Mason Costa and I went to the Jockey Lot in Anderson on Saturday and here is our report of who we met:

Mason had the pleasure of talking to Chandu who is a frequent vendor at the lot known by many there as “boss man”. He talked with us using many Christian sounding words, but we discerned that he’s really Hindu with a pantheistic worldview. He had a love for talking, but not for listening. We tried to explain that man is a body-soul composite, and not just a spirit piloting a body.  We tried to explain that true meditation is not an “emptying of oneself”, but rather filling oneself with God’s objective truth and with the love of our Lord, and that the intellect and will are part of the soul.  It all fell on deaf ears, but he was very interested in kindness, and we showed him lots of that.

Tray Patrick was standing and looking at everything laid out on the table with intense interest. A quiet man, he took a St. Michael holy medal after a thorough explaination of who St. Michael is. I explained the intercession of the saints and the communion of all believers. He also asked for a thorough explanation of the Rosary and took one with the pamphlet on how to pray it.

Dennis walked over and showed us his tatoos of Jesus carrying his cross. He wore a crucifix and told us he was baptized in a Baptist church. He said he remained neutral because of the disagreements between Catholics and Protestants. He didn't want to to stay so all we were able to do was listen.

A man gave Mason a pamphlet and said in it was the Truth. Mason asked why it was the Truth. The man said because it quoted the Bible. Mason said we also had the Truth and the Bible (we give those out as well). The man said no because what we believe is not Biblical. Mason asked how he knew that. He said because we worship Mary. Mason said that that's where he had it wrong because we don't worship Mary. The man just walked off.

Paton from Fairplay near Seneca didn't talk much but took a St. Christopher medal as I explained briefly who St. Christopher is and the meaning of his name.

Several Hispanics came by. Juan from Veracruz Mexico took a Spanish pamphlet "The Good News" and the booklet "Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth". Izabel and Margarito took several Spanish pamphlets and a "Pillar of Fire, Pillar off Truth" booklet. Many others came and took Rosaries and pamphlets. Julia, an older lady, took a Rosary and pamphlet "How to Pray the Rosary" in Spanish. She also brought Juana over who took a Rosary and pamphlet. She said she wanted to get back into church and learn to pray. I wanted to proclaim the Gospel to her but she had to go so instead I gave her a Gospel card. She did ask about where she can attend Mass and being from Anderson we directed her to St. Joseph's (English) or St. Mary's of the Angels (Spanish).

Mason had a very long conversation with Russell, a Mennonite who’s local community dissolved during Covid. He had misunderstandings about baptism and believed that only baptism by fire, or the Holy Spirit, is what saves you. We shared with him how salvation involves water baptism, and not just baptism of the Holy Spirit.  He seemed unaware that the gift of the Holy Spirit is received during baptism.  He had a passion for accurate translations of the Bible, and we explained how translation and interpretation of scripture requires the authority of the Church and cannot just be personal and subjective.  To correct his belief that the Catholic Church began much later than Jesus, we explained how the Church started with Peter and continues to this day with an unbroken line of papal succession.  He accepted a copy of the "Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth" booklet, and promised to read it.