Hi y'all,
The day started off cloudy with a slight breeze and for this Ernesto and I were thankful. When the sun came out we started cooking. But that didn't stop us or the many passerby who stopped to talk or take something of our many Catholic things. We got a lot of head shaking too. One guy did a what I'm going to start calling a "Funda-by" when a Protestant walks by and keeps moving while telling us that we're wrong (no good reason why) and going to hell for being Catholic. Honestly I didn't say anything back this time, just let him keep on walking.
Here are all we met today:
A Hispanic family who are Catholic and live in Hendersonville took Rosaries. They were very happy to see us. We encouraged another Hispanic man who is Catholic but not going to Mass regularly to go to San Sabastian. Another family took two Spanish Bibles and other materials. We invited another man from Greer to Prince of Peace and gave pamphlet.
Linda, who is Catholic, had to get annulment and said the attitude of the priest turned her off so she has not been going to Mass anymore. I gave her granddaughter a Rosary and asked Linda to teach her pray it. Maybe this will start the fire again.
A Catholic Hispanic family - Lilia, David and David wanted a Spanish Catechism. They took many pamphlets and we told them about the different parishes in Greenvile that have Spanish Masses. Julio from Queretaro Mexico came by with his wife and granddaughter who was one the happiest kids I have seen. They took miraculous medals, a St. Benedict medal and some pamphlets.
Alissa and kids had rabbit. We asked Alissa about her cute rabbit and she raises them for both pets and meat. My wife and I had done the same before so we had a good conversation. Her kids took miraculous medals and a glow in the dark Rosary. I asked them to learn how to pray it, being a prayer based on the Gospel, and gave them the pamphlet "How to Pray the Rosary." They believe in God and Jesus and I explained how the Rosary is a meditation on the Gospel through the eyes of Jesus' mother Mary. The 5 year old boy who took the Rosary gave me a hug and said he love me. I told him I loved him too and as they left I said God bless. He turned around and told me the same.
Roger and his wife took two Rosaries. They didn't say much at first but as they were leaving Roger said to me "in Jesus' name" after I said God bless. He the said "only in Jesus." A lady from Guam who is Catholic talked with Ernesto for sometime who had also been there while in the military. She also talked about them trying to push abortion there.
Antonio and his wife from Mexico talked with Ernesto and took a miraculous medal. Another Hispanic gentleman with kids took Rosaries and the pamphlet "How to Pray the Rosary." A woman with two kids took a Gospel card, a Rosary and some pamphlets.
We talked a while with Mark, who was wearing a Marine veteran hat, after I gave him a Gospel card and thanked him for his service. He served for 22 years and Ernesto and him both talked about their experience.We met two young ladies, Camilla and Morgan. Morgan had found one of our Gospel cards on a table. They took a Rosary and a miraculous medal. Ernesto explained how the miraculous medal came about and recourse to Mary. He encouraged them to pray and draw close to God considering what He did for us pointing to the Gospel card.
An Italian man from Balogna Italy stopped by and said he wanted to go Mass but couldn't find a Catholic Church. We gave him address for POP. He is here for work.
Ernesto relates his experience from today as follows:
"The Mexican man we call 'Preacher' because he is so passionate when he talks, came to us today and graciously gave us some plums that he bought. He grew up Catholic. A woman, related to him, was left for dead by the Coyotes (border smugglers) on the border with Mexico, on the US side. Her friend got off the truck in the desert to stay with her, saw her move, and called 911. She is alive and well now. He said that we need to share. He is poor but has helped many in his family and realized our need to unite in faith and guide our lives towards God. He agrees with me that most of the world's problems are caused by our separation from God and a lack of love among people.
An anonymous man from Mexico said he used to be Catholic because his grandmother took him to church irregularly but he doesn't practice anymore. He does what he decides is good. He refused a pamphlet on returning to the Church, or to give his name because "he doesn't need others praying for him". I asked if he just drifted away from the Church, why not return to what Jesus founded. He changed to other topics. Although he didn't directly criticize the Church, he was lukewarm in faith, it could be worse than being ice cold. He appeared friendly, but his talk indicated a lonely and empty person hard to reach.
An Oriental man we have talked with before came over, very friendly and agreeing with us. The little we could understand, he talked about some Orthodox people that were not accepting Mary as someone to pray to. I just said we should be united in faith, and that Mary is not Divine, but she helps us because God gives her power to save people.
Many others passed by without a chance to give us their names (or we forgot), but asking for rosaries, pamphlets etc. Not all claimed to be Catholic, some were and very happy that we were there. A few kids wanted the glow in the dark rosaries, and I told them those rosaries are like good Christians because we get the light from God and "glow" to those people in spiritual darkness."
Peace,
Caleb
