When a Stranger Cries

One of my favorite stories to tell from life on the field is about a french couple that I met at Common Grounds Coffee Shop in Siem Reap, Cambodia. So, I thought I would share this story with all of you who haven’t heard it. 

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One morning I went to the cafe to process the month I had just completed. I walked into the two story cafe, surveyed the room and looked for a comfortable spot to sit and reminisce.

To the left, I found a two person table open – one side was a booth and the other side was a dining room chair. I bee lined it to the spot, plopped my day pack on the floor and sat on the booth side of the table. I always sit facing the entrance, just incase some cray cray comes through trying to hurt people. (Am I anxious? Of course not, just cautious.) 

As I sit down, I notice the couple that I share this space with. They were enjoying a nice breakfast – I can actually remember the spread that they had – the woman had a stack of pancakes with a fruit bowl on the side, her mans had two waffles and fruit on the side as well. Each had their portion of the Lord’s drink, coffee, and glass of water to go with it.

!!PSA!! I’m not a creep, I’m just very observant and this is a v important memory to me. 

After looking over the menu, I began unpacking my bag and making myself at home. I was unraveling my headphones – gotta have those bad boys, setting the mood while processing is ESSENTIAL – and couldn’t help but eavesdrop on a conversation that they were having. Except, I couldn’t understand any of the words that were coming out of their mouths because they were speaking french. LOL. However, I could understand the thickness in the woman’s voice and practically feel the hot tears that were streaming down her cheeks. She was grieving and I haven’t got a clue about what or even who she is but I feel for her.

About five minutes later, her husband got up and excused himself to the wash closet. (this is the ugly name that other countries use for restrooms) While he was away, I took my head phones out, turned toward the woman and asked,

“Ma’am are you okay?” 

She replied,

“I’m fine, thank you.”

I could tell that she was embarrassed that I noticed her sorrow. So, in response to her body language, I said,

“Okay, well if you need anything please let me know.”

Then, I turned back to my laptop and started to type away again. Her husband returned about two minutes after our small conversation and she filled him in. The only reason I know she told him about it is because he turned to me and smiled. Once again, I take my headphones out and ask again, 

“Are you guys ‘Okay’?”

“Yes, we are fine.” He replied.

“You don’t look fine but okay..” **insert hand shrug emoj**

 B O L D, I know, but dude… clearly they weren’t “O.K” and I actually cared about how that woman was feeling. So, NO RAGRETS!!!!!!

 

 

BUT WAIT… My bold retort shocked the woman and she blurted out,

“My heart is broken because, I am going to miss my sons wedding. It’s this weekend and he didn’t tell us about it, so we aren’t prepared to make it to America from here.”

My heart sank. All I could muster up and say was,

“Wow, I am so sorry to hear that. That must be awful to walk through and I am so sorry that this isn’t working out for you.” 

We carried on in conversation, I asked them where they were from, what they did for a living, you know all the questions that you ask complete strangers in a coffee shop when you’re in a foreign country. Or if your me, you ask these questions all of the time no matter where you are and are nosy as heck. (HA) They asked me the same questions, I told them about what I was doing, where I was from and the like. Our conversation eventually came to an end and we went back to our respective head spaces. 

I was surprised but not surprised that this woman ended up slamming her heart onto my table. I love when things like this happen. I loved that I was able to pray with her and her husband about the situation and their son. But the best part of this story, which is also the shortest, hasn’t even been told yet. You see, we stayed next to each other for about another hour and when they finally decided to leave, I shook the mans hand and hugged the woman. They walked away but just before the man completely left the building, he said something to his wife and she kept walking. 

He turned around and looked right at me. I struggled to hide the fact that I was watching them leave, lol awkwarrrrd. He began walking toward my table and then asked,

“What exactly is your mission here this month?”

I said, “To love people well”

“So how do you do that? You just see someone crying in a coffee shop and you go up to them and ask what they need?”

“If that is the situation at hand then, yes, exactly.”

?? “wow!”

He walked away perplexed, throwing back a couple of glances at me. I just waved at him and his wife as they got in their tuktuk and took off.

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At the time, this was just an ordinary thing for me, but as I’ve gotten further along on the Race, the Lord has opened my eyes to how big of an impact these small conversations have. People long to be noticed, heard and consoled. I can only provide those things temporarily but you know who can provide those things unconditionally and consistently? 

G O D

Did I have an opportunity to share the gospel and watch these people give their lives to Christ? No, but I pulled a Matthew 25 and invited these strangers into the presence of the Lord by seeking them out and praying with them. 

I am sharing this story with you, in hopes that it might encourage you to be vigilant of these opportunities and take advantage of them. Take an extra five minutes to survey the lobby of Starbucks, pick your eyes up from your phone screen and look at the people standing in the crowds around you, pay attention to the lonely kid in your class. 

FEED THE HUNGRY

PROVIDE DRINK FOR THE THIRSTY

WELCOME THE STRANGER

VISIT THE PRISONER

You can do these things literally AND figuratively. Look at the people around you and see who’s hungry for change, thirsty for living water (JESUS), outcasted or enslaved. Small encounters with Jesus, eventually lead to a big meeting with Him and truth be told, I have more of these “small encounters” on the Race than anything else and I am beyond content with that because they eventually have a mighty impact!!!!

Let’s do our part, Amen? 

Thanks for reading!

– Mariss