Just One Friend

My simple prayer for our travels to Asia was to find just one friend—one person who would be capable of sharing my joy for the Gospel and who could be a companion.

In a major city in Asia, I found myself in a place where chaos and beauty touch side by side. My prayer was answered in an extraordinary way.

I hoped to find a man similar to myself, one with a family, or a businessman, or a teacher of patience. Instead, I was gifted with someone who one day might be assigned these attributes. The Lord sent me a young boy of 16, Ayush, who wanted to take me to see the river.

I met Ayush during a mission trip to a remote village. The ministry of the Salesian priest was a daily class teaching English to the village children. We were invited to join in and see where God was asking us to follow His lead.

I dutifully made my way around notebooks and checked spelling for words such as “school,” “meeting,” and, oddly, “aluminum.” It was spelled as “aluminium.” You really only notice the difference in spelling when you are looking quite close. Just as God looks at us and sees our hearts and intentions versus our actions; where you put the extra “I” matters.

As I was joking with the mission trippers, a diminutive young boy made eye contact and approached me.

“Where are you going after the lesson? Would you like me to take you to the river?”

I replied, “Maybe another day, after this we are heading to Mass with Father George.”

To which the boy, Ayush, responded, “Okay, I know some prayers.”

“Which prayers do you know?” I asked. I figured he would stumble over the simplest of prayers, as I frequently do when speaking a foreign language.

But Ayush recited in slow and clear English the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and Fatima prayer from the Rosary. I was sincerely shocked and in awe of the prayers recited so beautifully. We were in a village of roughly 400 people and no one, aside from the priest, spoke English fluently. The Holy Spirit was moving!

Immediately my heart jumped to an invitation, “Please, would you come to Mass with us?”

Upon hearing this, the priest intervened and assured the young man, “NON-compulsory! NON-compulsory!”

In this remote village, any work of evangelization is considered proselytization. There is a cultural misunderstanding about the difference between an invitation to discover one’s personal salvation and forced conversion.

So I responded to Ayush, “Jesus is always free—Jesus never forces himself on anyone. You are free to come and listen and worship with us if you desire.”

With eyes clearly alive, Ayush said, “YES, YES, I want to come worship.”

Ayush came to Mass that evening. He watched everything I was doing with an attentive eye. He wanted to worship in the right ways, to give glory to the King of kings. Even if his understanding was just beginning, Ayush could sense that he was a part of something more, something great. He was sitting only a few feet from the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

After Mass, Ayush was beaming and thankful for the invitation. So, I invited him back for the next morning’s Mass at 6:30 a.m.

The priest told me that this young man was the first person in the entire village to worship with him at Mass. Not one person in the village was open to Christ in this way.

The following morning, Ayush returned to the chapel for Mass and continued every day while we were there. He would translate for me often and let others know who we were and why we desired to be present in the small village.

Ayush sought holiness right by my side. Others said he became “my shadow.” I am profoundly touched that Ayush saw Christ in me. Ayush was led by the Holy Spirit to be our guide, to be a disciple of the Little Way.

One day Ayush helped to lead a group of us in praying over his aunt’s hands. As our translator, he explained to her and her husband the power of prayer and how God desires to give good and healing gifts to those who ask. What bravery!

As our mission trip week came to an end, I desired to give Ayush a Bible and to remain in contact. Many outside of the USA use a messaging app call Whatsapp to stay in touch, so we exchanged numbers and goofy selfies. As for a Bible, I asked the mission trippers if they might have one to give to Ayush. One young lady said “YES,” right away.

“This gift is for you, but you can say no. I do not want Jesus to be a burden.”

With the Bible and a couple of prayer cards, I sought out Ayush. And of course I needed help finding my friend. As others shouted for him high and low, he emerged from the bush with a wily smile and open hands.

I had been advised by the local priest that Ayush’s parents may have a problem with the gift of a Bible, and it may be wise to ask them first. I was short on time, however—so, with prayer and only a little trepidation, I handed over the Bible to Ayush.

“This gift is for you, but you can say no. I do not want Jesus to be a burden.”

Ayush slowly explained that books are never a problem in his household, and the Gospel of Matthew would be the first part he would read.

Moved with a profound sense of peace, I asked if I could lay my hands on his shoulders in prayer and ask God for His blessings. He agreed and we prayed together. We also prayed to see each other again. We parted with a hug and warm words of friendship.