Judith

My mind keeps thinking about Judith.

My family just returned from a mission trip to Mission Arlington in Arlington, Texas.  Our youth pastor told us at the beginning of the week that there may be someone we connect with—someone we think about a lot—as a result of our ministry there that week.  For me that is Judith.

Our group organized three backyard bible clubs.  I spent most of my time in the clinic, but at the end of the first day I finished with enough time to join the bible club late in the afternoon.  There is where I met Judith.

Judith had two small children.  Most of the activities were designed for older children, but still Judith was there.  Her oldest child, a daughter, was dressed in a knitted shah and was held by a dancing youth worker.  Judith was holding her sleeping baby boy.  She was standing around smiling.  At first I thought that she lived at the apartment right next to our activity area, but as it turns out she was from another building.  But she was there, drawn to the activity.

I decided to simply talk to her.  I told her what we were doing, where we were from, and why we were there.  She smiled as she watched the kids sing, dance, and play games.  She told me she was from Kenya, and had been here for less than a year.  She was attending a Kenyan church somewhere in the DFW area.  I thought she had already been saved.  We simply chatted, and not much else.  But she was smiling much of the time.

The next day my husband and I were not there, but my daughter talked to Judith.  At that time, my daughter shared the salvation message, and Judith prayed to accept Christ.

The third day, my husband talked to Judith for an hour, and answered all of her questions about what it meant to be a Christian, who Jesus was, and what a Christian life looks like. 

The last day, my son helped her carry her son back to her apartment.  During testimony time, Judith asked to share her testimony as well.  Her testimony was that a lady talked to her on Monday, a teenager led her to Christ on Tuesday, a man answered her questions on Wednesday, and a boy served her needs on Thursday.  Given the size of our group, these acts could have been done by anyone as we all shared duties regularly.   But it would seem divinely inspired that all of these people in her testimony would have the last name of “Hurley.”

I didn’t get Judith’s last name.  I didn’t get her phone number or address.  We know where she lives, but we are not sure of her apartment number.  I’m sure we could find this information if we asked others at Mission Arlington.  But I know her address on my heart, and it has touched me more than I expected.