Boise, ID
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The following story comes to us from team leader Lucy with our team in Boise, ID:
The Gospel message is still fresh today. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.
“Our business park” was very busy last weekend. The main convention center was featuring its annual display of decorated trees. Opposite the plaza from us, a pseudo-Christian religion was holding a rally, complete with choir. Plus, the free skating rink was finally open in the center of the business park. This year, we were able to set up just across the walkway from our usual spot.
Three different groups from the pseudo-Christian religion stopped to ask what we’re doing.
The first group consisted of 3-4 young adult men. Their leading question, “What ward are you with?” clued the evangelist in that they were not Catholic. The young man who acted as spokesman for the group, perhaps to show how open-minded he was about other religions, mentioned that he had attended events at Chuck’s parish and at the university’s Newman center. He might have accepted a Rosary from us. The group as a whole thanked us for being out there and having a positive effect on society.
Out of the second group of 3, an older man stopped. He told the story of how he and his mom suffered an economic crisis when he was in third grade (about 9 years old). They’d had to move to “the projects”, and the mom worried about the bad influence of neighborhood children on her son. Then a priest that she had met made arrangements for him to attend a Catholic school in a better neighborhood. On the first day of school, the teacher had asked them to memorize a short poem. He did as he was asked. The next day it turned out that he was the only one to have done so. After he recited the poem for his class, his teacher took him down to the 4th grade class to recite it for them, too. To thank him, the religious sister who taught 4th grade opened her desk drawer and gave him a Cadbury egg. He felt very encouraged. I don’t know if he ever became Catholic. He declined taking a Rosary, but did accept a Divine Mercy prayer card.
The third group was young-adult women. They, too, did not want a Rosary, but did want to encourage us in what we did.
The odd thing about all three groups is the sudden discomfort they each displayed when the evangelist exclaimed about how grateful we are for what Our Savior did for us and explained how meditating on the Mysteries of the Rosary is a good way to grow closer to Jesus Christ. Only later did she remember that, though that religion acknowledges the Divinity of Christ, they understand neither the oneness of God, nor our need for Redemption. Lord, may their discomfort at the thought of our need for a Savior lead them to You and salvation!
Please pray for us again today? Ask God to send people to us with hearts prepared to perceive their need for Our Savior Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.
Truth can hit a nerve! So, thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!