conversation over coffee? how about internet chess.

the most amazing thing just happened & even though it's 2:45am and i have to get up early...i have to share. why? two reasons: 1) it was a definite God-thing & 2) i need your prayers now!!

so while i've been at home i've gotten into the habit of playing online chess. ok go ahead and make fun of me...get it out of your system. that's ok...i know i'm a nerd and i am completely ok with that! haha...anyway, if you've ever played any online games (be it spades, hearts, etc) you know that you can chat with your opponents. i'm usually not big on the chatting...i'm here to play the game and i really feel a bit strange talking to complete strangers - and the questions always arise: "where are you from?", "how old are you?", "what is your name?". anyway...over the last week, however, i have felt a "burden" (for lack of a better word) to ask the people i'm playing with if they know Jesus or how they feel about Jesus. i don't really like flat out saying to people "are you a Christian" - i think that typically turns them away if they do not believe and it leaves me knowing very little about what it is they do believe. i don't want to make assumptions.



so tonight was the 2nd time i've followed through with those gut feelings to bring up the conversation. both times have gone surprisingly well. the first time i simply asked "how do you feel about Jesus" and the response was "I LOVE JESUS". i proceeded to learn that my chess partner of the day was raised in a catholic home but was not much for denomination. he gave me his email address and suggested we keep in contact. i'll be honest and say i was skeptical. tonight, however, was...well...wow. throughout the game i learned that my partner was an 18 year old male in india. it was completely cool that i had been there and could talk, somewhat intelligently, about the area with him. it gave us common ground. i had no intentions tonight of bringing up the Jesus question, but when i found out he was from india, my interest peaked.

i may write more about this later, but for now i have to sleep. i'll leave you with the highlights:
- i talked for over an hour w/ himanshu.
- i downloaded yahoo messenger so that we could talk more about our beliefs
- his mother is hindu & his father muslim; however, they left him with the freedom to choose his own belief
- problem: indian government
- he believes in "humanity" - all religions are ok. when i asked if he meant that he was tolerant of all religions he replied: "if you go with them (other religions), and they (politicians) see this, they will kill you"
- we agreed to exchange email addresses and will be emailing one another in the next few days our "testimonies" so to speak
- then i'll ask questions and he'll do the same
- i found myself on the floor praying nearly in tears while he went to the bathroom that the Lord would pour out His Spirit on him and me as well b/c i do not feel equipped for these kinds of conversations. he was asking very hard questions. indians are VERY educated not only in their own beliefs but in others as well...and it's quite intimidating
- he wanted to know my birthday b/c he wanted to know my sunsign (zodiac sign)...why? he said he felt as if he knew me. i asked if he believed in reincarnation. he replied that he did not know but that many indians did...that led to a whole different conversation
- he is very curious & very friendly - much like my friends i met while i was in india. i miss them. he sent pictures. meet himanshu and his sister shagun.

please pray that the Lord would pour His spirit upon himanshu...& if you don't mind, pray for me too...i'm in definite need of both wisdom and guidance. thanks.