I met this most wonderful, young Mexican man named Max while waiting for the boarding call to get on the plane to go back home. I was in the sunny destination of Merida, Mexico where I had just spent the past January. Max was a friendly sort, in his early 30's and spoke English well. We had been waiting in the front of the line to board the plane to go to Tijuana. As we waited Max introduced himself and his sister. He told me the story how he was deported from the U.S. over 13 years ago and now after 10 years, he had finally got to see his sister. It was a sad story but I was happy for him that he finally got to visit her. We chatted for quite a while and then he said that he was glad that the plane was delayed and they were taking their time to check it out. With the recent loss of the famous basketball player, Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash, it can happen when we least expect it. I nodded in agreement and said, "That is the reason why we need to get ourselves right with God 'cause you never know when it can happen to you." "I believe in God," he said. I told him that it wasn't enough to just believe in God if you want the assurance of heaven, but to enter into a loving relationship with him. That is what is referred to in the bible as Salvation. "Oh, I didn't know that," he said. I asked him, "Would you like to have the assurance of going to heaven when you die and have your name written in the book of Life?" "Yes, I would," he replied. "Ok. We can pray together right here for the forgiveness of your sins and invite Jesus to come into your heart." We prayed together and he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. I encouraged him to pray and read his bible everyday.We finally boarded that plane only to be detained for another hour. There appeared to be some engine trouble and they were checking into it. I asked the flight attendant if I could have a seat in the aisle cause I was having stomach issues and was concerned about getting up and down to go to the bathroom. She sat me at the very back, right next to the seat where Max and his sister were sitting! We were happy to be sitting close and talked the whole time while we waited. Finally after 1 1/2 hours they moved us off the plane onto buses. They drove to another part of the runway where another plane stood waiting. We waited another 1 hour on the bus before they finally moved us onto the plane. We waited again another hour. Max's sister panicked as she realized she left all her ID, passport and driver's license, in the seat's flap on the last plane. Everyone was buckled up waiting to takeoff so the flight attendants were not able to get up out of their seats to help her.
I began to pray that Jesus would help her to get her ID back. At first the flight attendants seemed uninterested in helping her, but finally after some persistence from Max, they let the captain know who said he would ask the crew to check the other plane. She couldn't get across the border into San Diego without any ID and she panicked! The Lord gave me wisdom, and a possible solution. I told her if her brother was going to pick her up, have him identify her to the border security. She had her phone and we hadn't taken off yet, so she was able to text her other brother. He was able to find some of her ID papers at home and was going to bring them with him. He agreed to crossing the border and meeting her at the airport. Praise the Lord! What a wonderful witness for Jesus! Amen!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you for every opportunity that you give us to share and witness to others. I'm grateful I was able to lead Max to Salvation and I pray for his sister's salvation as well; that you will raise them up to come to know you personally. Also that they will receive the power (Baptism) of your Holy Spirit with the gift of tongues as evidence. (Mark 16:15-18) In Jesus' mighty name, Amen. Thank you Jesus!
"And He (Jesus) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues..." (Mark 16:15-17)
