Where Is The Mall

Some hot summer day a few years ago Lisa and I finished our load near Stockton, California. Our fleet manager told us there was no freight for us until the next day so we decided to get out of the truck a bit and walk around the shopping mall, for something to do.

We proceed to drive toward the mall and found what we thought was the exit. We drive here, we drove there. For some odd reason we just could not find the place. We drove around town for 45 minutes looking for the place. Finally we just gave up and said, “Lets just go the truck stop and sit there.”

As I said it as hot about 100 degrees out. We went inside the truck stop and got an ice-cream sandwich and looked at the map. It seems we drove past the mall three or four times. Scratching our heads we were wondering how we missed the place. It is a huge place with a big parking lot. We decided to head back over there after we ate our ice-cream. We went back to the truck.

After about five minutes or so sitting in the truck I see this guy walking toward me with a soda bottle full of something and a towel. He walks straight toward the truck. As he approaches the truck I roll down my window. The man asks, “Hi, my name is Joseph and I need your help. You see I had made some bad decisions in my life the last few days and need some money for the hotel room I am staying in with my wife and children.” I said, “Well I just don’t hand out money unless I can see that there really is a need.” He said, “I am not asking for a hand out, I am asking if I can wash your windows and mirrors for some money.” I thought to myself, “at least the guy is willing to work for it.” I said, “Sure what will you charge?” He said, “Anything will do I just need some money to pay the room rent at this motel we are staying at.” I said, “Ok.”

With my window down as he was washing my mirrors he began to tell me his story. I herd of how he had been battling alcohol addiction and was in the dog house with his wife because of it. I heard a guys crying out for help. I replied to him, “You know Joseph; there was a time in my life when I made bad decisions.” As he proceeded around the truck I got out the truck and followed him to the other side. He continued to tell me his story and I would just reply, “There was a time in my life when I made bad decisions too.”

When he was done he looked at me and I began to tell him my story. The one day when I was strung out on drugs addicted to alcohol and at the lowest point in my life. I ask, Jesus Christ into my life and I changed, things, changed.” I went on, “Even after being laid off from work for more almost two years, the very next day after I accepted Jesus as my personal Savor and Lord, I got called back to work. The very next day. I asked him, “Have you ever asked for Jesus to come into to your life?” He said, “No, I went to church when I was younger but I did really understand it.” I continued to ask him about his situation and told him, I do not know how the Lord will help you in your situation, all I know is my life changed for the good when I decided to follow him.”

By this time the man had tears pouring down his face. “I just do not know what to do or where to start?” I said, “Lets pray.” There we were at the truck stop in StocktonCalifornia in the parking lot with a soda bottle of water a rag and a broken man looking for hope. We prayed and Joseph asked the Lord Jesus to come and into his life and change him and his situation. This guy was really moved. I looked at him and encouraged him to find a church to go to and read the book of John. I went into the truck and found and extra Bible I picked up somewhere and gave it to him. I told him that he needs to pray and seek the Lord. He said, “I do not know how to pray.” I said, “Do you see how we are talking and having this conversation? This is exactly how you pray, He just wants you to come to Him and He will in His own way answer you and provide for you. You must also get baptized in Jesus name for remittance for sin and get on the path of a renewed life.”

He looked at me with big alligator tears and said, “Thank you, Scott” and proceed to walk back in the same direction I saw him come from. When he got about twenty feet away or so a though popped into my head, “give him forty dollars to pay for the room.” I did not know how much money he need for the room and he even forgot about why he was washing my windows in the first place. I turn around pulled out my wallet grabbed forty dollars and said, “Joseph? I think you forgot something?” He turned around and walked back to me. I said, “Here, thanks for cleaning my windows today the Lord has provided for you.” He looked at me with awe and astonishment as he opened up his hand and said, “how did you know I need forty dollars for the room?” I said, “I don’t know, I just knew what you needed.” His tears turned to joy and he thanked me over and over we hugged and we walked away.

Now mind you that none of this would have happened if we had found the mall. We would have been there at the mall eating Chinese food or something, instead of meeting this stranger at some obscure truck stop in StocktonCalifornia. Lisa and I came to the conclusion that for that time while we were looking for the mall initially that our eyes had to of been blinded to it so we could meet this fellow on the other side of town.

This story is just one of the many times this sort of thing has happened to us. This is just one of the many reasons why I do not believe in coincidences. There was an appointed time for this guy to be introduced to Jesus. God made these circumstances occur to fulfill his purpose and plan. I praise Him for allowing us to be apart of that.

Bro. Scott