As we began our travels, we expected to meet new, interesting people. We have met several wonderful couples who shared their stories with us. Each couple was kind and welcoming. Roy and Kathy told us about the dream vacation they took with their children and grandchildren only to have it end with regrettable unresolved family strife. Reggie and Jean recounted God’s faithfulness in providing a principled buyer for their successful farm equipment business. Dianna and Dave offered travel tips they have amassed over their 10+ years of RV’ing. Brittney and her husband recommended local restaurants and activities, after their niece and son entertained us with their enthusiastic dance-off competition. However, one person we met in Arkansas had a tremendous impact on us.
When we arrived at a mostly empty campground outside of Rogers, AR on a hot afternoon, we noticed a lone man camping nearby. His campsite consisted of a tent and a cooler, nothing else. Typically campers have a vehicle but this man did not. As we set up camp, the man paced his campsite. Then he started walking up the hill toward us and turned around abruptly and returned to his site. He did this multiple times. Unsure of his behavior, we became a little nervous and concerned. Finally he walked all the way to our site. He asked the best question he could have asked to disarm us. “Do you have a cold bottle of water?” His question brought to mind the words of Jesus about giving a little one a cup of cold water. The man had a lonesomeness about him, with his tattoos and well-worn clothes, and looked like someone in need of water, living water. We explained that we didn’t have any bottles of water, but we had a cooler full of ice water if he had a bottle to fill. He said he had a cup, so he returned to his site to get it. After filling his cup, he drank it immediately. We refilled his cup and he drank it all again, exclaiming “that is the best tasting water I have ever had!”
As we talked with him, we discovered that he was stressed about several things. Due to the pandemic, his family (including his wife, four kids, and three dogs) had lost their housing. He said his kids were safe and had started school that week. His wife was with her brother, but he had not heard from her all day. His phone screen was broken so he could not make outgoing calls but he could receive calls. He borrowed Bill’s phone to call his wife but her phone went immediately to a full voicemail box. In addition, his boss had not called him to work that day. His job, which he was extremely excited about and enjoyed tremendously, was with a company that contracts with the Corps of Engineers to clear trees from the boundaries of Corps’ property. He told us he carries a chain saw in one hand and a weed whacker in the other and gets paid $15 per hour. He clearly loved his job and was willing to work hard.
As we talked further, we introduced ourselves and learned that his name was Caleb and that he was just 29 years old. Cy asked him if he knew Jesus. Caleb said that yes, he did. He had attended church weekly with his father when he was young; however, his dad had died 12 years ago, and Caleb quit going to church. We chatted more and eventually asked him if we could pray for him and his family. He said we could pray. After praying, Caleb went back to his camp site. Later that night, he returned to talk again and he told us his boss had called him and he was getting to work the next day. Needless to say, his spirits were lifted and ours were too.
The next day we did not see Caleb until the late afternoon. Bill asked him how his day had been. His response was, “it was awesome.” His boss had paid for two more nights at the campground, bought him some food, and promised to pick him up for work again the next day.
After work the next day, Caleb was in even better spirits. He had experienced another good day at work and was encouraged further by his boss. He still had not heard from his wife, but he had gotten a call saying his van was repaired and ready for him to pick up in Springfield, MO. He was confident a coworker would take him to get the van. As we continued talking, Caleb revealed that he had done something the night before that he had not done for a long time. He had prayed. Caleb praised God for hearing his prayers and we did too. We encouraged Caleb to make Jesus his King every day, to continue praying, and to find a nurturing church to attend to strengthen his growing faith. We also gave him a pocket New Testament. He told us that he had never learned to read very well due to ADHD. We told him that it was okay to just read a little bit each day. Later that night he stopped by and said that he had read four sentences and that was all he could do. We told him that was a good start and encouraged him to keep at it.
Caleb was disappointed that we were leaving the next day. He said he had been lonely before we arrived and that it meant a lot to him just to have someone to talk to at the end of the day. We told him we enjoyed meeting him and that we would be praying for him.
We landed at that Arkansas campground to see our daughter and her husband when they were in Rogers. Even if we hadn’t been seeing them, we believe we were meant to be at that campground just to meet Caleb. Meeting him changed our perspective on people. We learned not to judge people too quickly, based on their behavior, appearance, or circumstances. Each person is precious and has a unique story to tell. God wanted us to share the gospel with Caleb and encourage him in his faith. In return, Caleb encouraged us with his brightened countenance and hard-fought endurance in tough circumstances. And it all started with a cup of cold water.
Lesson Learned: We are praising God for Jesus, the living water, who saves sinners like us and uses us for His glory.
