An Encouraging Note

I had to go to the Rochester Public School District building on Tuesday and Wednesday to take state math tests. When we ended on Tuesday, I took the elevator down to the bottom floor with a few girls that I had taken the test with. I gave them each a billion dollar bill, and a "Little Red Book" Gospel tract. (LRB has, by far, the finest, most thorough Gospel tracts I have ever read. CLICK HERE to check them out!) When I handed it to them they started laughing uncontrollably. Now, people have done some strange things when I've given them a tract, some people just stare at you with a blank face, others run, some even pour Dr. Pepper on your head (that's a story for another time), and a few people (I think they were people) just grunted. But these girls were unique, I have never had anyone, ever start laughing.

A bit surprised, I told them to read the booklet when they got a chance, but still, they continued laughing. Guess what happened when we stepped out of the elevator? Bingo! They kept on laughing. I'm telling you the complete truth: these girls laughed all the way to their car! It was strange. The moment they saw the tract (all it said was "Who Was St. Patrick?", nothing funny) they started laughing. Weird.

Well, the next day, Wednesday, I go back, take my test and stand by the elevator. Guess who comes and stands next to me? Another Bingo! The same two girls! And ya' know what they start doing? Laughing. This time is isn't as bad as before, they've settled down to a giggle. One of the girls steps over to me and gives me a folded piece of notebook paper, and tells me that it is from some of her "friends". This is what it says (It's in three parts, each saying primarily the same thing. Also, they are in an unedited form, I'm typing it exactly the way that they wrote it):

"Hi Peter I heard your really religious thats good but not everybody is a Christian. And those girls your give papers to isn't a Christian.
P.S = write back"
"Hey you Peta we don't won't 2 be Christian okay why don't you be muslim. And don't try to convert my friends into Christianity okay because were not interested. Buh-bye. wlb on a different sheet of paper. wlb = write back"
"Hi Peter! I heard lots about you and you know what, stop giving out money! Fake money. But you can just give me one because I have to remember this. LOL. R U smart? R U home schooled? Where do you shop from? Oh by the way I am not into your religion! So stop trying to convert us!
P.S. Write back"

The two girls insisted that it wasn't from them, but that it truly was from a friend. If you say so. When I got out to the car I read the letter to my Mom and she started to laugh. (No! I think I'm laughed out!) After I finished, she said something absolutely great. It hit the nail right on the head. What she said was something to the effect of "You know, in evangelism it is so easy to be discouraged when you don't get the response that you wanted. But I really don't think that it is our job to soften their hard hearts; it is Gods. When someone is rude like that to me, the way I want to respond is, 'Just go to Hell if you're so stubborn!' but I've come to realize that I was that stubborn at one time. But, God did a work on me, and God can do that same thing to them." Everyone needs a Mom like mine! That quote was next to Spurgeon!

Anyway, just as an encouragement to all of you out there who don't seem to be getting any fruit out of your ministry, keep on going. Don't give up, because you don't know when God will send that soul who is searching for the law, a realization of their sin, the judgement of God, the reality of Hell, and the good news of God's salvation through Jesus Christ.