Janell dropped me off at the taxi stand, and he motioned me over as he hopped into his taxi. “How much for a ride to the airport?” I asked with a smile. “190 pesos”, he replied. So I hopped in, not realizing this was a divine appointment.

After a little small talk about the cost of gas and how they haven’t raised the prices of the fares in about 2 years, we continued on towards the Periférico, one of the most traveled roads in Mexico City, about 45 minutes from the airport.

Just before we got to the traffic, he told me that he couldn’t work all last week because his taxi had broken down and he had to fix it. He was obviously upset about missing work and commented about how the bills were stacking up. His thoughts on this were obviously affecting his attitude towards the traffic as he continued to mumble under his breath about it.

I sat in the back of the taxi engaging in small talk while silently praying that God would open the conversation so we could talk about more important things. The traffic was heavy, which gave me time to get to know my driver a little better.

His name was Jose Guadalupe, but his friends call him Lupillo. Originally from Guanajuato, he lived in Detroit for two years and has family living in Florida, but he has been in Mexico City most of his life. As he spoke I observed his little placard of Saint Judas dangling from the rear view mirror along with some native American amulets.

As we arrived to the terminal, I was feeling the strong urge to ask Lupillo if I could pray for him. It’s not really a custom of mine (although it might become one), but just before getting out of the taxi I asked him if I could pray. Puzzled, he accepted, and I prayed that God would bless Him this week with enough work to make up for what he lost last week. I also prayed that God would give him peace in middle of his circumstances.

I paid the fare, got out, and Lupillo drove away. I may never see him again, but I pray that he will find what he needs in Jesus, and I pray that someone else will water that seed and be an open ear for him as well as a voice to speak the Word of God into his life.

Something that God has been teaching me lately is that sowing the gospel is a process. Some plant. Some water. Some harvest. We need to be willing to do all of those, and not necessarily at the same time.

Please join me in praying for Lupillo. My prayer is that someday we will meet him again. Also, be willing to speak to those around you as you go on your way today. You never know how you might impact their world or what God might teach you through that encounter.