Knowing there was rain in the forecast for most of the day, I hesitated about setting up the table this morning. About 8 A.M. I took a short walk in my neighborhood to get a better look at the sky and to pray about what to do. I met a neighbor who was walking, also. She had heard it would not rain in the mountains until late today, so I turned toward home. The car was already packed, and I left about 8:30.When I was unloading the car at the Sugarlands' Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, a lady stopped to talk with me. She said it looked like I was prepared to do something big today. She had been watching me make trips back and forth from the car. We talked for a moment about this ministry, and she told me not to worry about getting the materials wet due to rain, because God would take care of that. She was right. Although the clouds were low all morning, occasionally, the sun would peek between them to remind me that He was in charge of the weather. It was cooler than usual and a perfect morning. As Proverbs 3:5-6 states, “Trust in the Lord with all you heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
One of the visitors at the table today was a man from India. As he looked over the materials and listened to me explain what each item was about, he motioned for his wife to come over. She listened to me tell about the books, CD’s, etc., and I told them very briefly about what Jesus means to me. Perhaps there was a language barrier, since they had very little to say to me, but the man asked if he could have four things. He wanted a CD of Dwayna singing “My Prize” and a CD of songs she sang about Jesus at age ten. He also wanted the booklets, Understanding the Cross and Knowing Aslan: An Encounter With the Lion of Narnia. They both smiled as they left and thanked me. I had offered them anything on the table, but they took what God wanted them to have. As I wished they had talked with me more, I realized God drew them over, and He will take it from here.
There were several families with ten year old daughters today who were so happy to have Dwayna’s CD with songs she sang at age ten. Their parents encouraged them to take tracts like “Hey Kids” by Ray Comfort and the Keys for Kids booklets from CBH Ministries. We had good conversations about how God protects and helps us and even sent Jesus into the world to die for us. He is a God who loves us unconditionally. The older children knew about Aslan, the lion in The Chronicles of Narnia, and wanted the book, Knowing Aslan. We talked about how C.S. Lewis created Aslan to show children about God. One mother from FL encouraged her middle school and high school age children to share their materials with their friends after they finished listening to the CDs and reading the tracts and books.
Some bikers arrived who needed Bibles. Each of them thanked me repeatedly. They explained how they had storage places on their bikes to keep them dry when it rained and how they would take them to church on Sundays. They took sermons on CDs, too.
Even on a cloudy day, there were many tourists coming by the table. Some took nothing but expressed their appreciation for this ministry. Those who took gifts were thankful for them and told me how each item met a need in their lives or in the lives of others with whom they would be sharing them.
At noon there was a dark cloud overhead, and I knew it was time to prepare to leave. I spoke to two of my friends who are park rangers. They agreed that the rain was approaching. I was on my way home when the rain came in torrents. Once again, God protected the remaining resources from getting wet. He is never too early or too late in the way He helps us to do the work He needs done. We may not know this side of heaven why He chooses us to tell the story of His love, but I am overwhelmed with gratitude each time He lets me do it.
“Sharing Jesus, serving Him and strengthening Christians with excellence for the glory of God” (Mission Statement of the First Baptist Church of Sevierville, TN)
Claudette Litz
