The Laundromat

It's been exciting as I have begun to be more bold about giving out Gospel tracts to people. The local laundromat is no exception. Every Sunday for the last four weeks or so, I've been more and more bold about giving out tracts. It's been great. Nobody has slapped me, and the attendents don't seem to mind, either.

In fact, there is only one person who actually hates me for what I do. She's been there every week.

I first tried witnessing by interacting with people, getting them to talk about themselves, then, after a wonderful conversation, I would wish them a good night and hand them a Gospel tract. For a couple of people, things didn't go so smoothly (because I forgot what to do), but things went okay. Except that I was letting us get into uncomfortably silent moments and then breaking it by giving them a tract. But I got better at it.

With her, though, I guided the conversation to what happens after death and then handed her a tract because she said she didn't know. I don't know if she read it at first. I do know that she tried to leave it behind when she finished her laundry. But she had three baskets, and while she was making the second trip, I grabbed the tract and the last basket and followed her to her car. She thanked me and I put the tract on top as I handed the basket to her.

The next week, I handed out a few more tracts (different ones), still a bit skittish, but bolder nonetheless. She was there again. I helped her carry out her laundry again. I asked her if she got to read the tract I gave her. She had. I asked what she thought. She said that she grew up Catholic and decided that Christianity was not for her. That crushed my hopes. I didn't have a tract in mind that would counter that. So I just kept praying for her.

The next week, I was even bolder. Giving out more and more tracts (about ten or fifteen this time). It was getting easier. Sure, some people were hostile, but I didn't worry about it. When you meet hostility, just remember, most people have seen a tract or two in their life time. They know what you are trying to give them, and they just don't want to be bothered.with it.

I said to her that I would offer her a tract, but I didn't think she'd want it. She responded that she wouldn't believe it anyway, so it would be a waste of her time.

Then, this past Sunday, I remembered the tract that I had not been able to use:
A Gift for You. I put $10 in it that night and gave it to her with a "Merry Christmas." I think she knew that I had looked for a tract that would get through to her. I don't know how she has responded, though.

I do know that this particular night she was very angry with me. She started getting mad when I began giving out tracts that night, even though I walked quite around her, not even an attempt in her direction. But later, she must have thought that I was preaching right at her when I was talking to two of the people I had given tracts to that night, one of whom was a Christian. We talked about his life and we talked (well, I talked) about evangelism. I talked about the need to show people that reality exists without our consent and that we will all die and face God on Judgment Day whether we believe in Him or not. It's not our choice. Well, okay, I did think about her when I said that, but that wasn't why I said it. It's just a fact of life.

Anyway, she wasn't happy at all to see me with the two baskets she had left and even took them from me short of the car. I followed her so I could give her the gift. I'm amazed she didn't just throw it back at me. But she just looked at it and said thank you. I think she was too shocked by the cover to be mad just yet. But I'll have to see maybe this Sunday. I'm bracing myself for her to give it all back to me. But I'm just praying hard that she will be saved this time. Please join me.