Skin color, language and culture can cause people to be very different from me or my American countrymen. However, one thing is always the same… a need for a relationship with God. It gives Tom Randall great satisfaction as a missionary to be able to share with many different types of people about the relationship we can have with Jesus Christ.
Flight from Manila (Philippines) to Tokyo (Japan)
On a flight from Manila to Tokyo to San Francisco Tom Randall met three different people and they talked much on the trip. On his right was a Japanese girl who was studying at Stanford University in California. On his left was a Filipino who was going to the States to live. She had never been out of the Philippines before or even on a plane. And in front of him was a disc jockey from London who with his earrings, unusual haircut, and style of clothing, was a little strange even by Tom’s standards.
It turned out in the conversation that the Filipino girl was a fortune teller, palm reader and tarot card reader. It wasn’t long before all the airline flight attendants and crew were showing up and Pastor Tom wondered who was flying the silly plane! Then as more customers came the fortune teller was having trouble because her English was so poor. He told the girl in my most sincere Tagalog he couldn’t translate because Tom didn’t believe she really knew anyone’s future and what she was telling them was a bunch of nonsense and it just wasn’t right. She just laughed and said, “Yes, but they believe and will pay!”
Tom Randall told it was wrong with some verses from my bible
After Pastor Tom Randall explained why it was wrong with some verses from my Bible the fortune telling stopped but it was her response that amazed him. Rather than being offended she became even friendlier. She asked him questions about traveling in America and for his advice about what to do upon arrival. She gave him candy and fruit and begged him to help her get her luggage and get through immigration and customs.
The London disc jockey approached Randall in the Tokyo terminal, and he explained to him what Tom did and why. We had a great time and he asked if Tom could help him find a good hotel and call for him from the airport in San Francisco.
You would be amazed at all that can happen in a 15-hour overseas flight
Then the Japanese girl, who has a Masters and PhD from Stanford and a Buddhist background, began to share with Tom. She had been watching everything going on up to that point. Tom was able to share for hours about what the Lord had done in his life and the lives of others. She took Tom’s Bible and read a few verses and we talked about Japan and her struggles in America.
You would be amazed at all that can happen in a 15-hour overseas flight! The four were laughing and talking while they got our luggage and went through customs; a Japanese student, a Filipino palm reader, an English disc jockey and an American basketball missionary!
God created everyone a little different but we all have the same need to be loved and to have a relationship with the Lord. Pastor Tom love missions because of the privilege we have to share with so many different people the greatest message of all! It’s easier to love someone who is like yourself but there is a great blessing from God when you can love people who are different than yourself. Won’t it be entertaining in heaven when all God’s different people come together?
