It's Friday, our day off. Where am I? The Berkeley SDA church, tiptoeing around because a non-christian clinic also uses the facility Monday through Friday. You know how hard it is for 17 young people to not talk loud, laugh, or generally make noise at all? Very hard. At nights when 17 tired but happy young people come back from a long day of canvassing is our time to kind of "get it out of our system."  Much merriment is made as they chatter about the experiences of the day. Sounds of... "So I met this lady who was a..." "Sold the prophecy set to a drug dealer." Things like, "Noooo waaaaay! That is CRAZY!" "PTL!" and  "God is so good!" echoes down the halls and through the bathrooms as 17 joyful christians prepare for bed.

I can't imagine a happier life.

When we got here a couple weeks ago, I made it clear that I wanted to see the Golden Gate bridge before I left the San Francisco area. Our director, Anthony, whom I love dearly, made it very clear that it is "just a bridge." What a melancholy thing to say! (When he was getting excited over some books that he was finding in the library I just had to say back "Its just a book, Anthony." I'm not sure he appreciated or understood my point of view.) Either way, last Friday while I was on kitchen prep for breakfast, two of my friends, Brooke and Daniela, came in, sat down, made me close my eyes and started telling me a story. "Once upon a time there was a little blond girl who really wanted to see the Golden Gate Bridge. Well one day, two girls walked into the kitchen and told her that she could see it. But there is one condition, and that is she will be excited when she sees it." Yaaaay! So they kidnapped me and a couple other girls and we got to go see and walk on the famous not-really-golden bridge, drive through China Town, and catch a glimpse of Alcatraz from the freeway.

I just love my friends!

Just yesterday I was canvassing this young teenager, and a car pulls up behind us out in the street. I glance over my shoulder and it wasn't Anthony, so I asked the guy if it was his mom or dad. It wasn't, so after I closed him, I went out to the street and looked in the car. There was a woman maybe in her 50s sitting there, talking on the phone. I waved to her, and she rolled down her window a tad. I asked "Do you live around here?"
"No," she replied, "I just stopped to call the post office really quick."
"Oh, interesting. So I'll be really quick. My name is Laressa, and I'm a student working on a scholarship. I'll let you take a look here," and I handed her our cookbook, Naturally Gourmet.
She looked through it and really liked the simplicity and layout of it. Then I asked her if she likes to read. She said no. I felt like pressing her a little though, so then I questioned if she ever reads her Bible. Looking me not quite in the eye, she said, "No, I guess I don't really, but I really should." I agreed with her. I told her the price range for the books, and she got out her wallet. I could see the struggle. She told me straight up, "I have the money, but I really don't want to spend my last $20." So she gave me a $5 instead.
I was disappointed but thought maybe this is what she really needs. "For that donation, I would love to give you this little book," and I handed her the little Steps to Christ.
She flipped through it, reading each chapter title. "'Peace' Oh I could use that! 'Freedom from Guilt.' wow, I better read that chapter too. 'Abiding Joy' Oooh thats a good one. 'Reaching your Full Potential' Man! all these chapters are soooo good! Everyone should read this book."
Again, I agreed. We were just kinda chatting, as I was getting reading to go, but then she asked if she could see the cookbook again. After looking at it again, she finally decided that she would get it anyways, so she gave me the $20. With that plus the $5 she gave earlier, she was able to actually get another book as well. I showed her the Man of Peace, which is a modern version of Desire of Ages. I showed her how she could read the Bible along with it, and it would just make the Bible simple and understandable. She LOVED that it was simple, and she could start being consistent with God. I suppose she felt bad about not reading her Bible, as one should. The Holy Spirit was working and convicting. Just before I left I told her if this wasn't God's divine timing, I don't know what is.
We said our goodbyes. I went to the next house and she drove off. Just like that. She wasn't there before I got there, or after I left. God put her there just in time.

You guys, God is SO good!