Every Saturday we go to the Hub. This community center then opens its doors to people who need it. Often people come without a home or without food. Occasionally there are also women who survive for their families. By going there and having coffee together, we hear their stories, and they have a good moment. They also get bread, soup and some fruit or chips and that helps to take the heaviness of life away for a while.
Take John[1]. He uses drugs. He is honest about it and does his best to stop. But he hasn’t been able to for years. He likes to come over for the company and something to eat. He likes to have a conversation about God over a cup of coffee and think deeply about it. For example, he told me a few weeks ago that the problem in Aruba is that people no longer set their hearts on God. So, I asked him: “You are Aruban, you know much better what is needed here than I do. So, what do you think it takes to get Aruban people to turn their hearts back to Jesus?” He didn’t know the answer right away, but he did think about it he said, because it was a good question. We drank our coffee, I prayed for him, and we went our ways. He was back two weeks ago. He remembered the question and was eager to discuss it further. No, he didn’t know the answer yet. But thinking about it together also helped. I hope to think that it was clear to him that Aruba and himself need Jesus very much.
[1] Not his real name.