A really sweet encounter while on traveling sankirtan
We were distributing the Teaching of Lord Kapila. During our scouting for Lord Kapila's candidates in Katikati (near Tauranga), I met up with the local mayor at the Katikati Heritage Museum. She was a kind lady with a weird haircut. Luckily, I managed to stop her before she jumped into her new Mercedes, and after a short discussion she happily accepted a TLK and gave a decent donation.
Toward the end of the exchange she commented, "Oh, but actually I'm a Catholic."
It seems Krishna isn't interested in what we think we are. By the gurus' mercy, we are learning what we really are.
As I bade her farewell, suddenly the engine of a 4×4 Izuzu (large jeep) kicked up next to me, so I quickly shifted to the passenger window and pulled some random facial expression, looking at the tires so the driver would wind the window down (credit to Khela Tirtha Prabhu for this classic car maneuver).
It turned out that the driver was a local man and had seen me talking to the HM the Mayor two minutes prior.
"I looked at your haircut and thought, 'What's the bet that guy's a monk!'" he said.
He was lamenting that I was talking to someone else, because he wanted to have a conversation, as his partner was something like a black-belt shaolin monk!
He was super enthusiastic about the Teachings of Lord Kapila, so he parked the truck, withdrew a healthy donation from the closest ATM, took the TLK and gave me his business card.
His name is Justin, and he owns an Avocado dealership in Katikati: Supreme Avocado Services.
He said to me, "Give us a buzz before you head back to Auckland, and I'll hook you up with some avos."
Some days later I tried making contact with him, but no reply.
Then as we were leaving the transcendental residence of Gopaladeva's farm, two minutes into the drive I received this text: "Hi, Steve. Just checking to see if you guys have left for Auckland, as I've got a bucket of avos for you."
He was working on the next road over from us and was waiting there when we arrived. Justin got the Supreme Service of serving Krishna and his devotees that day. Please pray that he may continue in his service to Krishna, and that his heart will ripen with love of God.
Bhakta Steve
Auckland
Srila Prabhupada, ki jaya!
