Two and a half hours of free time in Santa Marta, Colombia. The desire of guitar and coffee at the seaside burns in my heart. Because I don't have a lot of money left, thus I boil water, take my flask and loyal old plastic cup with a bag of South African hot chocolate. With Eileen's guitar in hand I head towards the beach. I look for one of the very few spots of shade that is not occupied. I take my seat on a little wall next to the ocean. I was busy writing a new song, and that specific afternoon I wanted to write the second verse. I was busy playing when a middle aged man crossed the garden from the back and crossed over the little wall right next to where I was sitting. He stopped and listened. We smiled and greeted at each other. A bit concerned for my safety, I kept on playing but he didn't leave. We started speaking with my broken Spanish. He shared that he likes music. All types of music. American music as well. Obviously he saw I am a foreigner and as in most cases i was mistaken as an American. He was pleasantly surprised to hear that I am from South Africa. He said that he loved the song even though he couldn't understand it. I told him that it is my own song which I am busy writing and that it is about love and how much God loves us. And boom! It opened a door for me to ask him if he knows God. And so our whole conversation started!
He does know about Him, but it was clear that relationship with Jesus was not what his life was about. He shared about his life, how he doesn't have a job, he doesn't have money, but luckily he can live at his son's house. He doesn't have a wife and it is really going tough for him now. He says he is praying but nothing is happening. There is so much I want to say to this man, but my Spanish is just not on that level. I prayed that the Lord will help us in this difficult language situation. I tried to explain about how much God loves him. And that God doesn't want just a part of his heart, he wants his who's heart. He shouldn't just be giving Him this or that, but a total surrender. Sometimes we ask things from God, but He knows what is best for us. He wants the best for us! And all the time the man says: "entiende, entiende" (I understand, I understand) Wow! God really intervened that we could understand each other in some sense. I can't remember whether it was when I got money out of my bag to buy him coffee or if I just remembered it, but I still had Spanish tracks in my bag from the evangelizing at the university! I took it out and I could talk a bit through the Gospel with him. It really seemed as if he got something! I told him where the church was and he said that he would go there on that Sunday. He asked that I will do the whole song for him, and I played and singed next to the sea, as if we were having our own music concert! We could pray together, we laughed together and he was the first one that heard my song! Super special! I will never forget this meeting. Organized by God and maintained by God. I don't know how he sometimes understood me and how I sometimes understood him, but I think the love of Christ drew him closer to listen. Isn't it amazing how God uses music to talk to people? And even me, who really isn't good at playing guitar could draw attention for this man to stop and show interest. It is amazing how God lead me to go and sit there at that time if the day, in the heat, in the shadow where I never sit, to bring worship and share His love. I hope that he will link up with the church and get to know God better. I am humbled by God's ways, His creativeness and His intense detail and care for all people! He has great plans for this man and He gave me the opportunity to be a small part of His road with him. Let us sing His praises, and draw the people to Him. He has great plans and many meetings planned for us with all sorts of people! Whether it is to bring a word in church, give food to the poor, or have our own private music concerts!