A Plane and Working Witness Two months ago I unexpectedly, God-incidentally, found my dream job (enjoyable, flexible, part-time, pays well, and fits with home schooling). I became excited about the opportunity to rub shoulders with the secular world. As a young Christian I’d bemoaned my well-trained, liberal background and longed to be like the missionaries I met who had walked with Jesus since early childhood. After 15 years, I now see how God can use my background in contacts with people trapped in sin and its consequences. My first opportunities came quickly. All were "incomplete," but Scripture says some plant, some water, and some harvest. Perhaps my part prepared a little heart soil! Here are some anecdotes: Prayerfully I watched a young man across the aisle as the plane landed. Fearfully, he asked me, "Is it going to be cold here?" I responded in Spanish, and we had quite a conversation. I promised to pray against the cold weather he dreaded, and we walked off the plane. At the hotel I found my fellow Montana trainees, a white-haired gentleman who raises and shows mules and an adorable woman whom I’ll call "Sally." She reminded me of a delightful secretary I once knew. We chatted and began to build a relationship. Not every encounter was pleasant. During required class introductions, I identified myself as a home schooler and a pastor’s wife. Soon after, the climate between me and the woman next to me lowered to freezing, and she made several unkind remarks. After coffee break, she moved to a different seat. In chatting with a woman named Marcie, I mentioned a prayer time advertised at the nearby 100 year old Episcopalian church. Later I found that her worst enemies were fundamental, evangelical Christians. She was, however, an Episcopalian and responded positively to this remark. I believe her warm response came from seeing that my relationship with Christ includes believers from many denominations. In a later visit with Sally, she asked, "I have wonderful, observant Jewish friends. How can you say they’re going to hell?" I was able to explain that we’re all deserving of hell, but Jesus came as our Messiah. Some accepted Him, some did not. She brought up children who die in infancy and people in faraway countries who have never heard of Christ. I shared many things with her, from the age of accountability concept and the reason for missions. It crystallized with the fact that Christianity is not a religion but a relationship, and that I must respond to the truth given to me. Sally and I felt drawn to each other. Apparently I reminded her of someone special, as she did for me. As we boarded our flight for home, I learned she was claustrophobic and was having great difficulty in the middle seat. I offered her my aisle seat, and a stewardess even offered her an aisle seat, but to no avail. Finally I turned, "Sally, God has provided a seat for you, and you need to take it." She smiled and took it. I sat next to the gentleman from Montana on my way home, and God granted me yet another opportunity to discuss my faith. I’ll be seeing these individuals at least four times a year. I’ll be praying for further opportunities and would appreciate your prayers also. I used to feel so inadequate in witnessing, but I am now utterly convinced that I am not the One responsible for success—God is. I’m learning to pray before, during, and after meetings with people who don’t know Him and let Him lead. | 
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