Monday afternoon the Workers found me. I came around the gas pumps to the window of an older Chevy sedan, and it was them, two tidy, clean-shaven men. Workers always came in pairs; sometimes they were called “two by twos” (Mark 6:7) by people not in the Faith. This pair, one younger, one older, was Jeff Hillman and Garland Brown. Both wore short-sleeved white shirts and narrow black ties.
“Hello, Paul,” they said together.
“Ah … hullo!” I said. I suddenly felt like I was guilty of something. The two preachers’ car was a loaner from someone in the Faith, as Workers had no possessions (“Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes.” Matthew 10:9–10). They also never married, which always seemed a little weird to me.
“We heard you were working in town this summer,” Jeff said.
I swallowed. “That’s true.”
“We’re passing through to the north and wanted to say hello,” Garland added.
“Yes, thank you,” I said, still fumbling. “Ah, fill with ethyl?”
“Oh no,” Jeff said, glancing at the prices on the pump, “just a couple dollars of regular.” They got out to stretch and look around. I ran the gas. They were pale men with high foreheads and white arms. Garland began to wash the windshield.
“I’ll do that,” I called.
“Oh no, a little real work is good for me,” he said.
They laughed pleasantly at their joke.
I finished the gas.
“Thank you, Paul,” they said. They made no move to pay.
“I’ll cover it,” I said. “It’s only two bucks.”
“No, of course not,” Jeff said. “Free gas is certainly not why we came.” He fished two dollars from a thin wallet.
“We came to see you, Paul,” Garland said.
“Thank you,” I said.
There was silence. “Have you been keeping up with your Bible reading?” Jeff asked.
“Yes,” I said. I felt my Adam’s apple bob.
“Good. Good to hear, Paul.”
“We’ll be wanting to go over the assigned chapters with you soon,” Garland said.
“I’ll be ready,” I replied.
“Convention is less than three months away,” Jeff said.
I nodded. Behind me, bells rang as another car arrived at the pumps.
Garland said, “What a great day it will be, Paul,
when you walk up that aisle and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior.”
“Thank you,” I said stupidly. The stoplight clicked loudly.
Another car pulled up, and then one behind it; by now Bud was looking out the window.
“Shall we have a brief prayer and then be on our way?” Garland said.
“Ah … okay,” I said. I glanced about.
The two men bowed their heads and so did I. Garland Brown led a brief prayer ending with, “So thank you, Lord, for granting Paul this opportunity to test himself in the world of fire and sin. Amen.”
We shook hands and then they slowly drove away. I hurried to my customers. As I came into the office, Bud said, “Who in the heck were those guys?”