“I have an electric hedge trimmer,” our neighbor, Mack, offered. “This evening, I can come over and trim your hedge.” I smiled and thanked him. Later, since I had not seen Mack, Duang suggested I do it. So I dusted off our manual trimmers and got busy.

Duang’s encouragement reflected the Thai principle of not wanting to impose on others. She also understood that in Thai culture, offers are often made as polite gestures, with the expectation that they will be graciously declined. Unfortunately, Mack had genuinely wanted to help, and my preemptive hedge trimming left him feeling rebuffed. He did not speak to me for several months afterward.

We left for furlough with a strained relationship and, throughout, we prayed earnestly for God to restore the friendship. Jeffrey, our short-term worker, stayed in our house while we were away. His quiet Christian witness helped to melt the ice. When we returned months later, we visited Mack’s family and gave them some American chocolate. The next day, Mack offered to cut some tree branches growing over a neighbor’s fence onto our property. This time, we immediately accepted his help. Like that, our relationship was mended.

Our experience with Mack reminds me of the woman at the well. While traveling from Judea to Galilee, Jesus stopped near a well in Samaria and sent His disciples into town to buy food. When a woman came to draw water in the middle of the day, He asked for a favor: “Please give me a drink” (John 4:7 NLT). Asking for help led to a witnessing opportunity and a two-day evangelistic series.

Sometimes, the most profound ministry happens when we are willing to accept help. Like Jesus at the well, our vulnerability can open doors that our self-sufficiency keeps firmly closed—a lesson we are still learning.

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