Jan's version of the Kurdistan story

God Makes Lemonade for a Believer in Kurdistan (as told by a missionary there)
(My version)

By Jan Parys

A twenty-year-old man we’ll call “Aram” lives in a small village in northwestern Iraq. One day he went to visit some friends in a city about forty-five minutes away, and toward the end of the day he began to head home. He had very little money with him, 3,000 Iraqi dinar, less than two-and-a-half dollars. However, it was enough to catch a taxi ride if he could find one heading in his direction. The young man began walking to a taxi area and passed by a haggard beggar woman. Though he felt a tug on his heart, he thought, If I give her even 1,000 dinar, I’ll not have enough money to get home. I’ll be stuck here for the night! So he passed her by.
A few feet farther, the Lord said, “Go back and give her your money.” Since he was a passionate follower of the Lord, with no hesitation he returned to give her the 3,000 dinar. He grinned to himself and wondered, Now what am I going to do?
He started toward home. Almost immediately, a taxi pulled over and the driver asked him, “Do you need a ride?”
Aram politely declined and said, “I have no money at all.”
The driver insisted, “Get in. I am headed in your direction anyway. What is your name?”
In the state of Kurdistan culture when someone asks your name, you
generally tell your family heritage and Aram did. He said, “I am Aram from Kani Cheran, son of Ibrahim ”
The driver was stunned. “Your grandfather was my best friend! I’ve been trying for months to get in touch with him! How is he?”
“Sir, I am so sorry to tell you, he passed away last year.”
The driver, a devout Muslim, was deeply grieved and started crying. When they reached the village, Aram invited the gentleman inside, and he spent the next three hours sharing conversation, food and drinking tea. The Christian shared his journey to faith in Jesus and the Muslim listened attentively. The elderly man heard the saving story of the most glorious news and left with a great deal to think about. Wise beyond his years, Aram through his act of obedience to God brought his message to his grandfather’s old friend.