure as to whether it is God’s will that they be healed or live in a state of divine health. In Islam, the word “Enshalla” is used in almost every life situation. So if you die tomorrow in a car, it must have been gods will, because everything is written. If you break your arm, god willed it upon you for some greater purpose (of which only he knows why). Nothing happens in life without god doing it, according to that Islamic, “Enshalla” mentality. I noticed today after having an encounter with an Orthadox Egyptian man that he too had this Islamic (or just unsure)view towards the will of God.

After about 5 minutes the tire popped on the bus we were on and we all had to pile off. Standing on the side of the road, the injured man approached me and we engaged in further conversation. I explained to him the goodness of God as best I could, and that it was God’s will to heal him. Others you could see were interested that the two of us were conversing about such things, but at that point I had a grace on me, and my wife was nearby interceding for me. I told the man “Yessua Moomtaz doctor”, which is my very choppy Arabic for “Jesus excellent doctor”. The man said he would be better in 25 days, but I kept re-assuring him that he could get well sooner. He helped us get home the rest of the way and became our friend for the evening. It was a very special day, and a Orthodox Egyptian man was blessed. Praise God! Pray that God would speak to him more about the willingness of God to heal, and that He would bless him and heal him today, in Jesus name, as a testimony of God’s goodness.