An Unexpected Change of Plans

On Thursday, September 26th, while many were hunkering down for the hurricane, with shops closing early and people rushing home, I felt led to keep my downtown lunch and outreach as scheduled from 12pm to 2pm. Originally, the plan was to go to Simple Greek, but due to the storm, they closed early. So, my friends and I decided to head to Barberitos downtown instead.

A Rainy Start and a Welcoming Atmosphere

By the time we arrived, the rain had started to settle in. Four of us were able to make it. We quickly jumped in line to order. I introduced myself to the lunch workers, and we struck up an easy conversation. They mentioned they would likely close early, too, but not until 2pm, so we had some time. After ordering our food, we sat at a large table near the front—a table I had never sat at before.

Spreading Encouragement to Strangers

As we spent time in fellowship and enjoyed our meal, I felt led to write encouraging notes to the Barberitos staff and to a couple seated in the restaurant. This way, each of us would be able to share a word of encouragement with someone. Thankfully, my friend Esther had pens and paper for everyone to use. We divided up the people, turned on some worship music, and invited the Lord to speak to us.

Just as we began writing, the couple got up to leave. In a split-second decision, I approached them, introduced myself, and shared what I felt the Lord had placed on my heart. They smiled, and it was clear that the words made their day. Both of them were Christians, and before leaving, the girl hugged me.

Encouraging the Barberitos Staff

I returned to the table and waited for the rest of the group to finish their prayers and notes for the service workers. Once they were ready, I opened up the conversation with the workers and invited the others to share their encouraging notes. One by one, the staff members received their letters, stepped out from behind the counter, and allowed us to pray for them. Each prayer ministered to them in a personal and meaningful way. The workers were grateful for our visit, and we’re excited to see them again soon.

Join Us Next Time!

Want to join Katherine’s next Thursday outreach? Email her at katherine@take-the-city.com to jump in!