Immediately after the grand opening of our café, we knew we had to extend our hours. Initially, we had intended to open for breakfast and lunch. With our limited manpower, we could only stay open for part of the day without forcing our team to always run into overtime. It was partially based upon this concept that we had developed some of our menu items to be quick and easy hand-helds, like the banh mi, the traditional baguette sandwich Sinim people enjoy as breakfast fare.

However, with more thought, I wasn’t sure if opening early in the morning was in our realm of capability for our small, inexperienced team. Moreover, patrons in the morning are not looking to hang around and talk, as they are rushing off to work. However, every day at 5:00 p.m., there is a steady stream of foot traffic outside the café, with people from the community jogging at the lake across the street.

Nang and I tossed ideas back and forth, trying to decide. Nang wanted our team to stick to the morning shift, not wanting the trend of working late and because it would be easier to create quick breakfast foods rather than evening meals.

Finally, I suggested we pray as we were not changing our viewpoints. Although the café had been closed for several hours, we still had a lot of work to do. Less than an hour later, some feet appeared behind the security shutter gate we had rolled halfway down.

Being closed already, we hoped the owner of those feet didn’t see us.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!” The feet’s owner moved to our door and was rapping to grab our attention.

Nang opened the door to find a woman barefoot, holding heels in her hand, with a rainbow sequined purse.

“Are you guys open? Oh! How fortunate! We have been wandering for hours, looking for a vegetarian restaurant, and there’s nothing!”

Nang and I were speechless.

“I’m sorry, it’s actually after hours for us. We have already closed the kitchen,” Nang managed to stutter.

“Why aren’t you guys open? Don’t you know people eat dinner? We will eat anything! Banh mi, instant noodles, anything as long as it’s vegetarian!”

We were so caught unaware we weren’t sure what to do.

“Let me ask the kitchen if there is anything.” Nang picked up our walkie-talkie to talk to the chef, who just happened to be there; everyone else had already gone home. “Chef, do we ha-“ Nang said before she was interrupted by our stranger at the door who turned to shout at someone in the dark.

“Come, Come! They have food! Come over!  Mind if we come in?” our eccentric guest said as she entered, followed by a quiet, mild gentleman.

Fortunately, Bep was able to serve up a couple of rice dishes while we visited with our unexpected guests.

“What’s your name? Nang, it means moon? What an interesting name! I’m Rainbow. And this guy, his name is Loc, which means good fortune. Lucky you! That means ‘good fortune’ just walked through the door of your café,” Rainbow energetically peppered the conversation. “Oh, what luck this vegetarian place was open! It’s like God set up this divine appointment!’”

Not only was I caught by surprise by the exclamation of very Christian jargon, but her friend was as well.

“What? Do you even believe in God to say, ‘God set this up,’” Loc asked her with a puzzled look.
“What? It’s a good phrase. ‘God set up this divine appointment!’ Look, I believe in some kind of Creator. I believe in whatever. I believe in myself. I listen to the voice within. Whatever the energy in the universe says,” Rainbow answered free-spiritedly.

“Oh, I like that phrase also. I believe in God, and I do believe He set up this divine appointment,” I said.

“You two believe in God? Wow! I’ve never met Christians who are vegetarian. You need to talk to Loc! This guy is curious about religion,” Rainbow shared rather flamboyantly.

In much more subdued tones, Loc shared, “I’ve been curious about the Bible. I met two men who have been talking to me about God. But you know, I’m Sinim, and we don’t believe in God. But there are words of the Bible that just deeply embed themselves in my mind.”

They finished their meal, and Rainbow left first while Loc stayed behind to discuss the Bible.

“So I’ve looked up somewhat about Christians, and the Bible teaches that we have sin. Is that true, though? I think we are just here to experience life.”

I explained how we have disconnected from a holy and loving God by our sins, but God has given us a way to be saved from our sins by Jesus. I invited him to come again, and the next time, I would be sure to have a Bible for him. He smiled and said he would come again and left at eight o’clock sharp. Nang and I both seemed to recognize the obvious conclusion; we received the answer to our prayer.

Some who had heard the story thought it was amazing. Others were suspicious and felt that Rainbow and Loc were spies. Regardless, we decided to open for lunch and dinner.

Three weeks later, I felt so burdened by the incredible task of leading our team. I fasted and prayed, asking God for a sign to help my team believe in me as a leader because I was struggling to believe it myself.

Fascinatingly, I engaged in two meaningful conversations with guests who came in. One was a couple whose husband had a rare form of cancer. They had gone to hospital after hospital, even sending their results to Harvard, but no one could figure out his cancer or give a treatment. The husband tried medicines and treatments, but only after going vegan did the pain from his cancer stop.

Then after my midday prayer, I entered the café, surprised to find Loc had just sat down to order his meal.

I managed to ask if he had learned anything more since our last conversation. He shared that he was seeking more and just “wanted to find the truth.” I asked him what had started his journey to learn about God.

He said that not too long ago, he had a mental episode where he felt like he had lost his mind and was suicidal. He had tried clinic after clinic, and none of them could heal him of his mental disorder. Then he met one gentleman, who had told him he would “transmit energy to him” and that “the greatest force in the world is love.” After the gentleman transmitted the energy, Loc said he got his mind back. Not only that, he became interested in spiritual things, whereas before, he had no interest in spirituality. Since then, he has been researching every religion.

I brought out the Bible I promised him, taking him to 1 John 4:16-18, “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God . . . There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” Loc read with great interest, and the words resonated with him. I told him to keep the Bible and said that the best way to know Christianity is to read about the life of Jesus and His teachings in the gospels. Through His life, we learn the perfect example of Christianity. I also told him that if he was ever interested in studying the Bible, he knew where to find us. Loc happily took the Bible and went on his way.

The café work has been challenging, but God continues to send blessings to remind us we are on the right track and that He is the ultimate leader. Please pray for Loc and those like him who walk into Seed Café that they may experience the good news found in hearing the word of God.

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