Ya never know. . . .

About 2 years ago, the strangest thing happened. I got on the public transportation "MAX" and sat across from a little girl, her younger brother, and in front of them were Mom, Dad and baby sister. I started to read a C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia book) and it was like the Spirit just told me to wait for the girl to talk to me. . .it was gonna happen.

Two stops later, this girl (6 years old) is talking up a storm to me. Her parents are keeping a watchful eye on the entire situation -and I'm trying the best I can to "telegraph" to them that I'm a safe person. Long story short - the parents and I met. They'd been going to my church for 2 weeks after coming to Oregon from Louisana. It was summertime and they didn't have a way to connect in the church and were looking for ways to do so. Several weeks later I saw them at church - and we became fast friends. They were appointed to be head of the Young Families at church - and invited me to join them for a special series.

Fast forward to a year ago. I'm in the special series, but I'm also getting coffee at the coffee kiosk. Guests are invited to get a free cup of coffee. This lady in front of me had her coupon for a free cup of coffee. She was asked - how long had she been in Oregon. The response was less than 24 hours. Her husband had been transferred - and they moved here knowing no one. I asked her if she was going to church - or leaving. My intent was to have her join me at Young Families to meet this family from Louisana. They were going to service. I asked her if she would trust me enough with her phone number and name. She wrote it down.

Went to Young Families. Placed the name and number in front of Shannon (my friend) and asked her if she would please call her. It was urgent! Shannon later told me it was a good thing.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago. Once again, I'm visiting Young Families. Shannon isn't there, but this woman was introducing herself. Eventually she looked at me and said, were you the person who met a lady who'd been in Oregon for one day in the coffee line? I told her yes! She said she'd been looking for me for over a year.

Seems as though the very next day (Monday), her husband had to fly away for business to Phoenix, leaving her and her 2 kids alone in Oregon knowing no one. Shannon called her Monday at 8:30 to invite her over to her house. By 11:30 the two had connected at Shannon's house and were having lunch with their kids playing together.

Isn't God great? And it all started on a MAX train.