After driving around on my motorbike one day praying for someone to meet, I stopped in somewhat of a tucked-away “neighborhood” to talk with a woman selling simple snacks and drinks at her roadside stall. After getting to know her and hearing more of her story, I had the opportunity to share the Good News with her. “Bu Sun” expressed interest in learning more about Jesus, someone she had never heard of before.

Following up with her led to meeting several others in the community who would stop by, curious about the foreigner sitting at Bu Sun’s stall. Sticking out like a sore thumb has its positives and negatives.

I began praying that a group from this community would want to study the Word together. My desire was that rather than being interested in inviting me, the foreigner, into their lives, they would long to know the person of Jesus.  

As I continued to visit Bu Sun, I began spending more time sitting with and getting to know Bu Sun’s sister-in-law, Bu Sri. I mention spending time “sitting with” her for a reason. I’ve found that sometimes just sitting and “wasting” time together is what leads to women opening up and sharing more of their stories with me.

That was true of Bu Sri. One day, through tears, she shared about the tragic way she lost her husband and the story of losing her child, who was only four years old. This woman had experienced excruciating loss and loneliness. I longed for her to know the friendship of Jesus. I longed for her to know the One who sits and weeps with us in our pain (John 11:33-36).

Eventually, our visits developed a bit of a routine. She would make me a coconut drink and insist I not pay, and then we would sit and talk between people ordering from her roadside stall. Before saying goodbye, I would pray with Bu Sri in the name of Isa Al-Masih (Jesus). Her openness to pray with me and willingness to share actual prayer requests was refreshing and filled me with hope. There were several visits in a row where those prayers were answered: no more migraines, her son got a job, etc. 

While we seek the Giver and not the gift, I prayed that these answered prayers would grow her desire to learn more about Jesus and that she would see there is power in His name.

I eventually brought a close Indonesian friend, a fellow follower of Jesus, to join me as I followed up with Bu Sri. One of these visits her second husband joined us and shared about his perspective of God. While I began the visit excited about the opportunity to be in a spiritual conversation with both of them, I left deflated. He didn’t seem open to Jesus, and he seemed to be pulling Bu Sri in that direction as well.

A long stint away from Indonesia meant it had been months since I was able to sit down and meet with Bu Sri. Once again, I had the opportunity to bring my believing Indonesian friend with me. My friend was able to share her own story and share the gospel from a new side of the “diamond,” so to speak. I was so thankful Bu Sri and Bu Sun were getting yet another opportunity to hear the gospel. My friend explained how Jesus left the comfort of heaven to come for us. Knowing my heart for these two women, she also shared how my love for Jesus and the people in Indonesia is what led me to leave the comfort of America.

My friend asked them what they thought of all my previous visits, and they both said they couldn’t believe someone like me would want to come spend time with them on the side of the road. They had seen videos of life in America, and this was very different. They shared how when they think about our visits, they think about how we always pray together. My heart rejoiced that their big takeaway from our time together was the fact that we prayed together. “Maybe Jesus didn’t walk up to our stall, but she came instead to tell us about Him,” they said. 

I wish I could end this by saying they are both following Jesus now, but they aren’t. However, the story isn’t over. What I do know is that they’ve heard the gospel, seen that there is power in Jesus’ name, and experienced the compassion and eyes of Jesus through me and my friend. Because of that, I’m hopeful they are on a journey to knowing God and following Him wholeheartedly.

Would you pause and pray for these women and their families? Please join us in praying that this community, tucked away from the eyes of the world but seen by our Heavenly Father, would come to know and follow the God who came for them.