It was Sabbath morning in Tennessee. Caitlyn and I had been visiting the Collegedale area for her younger sister’s high-school graduation. We had decided to go to the South Bay SDA church that week. Originally, Caitlyn’s parents planned to stay home and rest after the busy week, but at the last minute decided to join us.
South Bay’s church building was still under construction, so Sabbath School and church were out in a large tent where you could see all the other classes going on. Caitlyn and I attended one class, while Caitlyn’s parents attended another. After Sabbath School, we saw Caitlyn’s dad beckoning us from the other side of the tent. He introduced us to the young lady standing next to him: “This is Sarah*. She’s from Japan. I will let you talk about the rest.”
Caitlyn and I introduced ourselves to Sarah and told her we had signed up as career missionaries to Japan. “Oh, praise God,” Sarah exclaimed. “We really need missionaries!” Within minutes, Sarah was sharing cultural tidbits and evangelism ideas and had volunteered to help us learn the Japanese language. Before too long, church was starting, and we had to take a break in our conversation. Caitlyn and I found seats and tried to grapple with what an incredible blessing had just been given to us. But we still did not know just how incredible meeting Sarah really was.
After church, we went back to Sarah to talk with her more. She shared with us how she ended up at South Bay that day:
- She just happened to go to a vespers she doesn’t normally attend.
- Then she just happened to sit with friends she normally doesn’t sit with.
- One of those friends invited Sarah to the South Bay SDA church. Normally, Sarah is very busy with her obligations at her own church, but this week she just happened to have none.
- She just happened to sit in the same Sabbath School class as Caitlyn’s parents, who just happened to decide not to stay home.
- She just happened to share during Sabbath School that she was from Japan.
- All of which happened the one week Caitlyn and I just happened to be in Tennessee.
For Caitlyn and me, that is too many “just happened” occurrences to be a coincidence. Clearly, God had orchestrated our meeting Sarah in Tennessee. We exchanged contact information and said we would keep in touch.
Last week, Caitlyn and I were down in Tennessee again, so we decided to meet up with Sarah. We talked with her for several hours about Japanese culture, the Bible, and life in general. It was really helpful, and our brains were full to bursting when we left. God has blessed us not only with a valuable source of knowledge as we prepare for Japan but with a new friend. We look forward to seeing Sarah more whenever we are down in Tennessee!
|
Michael & Caitlyn Babienco