Second chance

At one point last semester while waiting for my bus to Benicassim a young man came by and asked if I spoke English. His name was Stanley and he was trying to get to a certain bus stop in Benicassim but wasn't sure which bus to take, when the bus left, nor where to get off. And he didn't speak Spanish. I helped him out and while waiting for our respective buses to come (he needed to take the other one that went along the beach instead of mine that goes through the center of the town) we chit-chatted about where we are from and what we study. He is from Nigeria and is here for a two-year Master program in Peace, Conflict and Development Studies. During the conversation I felt the urge to share with him about Christ, or at the very least to mention church or ask him if he was a Christian. But, as too often happens, I resisted and didn't bring it up. Afterwards I felt as if something were quite unfinished and prayed for another opportunity to speak with him (though slightly unwearily as I was worried I would again chicken out of saying anything).

Fast forward some months...

I have a friend Jitu who is here to finish his thesis for the Master of Peace program. He is a Christian and goes to the same church as I in the Grao. At some point last week a student that he did not know came into his room while he was talking with his professor, looked at the books on his desk, saw "Come Holy Spirit" and asked Jitu if he was a Christian. This student's name is Stanley (yes, the same one).

Apparently Stanley grew up in a Christian home but his beliefs have been rocked by his time here, especially under the influence of the professors in the Masters of Peace program. Last week he prayed that God would bring a group of Christians into his life. When walking past Jitu's room he saw his professor and went in, though not sure why he was doing so. When he saw that book he knew that he had found a Christian. He stayed and talked with Jitu and came to church with him this Sunday where I saw him again. He was amazed that I had remembered meeting him before and is very excited to have found a group of Christians. We didn't have much time to talk but he collected our email addresses (and shortly after I got home I had an email from him). I am not sure if he is lost and searching or if he is a Christian and just hungering for fellowship. But either way I'm excited to see what God will do and thank Him for another chance to speak with Stanley.