Today, Ron and I did another Bible handout. I had approximately 100 Bibles, assorted.
I had about 30 leftover from my last handout, New Testaments. I had about 60 "Whole" Bibles - I don't often do them because they are more expensive, and a lot bulkier, but they were donated. I also had some Spanish, maybe 20 items.
OK, more than 100.
I slept horribly last night. That often happens before a handout.
I loaded all my boxes into Ron's wheelchair and strapped them into place with bungee cords. I hung two more bags, full of Bibles, on the back of the wheelchair. I put on my reflective vest and got the signs, and we were good to go.
It was a warm day (upper 80's), so I drank a bottle of electrolyte stuff before I left the house. I brought more, and a few bottles of soda, with me.
Ron often wonders aloud "Why can't they buy their own?" Well, when I was backslidden (not living a Christian life or even talking to Him), I was scared to death of the religion section of the bookstore. I was afraid if someone saw me over there, they would think I was a fanatic!
[That is hysterical now.]
I also realized, when I did look, that a lot of unBiblical stuff was out there. And if I was scared to go on the "Bibles" aisle, how much more afraid of the Christian bookstore! I thought they were a bunch of haters, and very expensive. Boy, was I wrong.
Here's a hint, if you to the Christian bookstore, look for the "Outreach" section, or "Evangelism" Bibles - they are often extremely affordable. I often suggest to a Bible-seeker: Pick up a few, see which one talks to you. Take it home. If you love it, get a nicer one eventually.
Anyway, back to the handout. Since I had a hemiparetic, neuropathic, blind man in my care, I had to get him into his wheelchair before I handed out any Bibles (I did give one to the driver). I unloaded all of it and set up; then put Ron in his wheelchair. He can stand and walk for very limited distances.
Wow. It was wild! Tons of people, shouting for Bibles! I handed out 10 before I even did my first walk (from the light to the last car in line to turn)!
I had gangsters (Bloods) requesting Bibles. Querulous old men demanding Bibles. Whole carloads of adults, each wanting a Bible. You can bet I served them all.
I had a couple of parents, requesting Bibles for their kids, and I was happy to do it. I saw a very distraught woman, and I so desperately wanted to give her a Bible and a big hug. She waved me off, though. Please pray for her. She was really hurting.
My favorite is the carload of gang members. I'm an equal-opportunity evangelizer.
Speaking of, I picked up a few understudies. Some young men showed up on bikes. They attend a local church and are saved. They wanted to help. I had things pretty well in hand, but they shadowed me for a while. They went off for a while and brought us some cold bottles of water, which I found refreshing.
They got a good grasp on the Bible Handout. I would be thrilled if they "stole" the concept for themselves.
I also explained to them, and the guy trying to give me money, "I can't take any money or they can shut me down". I saw plenty of police cars, and some unmarked vehicles with policemen in them.
That was, about the only bad thing. A "suicide jockey" (gasoline tanker truck driver) tried to give me some money and was very upset when I kept saying no.
Pretty soon - I'm out! I told Ron to put his sign down but he didn't understand. I took it away (laugh).
I mashed up the cardboard, put it in a public trash can (I am very careful about laws when doing a handout), got Ron, and got some fast food.
Then we came home, and mowed the yard.
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