I wasn’t expecting to see heaven until I died. But on December 13th, 2005 God had different plans.
Trekking up the interstate 5 from Los Angeles to Orange County wasn’t easy, but there was a place for 20somethings to worship and hear about God’s goodness on Monday nights, so I made the commitment to not only attend service each week, but to serve on the ministry team. Each week I would stand at the center doors to greet people at the beginning of service and pray and counsel with people at the end of service.
Every week was the same. Drive an hour. Pray with the team. Stand for worship. Sit for the study. Pray and leave.
But one particular evening someone stood out from the others. She wore fishnet stockings with holes, black combat boots, a red, plaided skirt with large, silver safety pins, and a jean jacket with tons of buttons covering the front and back. Her hair donned streaks of blue and green and her eye lids were smudged with black liner showing off her eyebrow piercing. Standing in the back of the room with arms crossed, she anxiously clicked her lip ring against her teeth.
No one spoke to her because it looked like she didn’t want to say much. I stood up and introduced myself. Hey, she said with a head bob. My name is Heaven. I asked if she needed prayer. No, I’m just waiting for someone, she said nervously. But I knew she was lying.
Our conversation continued with more and more lies. I don’t know how I knew she was lying, but knew that I knew. After 20 minutes of shallow questions and deep lies, I asked her to stop lying to me. It was sobering question for a girl living on the streets. Wait, wha—what are you talking about!? I don’t need this! I don’t even know you, she said angrily.
There was a moment of fear that overtook me as she came up to my face, but I knew God wanted her attention. I didn’t know, but I knew that I knew. With the boldness that could only be divine, I blurted out, Heaven, God loves you and brought you to this church and knows about all the bad things that happened to you and knows about the drugs and your girlfriend and the bad things your family did to you. Heaven, God loves you! He brought me into your life to tell you He loves you. He still loves you… Then I inhaled and waited. I waited for her to respond.
The tough street kid with piercings and tattoos who yelled in my face melted into a weeping child in my lap. She didn’t cry. She wept a deep, bitter sob. I held her in my arms as she released sorrowful, angry tears. I don’t know how the things I did, but I knew that I knew God wanted to tell her He loved her. He still loved her.
We spent the next hour by ourselves in the prayer room after everyone left and she poured out her confused and tragic life. I hugged her and stroked her matted green and blue hair and promised I would pray for her. She took off a brass ring from her middle finger and gave it to me. Promise me, she begged. Promise me you’ll never forget me when you look at this ring.
Today, five years later, I wear her ring and continue to pray for her. Whether she’s on the streets or in a church, God loves her. He still loves her. And I will continually tell her that.
Beautiful!!!!
Wow – that is the kind of experience I long for. So glad to know it happens and there are people like you willing to submit to Him.
wow. thank you so for sharing this.
I'm glad Heaven has someone praying for her!!!
Awesome Bi. I always wonder about the kids whose lives I only contact for a few moments… or weeks.. or even a couple of years but then they are gone. I always wonder where they go and what they do and what those few moments God used me will do for them. I hope one day I see them in Heaven and hear more!
that totally made me cry. and it takes a lot for me to cry. awesome.
also-wanted to let you know i added you to my blogroll 🙂
thta's so awesome….it's a great reminder that God alsways provides the necessary words and courage when He wants us to reach someone…and also it's a great example to remember that saying you will pray for someone are not words that you throw around without meaning it..anyway…thanks B!
I had a similar experience in Japan. August 19th 2003. I usually can’t remember dates to save my own life, but that night vividly stuck out. A few people from CC La Habra, Aaron De Leon and myself were worshipping on Tenoji bridge. It was 2 harajuku girls. 19 years old. I won’t tell the whole story but in short, no one can ever try and tell me God does not exist after what I experienced on the bridge that evening B. Not anyone. To this date, God reminds me of that night and I’m driving and I just cry to think how amazing God is.
I love your heart!!!
Oh Dear Bianca, I am crying while reading this, cuz the story its so real yet so painful and today i felt that lonely , then i decided to open up my FB and there, there was was your posted so i click on it and God talked to me through this moment you have lived in your life 5 years ago.. You should consider yourself the luckiest girl on earth because you are an instrument of God and he has spoken to me today through you.. I also hope Heaven is better now and I also thanks God for not giving up on me
Wow. That moved me to tears! You're right, God loves her!
Amazing.. its a matter of life and death for us to keep our word when we tell people we’re praying for them. i’ve been praying for this guy who at the time was a mormon. its been years since i talked to him about Jesus.. i told him i’ll be praying for him.. still am
Awsome!
Bianca! What an amazing story! Thank you so much for sharing that reminder, for all of us to be sensitive to what God wants us to do, and not hold back when he moves us to reach out to someone. There's always a reason He wants those moments to happen. Love u, girl! 🙂
I so admire how you hear God and DO what he nudges you to…
Bianca, just like Jesus at the well with the Samaritan woman, you too had a word of knowledge. I love when and how God chooses to give us those words for individuals, not to condemn or scorn, but to offer freedom and living water.
I hope others read this and trust the voice they hear that nudges them to speak…the Holy Spirit giving them powerful words of freedom, just as Christ spoke, setting people free.
This story is such an encouragement!!!! I am proud of you for letting God speak.
I have a story where I let God speak.. it happened semi-recently & is not nearly as short as yours.. but if you get the time to read it, I hope you could be encouraged, just like I was by yours 🙂 http://oheyesea.blogspot.com/2010/10/our-san-fran…
love this Bianca…
I love this Bianca. I love how you capture both your trepidation and her fear in the face of something invisible and powerful that you both responded to in that moment. Isn't it wonderful to have captured such a vivid remembrance of our God who loves us all this deeply-that he would use us to bring his message to each other. Great, great writing!
LOVE.THIS.STORY.
i was exactly like heaven once. maybe even worst. i even wrote a blog for all the people who have reached out to me before i got saved and took the time to thank them.
trust me, heaven will never forget what you did for her. ever. i've never forgotten any of the people that took the time to pray for me and reached out to me in love even if i punched them, cursed at them, flicked them off and kicked them where the sun dont shine.
God's kindness (through Christians that love no matter what) lead people to repentance. =] great job bianca.
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