Prayer Letter
December 2009
Dear Praying Friends,
After my Portuguese class ended, I had two hours before the
Wednesday evening prayer meeting. My plan was to run to the store,
buy a few things and make it back to church with time to spare. My
plans didn’t include a heart attack and a trip to the hospital.
As I left the store, I was in a bit of a rush. Shopping had taken
longer than I expected. At the foot of the escalators I saw the two
older tourists sprawled in a corner. He was overweight and sweating
profusely in spite of the cold. His hand clutched his chest while
his face was locked in a grimace of pain. His wife had already
dialed 112 (Portugal’s 911) but could not communicate with them in
Portuguese. In desperation she handed me the phone and I quickly
explained to the operator our location and what the man’s symptoms
were.
While we waited for the ambulance, I was able to witness to Pieter.
He listened quietly with the intensity of a man who knows he might
not see tomorrow but made no decision. The EMTs arrived and in a few
hectic minutes, the couple and the ambulance were gone. I never
found out if he survived, but I thank the Lord for the opportunity
to give the gospel to this desperate man.
Praising God for altered plans,
Mark Hale
"Praying
always ... for all
saints and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my
mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel."
Ephesians 6:18-19
