Mari Isaacson

Laughter can open interesting doors!

It has always been hard for me to just start talking to strange people… by strange I am not meaning their looks or clothing, or even some of their mannerisms… we would all then be considered somewhat strange, don’t you think.?! So, to even share my faith or “go fishing” as Brother Andrew once said, was even harder. To go fishing means to drop God’s name here or there in the conversation, (not as a swear word!) and see if the person hooks on and is interested.

Well, a funny and very interesting thing happened on the way to Linz! I was on the train. My normal habit is to find a place by myself and then keep myself occupied with my MP3 player, a good book, Sudoku, or even a well-needed nap! On this trip the only empty seats were a group of four together with a table in the middle. Not bad. I was the first one there so I got to claim the two seats on the one side facing the direction the train was to go. After settling in with a good book… one written by a friend I had just seen in Canada. It was an autographed copy! I hadn’t even really had a chance to read more than a few lines when an older, businesslike looking woman joined me. We greeted each other, and then I started devouring my book. I must say, it was a book worth devouring. My friend is known for his humor. In fact, he travels all over just to make people laugh. Ok, perhaps not just for that… there is a method to his madness!

His book was making me laugh! So much so, that I could hardly contain it at times. Lets just say, I had so many tears in my eyes that I couldn’t even read through the blur before me. Naturally this awakened the curiosity of the woman sitting across from me, not to mention all the others sitting in the near vicinity. It was a pretty full train! She asked me what kind of book I was reading that would give me so much enjoyment. Ha, it was easy to explain to her that this special book was written by a friend of mine, a friend who has written many books and travels much. He loves to pass on Christian principles in a humorous way. This book was no different. It had to do with relationships and forgiveness. He explains with humor how important it is to let go of things so that we can experience more joy in life.

She nodded, made a comment and I read on… until I again was practically in stitches! This time she was so interested, that she wanted to see the book for herself. Though she is German speaking and the book is in English, she wrote down the title, the author, and other valuable information… ha, including his email address (that is, if I remembered it correctly!!). She definitely wanted that book! And I was definitely thinking GREAT! She will come in contact with Jesus thru reading it! Who knows where that will lead! She thanked me several times for the information. Now that I think of it, I should have gotten HER address and sent her the book. I thought too late. But nothing is impossible with God!

Shortly after that she got off the train and her place was filled by two nuns. I greeted them and read on. It really didn’t take long before I had won their attention through not being able to contain myself! Again I told of my friend and his purpose in writing the book. They thought that was great, especially since it had to do with faith. But the conversation didn’t go beyond that and within an hour they were also gone.

A mother and child of around 10 replaced them. We greeted each other and I read on. I must say, it is absolutely impossible to read very far in this book without laughing. Interesting since my friend said he didn’t believe it was a good a success as his other books. What can I say, laughter speaks for itself… if nothing else, this book has caused a lot of curiosity! So was the case with the two across from me now. So, for the third time I shared about my friend, the purpose of the book, and some of God. This time I really tried to go “fishing”. They didn’t hook on so I continued in my book, that is, till I got to a story that brought blinding tears to my eyes. They weren’t tears of sadness! This time the boy asked what in that book of mine was so funny. What better way to explain, then to tell him the story of where my friend went golfing with another and the raven stole their balls. Life just doesn’t always go as planned so how do you handle it? Get mad or laugh about it and trust God? The interesting thing was, the mother and son were on the train because their plans had suddenly been changed as well. It was even a miracle that they got this train.

After sharing a bit with each other the boy noticed that the book was in English. That surprised him. His mother then asked me if I was from Canada. I had pointed out earlier that my friend was from Canada. No, not Canada but rather USA. Then she was really curious as to how I could speak such good dialect. That brought on a long explanation of the time when I was a nanny two different times for a family here in Austria. Through the family I got to know a woman who was from Kaernten, the area where I have been living the last 15 years. From her I had learned the dialect before I even learned proper German. That conversation lead to Bible School and she wanted to know what that was. That explanation lead to why I was even in Austria now so I got to describe what I was doing, mainly working with children, teaching them about Jesus! Interesting. She thought it all was interesting, but said nothing more. Since I also didn’t know what else to say, I read on.

When I got to the story of the man who was told he had cancer, this time I retold the story to them before they even had a chance to ask. I then explained the purpose of the story as well. It was well worth telling no matter how they would take it. The woman didn’t really reply, but she looked like she was thinking about what she had just heard. Perhaps she was thinking about all of it.

Shortly after this the train arrived at my stop and I got out. While looking for my friends I thought, wow… not only did I get to talk to some people… 5 directly and how many indirectly? But I also got to share a bit about Christianity and my work here. I think I need to take one of my friends books with me more often!

What kind of interesting doors has fun laughter opened up for you?

mari

(Eugene) - January 18-22

(Medford/Talent) – Pick up Mari at CYIA staff mtg in Salem (Jan 23) to take down to So. Oregon

(Klamath Falls) – January 24-31

Dallas area) – Feb. 2, 7 pm prayer meeting

(capital district/Salem) – Feb. 3 – ?

(Portland) – March 5-6

(Roseburg) – March 18, 6 pm, Banquet speaker

There are still time slots open if you want me to come speak to your group in Oregon!!

My favorite song since childhood has always been “Jesus Loves Me”. You know it, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong. They are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me… the Bible tells me so.” That song was written for children, still I have never come to outgrow it. The truth that Jesus loves me is powerful and life-changing. Yes, He loves ME!!!

Children have always played a very special role in Jesus’ life. He loved the children. He rebuked His disciples when they wanted to keep the children away from Him by saying, “Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not”! When you read Matthew 18 it is all about children. We need to be like children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Woe to those who are a stumbling block to children… there are powerful words if you are… it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Think about that for a moment… Think of the world’s view of children today. Think of all the possible stumbling blocks, some greater and more hideous than others, still to Jesus they are all the same and have the same reprimand!

I was the speaker at a CEF prayer luncheon the other day and heard some things that really shocked me. I would have not been surprised if we were talking about Austria, but the disturbing prayer requests had to do with Washington state!!!

Did you know that there are parents going to the after school clubs with the sole purpose to disrupt the club and keep the children from hearing the gospel.

Did you know that parents are encouraging their kids to physically harass children who participate in the after school clubs.

Did you know some schools are no longer allowing CEF workers or even children to pass out invitations to the after school clubs. The children can only be told thru the internet. For those of you who don’t know, a child can’t attend such clubs unless they have a signed permission from their parents. Many of these parents aren’t getting the permission slips because they don’t have internet or don’t check on what the schools are sending thru the internet.

Did you know, that although it was ruled that these clubs also have the right to take place, many schools are still trying to do what they can to prevent them from happening. In some schools the clubs can only take place if there is a janitor available so some schools are making it harder for a janitor to be available, especially on a regular basis. You can understand or imagine what irregularity does to a club. It’s hard to reach the children if they don’t know when the next club is.

There are more such stumbling blocks all over the US!

Praise God for the schools where children are still encouraged to attend an after school club! We need to pray more earnestly for God’s protection for students, teachers and staff of these schools. Some schools are even clamping down on any teachers or staff who are caught praying in the schools.

We need to pray for victory over the different stumbling blocks keeping the children away.

We need to pray for more club teachers for the schools that don’t have any clubs due to the lack. Pray God will send more workers into His harvest field!

Please pray for me as I prepare to go to Alberta to reach the children there. Right now there are only four full-time workers for all of Alberta! Oh, there is such a need. I am in the process of applying for my work visa at present. Pray that there won’t be alot of complications. The counselor at the Canadian Consulat in Seattle was really trying to discourage me.

More regular supporters are desperately needed for me to go to Canada as well. Plus I need to raise the funds for a good vehicle. If all goes well, I hope to be able to move to Alberta in April. Your prayers and support will make a big difference!!! If you would like to help out with a one-time or monthly gift, you can send your donation into CEF, Int. PO Box 348 Warrenton, MO 63383. Make the check out to CEF but put on the designation line for: Mari Isaacson E3AT 4541. Remember, little is much when God is in it!!!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. God bless you richly!

mari