Good soil

I spend a lot of my time in coffee shops. Coffee shops are a HUGE part of the culture here. From early morning until very late at night, the thousands (not exaggerating) of coffee shops around the city are full of people. So when I'm free, I try to be there, too. Sometimes I'm studying languages alone or writing emails like this, or maybe I'm meeting with a new friend or studying the Bible with a small group of friends.

Each time I go, I try to have at least one conversation with someone. I often chat with the barista and learn what type of beans they use, where they're sourced from, roasting style, etc. I've learned a lot about coffee, plus it's really helped expand my Vietnamese vocabulary. And sometimes... I'm able to make a whole new connection with someone in a very unexpected way, like our new friend Hoa.

Hoa was sitting in a coffee shop near our apartment and Jesse noticed she was reading a Christian book. Turns out, she had a friend who was Christian, so she wanted to learn more about Christianity. Since that day, we've had Bible studies each Monday with her. I love seeing someone hear the Gospel for the first time. We are going through a booklet called "The Promise," and we read a paragraph that said, "This Jesus, whose name means Savior, is the one promised by God to Adam and Eve. He is also your Savior. It's through the good news of the Bible that you learn about what he has done to save you. May the good seed fall on your heart that you may believe in Jesus, the Son of God, and that you might have eternal life through his name." 

After Hoa read this paragraph, she paused for a second, and simply said, "Oh. I need to remember this part. I want to be the good soil."

We've only just scratched the surface of the Good News, but the Holy Spirit is working.

We are very thankful we met Hoa in the coffee shop that day. There are times where I worry I'm not doing enough for our ministry. But then God reminds me it's not about what I do at all and he's at work even in the coffee shops. With his help, you can talk to people at your local coffee shop, too!! 

Emily R. serves with her husband Jesse in Southeast Asia