In German-occupied Warsaw during World War II, God used Polish social worker and nurse Irena Sendler, a member of the Polish Underground Resistance, to smuggle many Jews, primarily children, out of Poland.1

My girls and I listened to her story with our full attention, inspired as we were by her bravery and commitment to save the Jewish children. I told the girls that we also had the opportunity to save people like Irena did. Here in Thailand, we can see how so many people are dying both physically and spiritually. The need to rescue them is apparent, just like it was for Irena when she could see the starving children die. Unfortunately, most people are so used to their surroundings that they have become accustomed to the dying all around them.

After I said this, Adela, my eleven-year-old, took action! “Mom, can I borrow your phone?” The next thing I knew, she had printed 20 copies of the following: 

“How does God love you? He loves you even in the sad times he loves you so much that he died on the cross for you and me.”

พระเจ้าทรงรักคุณอย่างไร พระองค์ทรงรักคุณแม้ในเวลาที่เศร้าโศก พระองค์ทรงรักคุณมากจนถึงขนาดยอมสิ้นพระชนม์บนไม้กางเขนเพื่อคุณและฉัน.

She folded them, put them in a folder,
and asked me who we were going to give them to. 

“Can we pass them around the neighborhood?” she asked.

“Yes, but it is already bedtime,” I answered, smiling.

The next day, on our way back from school, she had the papers with her. She was ready to pass them out and had a plan. She would go in her rollerblades, and Lina and I would join her.

I got a little nervous. I have been going door to door and speaking to strangers since I was 15, yet now I was nervous. When meeting people in passing, I don’t have a problem being more direct because I feel like I have to take advantage of that one chance I receive. But when it comes to my neighbors, I like to befriend them, get to know them, and form a relationship before sharing literature. I feel like they receive it better, and I can share something more relevant to each of their situations. 

So as we were going out the door, I was frantically trying to think how we would introduce this paper as opposed to just handing them out and moving on. I prayed and prayed, finally deciding to share with our neighbors that we had listened to a story about WW II, and we were inspired to share with others something very special to us.

During our walk, we were able to say this to some of our neighbors, but to the rest, we had to simply give them the papers without saying anything as they were going about their evening walk and exercising. I realized that Adela was bold in taking the initiative and passing out her notes, but she needed her mother and sister’s support. Meanwhile, although I was feeling shy, I had to step up and live out what I had preached to them the day before.  

Was God using Adela to say hurry up and get moving? It is easy to get accustomed to our surroundings, fall into routines or busyness of life and stop seeing those who are closest to us. I believe Jesus is coming soon, and we need to see the urgency of always being ready. The second coming will not happen until the “gospel of the kingdom is preached in all the world” (Matthew 24:14).

Let us make it part of our lifestyle to be ready to share Jesus at all times, not only at designated times or with certain people. Paul said, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2).

Please continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to fill us with holy boldness. Thank you for partnering with us through your prayers and support.

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