My wife and I had been wanting to share the gospel with Fetin* for two years, but since she worked as a hairdresser, she was always very busy. Even on her day off, customers would come to her house to have their hair done, so we were were only able to spend time with her children.
Finally, due to the lockdowns from COVID-19, Fetin was not allowed to go to work, and customers were not allowed to come to her house. From the time restrictions were eased and the hair salons would be allowed to open, there was one day (only one!) when she would be free. My wife told me, “This is our opportunity! We need to go tomorrow on her only day off.” We prayed and made our preparations. At the same time, we thought that since it was Ramadan, the whole family would lack energy and attention because they would be fasting. In addition, the 5-year-old would likely have the TV on and at a loud volume, making it difficult to share. So, we prayed.
When we got there, Fetin and her children were happy to have us, since no one had come to visit for so long. After some time of chatting, we learned that the family had decided to take a break from fasting one day, so they were filled with energy and ready to drink tea with us and have some snacks! We then proceeded to explain that we loved them so much that we wanted to share with them a story of God’s love. They were so excited and eager to hear our story that they gave me a table and chair to present the gospel. I had prepared a visual presentation on my laptop, so the family could easily read the Scriptures in both Turkish and Arabic. During the whole presentation, Fetin and her teenage children were very attentive and responded positively, while the 5-year-old fell asleep on my wife’s lap. I then asked them review questions to make sure they understood the message, and they did. All three prayed to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. Praise the Lord!!!
What I learned from this was the truth of the verse that the Lord reminded me of before leaving for Fetin’s house: “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2).
With the fasting of Ramadan under way, we thought it would be difficult to share the gospel. I learned that, when we were willing and prepared to share the gospel, the Lord was faithful to open an opportunity and make a way for the gospel to be heard. I also learned that it may take years like it did for us to keep praying and waiting for God to open opportunities, but one day those opportunities will come. We just need to be faithful because God is faithful.
*NOTE: Name changed for security reasons.
