One evening my friend Alene and I decided that we wanted to treat some friends by making cookies for them. It was raining out, and we needed chocolate, so we grabbed our leader Matt, and headed to Spar (the local supermarket). Expecting only to pick up some groceries and be back home quickly. We drove up in our kombi and as we were running in heard a man's voice say, "Adventures in Missions". Shocked we stopped and walked back to a little old man standing outside of the store. With wonder in our eyes we told him we were with AIM, and he lit up. This little man introduced himself as Yule. Yule had been at Hope House about four years ago. An AIM team had come and visited him on a regular basis, and had apparently had a huge impact on his life. He told us that he had lost his wife about 3 years ago and had three boys at home that he needed to feed. Yule is on ARV, an AIDS treatment, and said that he hadn't eaten all day, and the meds were tearing up his stomach. He was outside of the store begging for food to feed his kids, and hoping to get enough to feed himself. After talking for a while we offered to buy him some food, whatever he needed. He said a few stables; milk, cereal, and eggs... He wouldn't come in with us, so we were able to get the extras (cheese, a hot dinner, juice, candy, rice, flour) for him also. It was getting late and dark and was still lightly raining, so we offered to take him home, turns out he doesn't live far from our home. On the way Yule explained that he had worked with Jumbo, the head of AIM Swaziland, a couple years ago around Christmas time. He rattled off about 15-20 names of people who had come to Swaziland with AIM in the past 4 years. He informed us that he knew we were with AIM because we had the "Jesus glow". It was explained to us as a shine that only Jesus can provide, and that AIMers are the ones he recognizes with it. So when he saw our "Jesus glow" he knew that the love of Christ was there and we were sent to help him. When we got to his road (which our kombi couldn't make it down) Matt asked if we could pray for him. Of course he said yes, and after amen came a huge smile and a his sweet grandpa voice saying, " now that's the best food of all". AMEN!! This guy had it right!! We asked if we could help him to his house, but because we're white and it's a dangerous area he refused to allow us to help. He almost cried when he saw the food, and reminded us that God will always provide. I saw the Jesus shine in Yule that night, and truly believe that I encountered Christ on that rainy night in Manzini. I trust that I'll see Mkhulu [ Mm- Koo- Loo] ( grandpa) Yule again, and if I don't on this earth, I will in heaven. Its crazy how I thought we were just going to get chocolate that night. And even crazier thinking that we were going to bless Yule, because he blessed the three of us more than I could have ever fathomed.
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