Who's your Rodney?

I am writing this wish soo much excitement in my spirit! Let me share a 4 month journey and what I got to experience tonight by the grace of Jesus. Let me back up first. And I'm pretty sure a blog a few months back touches on the very beginning of this story.

On a Monday, 4 months ago, I had only been in Jacksonville Beach for 2 months. (trying to find how to tell this story) I was at the YWAM Base with Sarah and Michael Young for dinner and sadly it was a meal that I couldn't eat. So I decided to go to a caribbean restaurant called Blue Water because they normally would have half price appetizers. It was a really rainy day and on my way to the restaurant there were a lot of homeless people sitting under the balcony of the music venue Free Bird to keep dry. I just kind of kept walking and didn't glance at them, but when I arrived at the restaurant sadly they weren't open. So as I was walking back one of the guys (Rodney) yelled out to me "Hey can you help me?" I was completely closed off at first, but still willing to listen to what he was gonna ask for, yet expecting it to be for money. Then all he asked for was pain reliever because his legs had really bad cellulitis. I responded with, "of course, but I don't have any on me, let me go get you some." I returned to the base and Apps McNorton was there and he had some I could take to him, but I asked Apps to come with me because just to be safe. We gave him the pain reliever and were just really willing to listen to all that he wanted to share. We also made friends with a gentleman named Cherokee who we also got to know (I'm still going to be interceding on his behalf). After some time of listening and sharing God was finally opening a door to present the gospel, then we were interrupted by 4 cops pulling up to make the leave the area. It was horrible, Apps and I knew we could just walk away, so we had to witness the cruelty of those cops, literally treating these people, who are already in a place of hopelessness, worse than animals. After they all left my heart was soo broken for them. I realized that we need to take time to invest in those that are the unapproachables (yes I made up that word). Until today I had only saw Rodney one time since that day. Which brings me to this amazing day!

While sitting in the dining hall of our base talking with a student, by the name of Danny, and Rodney walked by. He saw me, then walked in a door, let me point out, that is normally locked. He pointed at us and said "you are good people." He walked in and sat down and started chatting, after I mentioned I hadn't seen him in the area for a while. I started bringing back the conversations we had had in our prior meeting. He mentioned that he was just "forced" to leave an area again, and all he wanted to do was listen to the music. So I asked him if we could sing him a song. So he was very open to it. (little did I know there was another student, Gigi, sitting behind me who had just stepped out the night before and spoke life into Rodney). On to the story... we sang a song, and Danny just basically sang out a prayer over him, and I back up with some harmonies. When we stopped Rodney looked at me and said your voice hits my heart, can you sing me another song. So that's what we did, and again in the process I just sang out prayer over him, praying for God to reveal His heart to him. When I opened my eyes, Rodney was in tears. It was the last thing I expected. God was moving in his heart and at the moment he had no idea. Gigi then asked him if he had kids. Rodney said no at first, then pretty quickly said he wanted to be honest that he had 2 daughtes. Gigi then shared with him that she saw and image of him and his wife and 2 daughters on the beach and His family was restored. Which opened the door to share more of God's love with him. After some time (there are a lot of details i'm going to leave out) he asked for one more song, and he made sure to point out again that he wanted me to sing (which is really humbling). So I sang, and just was praying that the words would strike his heart. And I saw it! The moment had come, between Danny, Gigi, and I speaking the words that the Lord lead us to say, Rodney surrendered fully to God. It was soo beautiful!!!! In his utter brokenness HE CRIED OUT!! It was so true.

What would have happened if I 4 months ago had just ignored Rodney's cry for help? What would have happened if Apps and I hadn't really taken time out to listen to Rodney? What would have happened if Danny, Gigi and I hadn't been sitting in that cafe? What I'm trying to get at it that everything in our lives has a direct effect on the eternity of those around us. When I first got here I don't know if I would have had the confidence to even speak to Rodney, but through God bringing redemption into my life, I was able to be there in the moment someone else needed help. And tonight I got to witness God bring fullness to a broken man by the name of Rodney. So my question to you, who's your Rodney? Are you willing to fill the need that he has?

Please continue interceding on behalf of Rodney! He is supposed to come back to the base next Monday for our community night. Pray that we continue to get opportunities to disciple and pour into him. Pray that Rodney finds a job, receives healing physically and from his addictions, and that God does redeem his family. Thank you for taking time to read about my new brother in Christ's story. Blessing to you and your Rodney!