It was turquoise and it was actually a jacket!

I'm slowly starting to really enjoy the whole thing here. The Bible studies and the texts for reflection are really tough - which meant a round of repentance and tears for me today. And I held out some areas of my heart to Jesus that need to be touched by his love.
Sua heard my confession and then prayed for me and - in passing - passed on a thought to me that I found really precious. She said: „Have you actually accepted Jesus into your life as the Saviour? Most people accept Jesus into their lives as the Saviour, but not as the one who heals!“ I found the thought fascinating - and invited Jesus to come into my life as the doctor and healer. And then I thought: while I'm at it, I might as well invite Jesus into my life as shepherd, shield and protection, helper and comforter.
Jesus is of course always everything. If I invite Jesus into my life as the Saviour, then Jesus the Helper, Jesus the Friend, Jesus the King and Ruler, Jesus the Beginning and the End are of course also included, because only the whole Jesus can come. But it does me good to realise who I have invited into my life and who he is.
I have a Calendar with 365 names of God published. I don't have it here as a calendar, but at least I have it as a file. I will look at a dozen of his names here every day and recognise him step by step in all his fullness as the one who lives in me.
Today I experienced myself as the one who leads and guides. We had been given the task for the afternoon to let God show us what encouragement we should pass on to a person. And then let God show us which person or persons we should pass this encouragement on to.
When praying, I felt I should tell a person that Jesus cares for them and will not leave them alone, but will stand by them in their difficulties. Not super specific, but in addition to that I saw a jacket in the colour turquoise. Quite a strong turquoise colour.
I walked into Chester city centre and kept an eye out for people wearing turquoise. It definitely didn't seem to be the current fashion colour of the season - I didn't meet anyone wearing this colour on the forty-minute walk. I first went to the cathedral, which I wanted to see anyway. There was a woman sitting in the church café wearing something similar to a turquoise jumper. At least it was turquoise. But she was engrossed in an intense conversation with another woman. So I went to have a look at the church first and wanted to check again later. Just as I was about to leave, she came towards me and went to the stand where you could light candles. She dropped her candle as she was lighting it. As she was no longer the youngest, I helped her. I then spoke to her about her turquoise-coloured jumper and told her about my impression at the prayer. She said „lovely“ („how nice“) and then went on with her companion.
Then I saw a woman with a turquoise-coloured cap. I had seen a turquoise jacket, not a cap, but I thought you can't really go wrong with a general encouragement like „Jesus tells you he cares about you!“. So I approached her too. Told her. Again came an „oh, how lovely!“ (“Oh, how lovely!"). Another woman with a turquoise scarf, who I approached later, reacted in the same way. I was amazed at how relaxed the people here were when someone told them that they had just heard something from God for them. Does this happen to them every day? Maybe it's also a bit due to the fact that there had been a mini-contact with both of them beforehand - once through the encounter at the candle stand, with the other woman I had admired jewellery together in the display case of the cathedral shop. And that I tried to build a bridge by telling them that I had prayed that afternoon.
Then I saw the woman whose jacket was exactly the bright dark turquoise colour I had seen inside. I waited until she had finished shopping in the cathedral shop and spoke to her. When I told her what I had heard inside, she was touched. I had also noticed that she had very swollen legs - or water in her legs. It certainly didn't look good. I told her that I had noticed that she had problems with her legs. And she said, „Yes, my ankle is sprained.“ Then she said, „I'm a Christian too, I belong to a Christian knitting club at my church that knits clothes for Africa. I believe in healing. And told me about an experience - unfortunately I didn't understand her accent well enough to follow everything. Then I prayed for her foot and Anne - that's her name - had tears running down her face. „I always take care of others - but never of myself!“ she said „But Jesus takes care of you...he really takes care of you!“
It's not as difficult as I thought. It would have been nice if I could have healed her on the spot...there's still room for improvement. To convey Jesus„ promise of “I will take care of you" to a person in such a way that it touches their heart is infinitely precious. I have tears in my eyes when I think about how much Anne must mean to Jesus. Something of his love for her flowed through me today and touched me immediately.
Later, when I went to the cosmetics department of a department store to have my make-up done for fun, I saw Mina, the tall, swan-likeI told the other beautician that I was here to learn to hear Jesus better and told her about my experience with Anne. She said: „That was definitely her experience of the day, which means the day - the experience of the year!“ Mina then told me that the poem Traces on the beach touched her so much...where a person is promised by Jesus „In difficult times I carried you on my shoulder!“ Mina was heavily pregnant - it was the last week of work before maternity leave. And I asked if I could bless her and the child. I had the impression that it was her first child - she confirmed that. - and that she would be a good mum. And then I blessed her for the birth and for being a mother.

When I was a little tired after the long journey and the adventures, I felt strongly that I should go to a certain café. There I struck up a conversation with Mimi, a student from Indonesia in a turquoise-coloured hijab (Islamic head covering), who I had noticed on the street before. We talked about all sorts of things - something about the usefulness of what you learn in language courses. I had once done a beginners„ Indonesian course and the first thing I learnt there was “Bangunla San. Matahari sudah drift!„ i.e. “Get up, boy. The sun has already risen!"

When she asked what I was doing, I told her that I was learning to listen to God better and how he wants to encourage people through me. I explained to her that you can also learn spiritual things and that Jesus' disciples, for example, asked him how to pray. And that they didn't mean ritualised prayers, but prayer from the heart. And that Jesus explained to them that you first honour and praise God and then bring him your own requests. She told me a lot about herself, about her studies in England, about how she was looking for a job in Singapore afterwards, but that it was difficult... (missed opportunity, but remember for next time: when someone talks about challenges or problems, that is actually a steep entry into prayer).

The bus I took for the way back only travelled half the distance - to a huge supermarket. I decided to do a few more errands - and met Grace, who is responsible for the house here, directly in the supermarket. With a huge shopping list for the upcoming conference days. I helped her for about half an hour until we had everything together. She was so grateful for the support. God takes care. He really does!