JOY WITH THE PIZZA DELIVERY GUY
Last night I finished a busy but rewarding week of work. As I was driving home on the freeway I decided to reward myself by buying a pizza. When I checked my Papa John’s phone app I delightfully discovered that I had qualified for a free pizza. That made the idea even better.
I ordered the large, 14” Hawaiian pizza and because it was free I splurged and spent $5 on the chocolate chip cookie add-on. The entire order would now cost me a whopping $8.35. I was excited. I figured by ordering on the way home I wouldn’t have to wait long once it showed up.
As I pulled into the street parking area in front of the apartment building I live in, a Papa John’s pizza delivery vehicle pulled up directly across the street from me. I figured he had to be there for me so I rolled down my window and told him I was probably the guy he was looking for. He quickly pulled out his order printout and asked, “A-lan?”
“That’s me!” I responded.
He walked across the street and started to pull the pizza and cookie out of its pouch container. I told him he needed to come with me up to my apartment to get some cash and he was happy to do that.
A Simple Question for the Pizza Delivery Guy
As we started walking around the corner I asked him that brilliant question, “So, where are you from?” He responded by saying, “Peru.”
The first thing I thought of was Machu Pichu, so I said, “Machu Pichu!” He thought I was trying to guess the city he was from so he said, “No, Cusco and Lima.”
When I heard “Lima”, I thought of the Church’s recent announcement of building a second temple in Lima, Peru. I believed this was correct, but I wasn’t sure. In any event, I believed we had at least one temple in Lima so I said, “Our church builds temples in Lima.”
He then asked if I was Mormon. I told him I was. He told me his son lives in Utah with his wife and three kids and they are Mormon too. I asked him what city. He said, “Lay-ton.” I told him my dad grew up near Layton.
Amazing, isn’t it? What are the odds that a pizza delivery guy in Bethesda, Maryland would have some Mormon family that lived in Utah? It gave us something in common to discuss besides the pizza.
By this time we were getting on the elevator to go up to my apartment. When we arrived on the 21st floor I went inside. I had the impression to get him an Articles of Faith card, so I grabbed one from my den and grabbed one of my public affairs cards too. I then got the money to pay for the pizza.
As I gave him the money, I also handed him the cards. “This is what your son believes,” I said, pointing to the back of the Articles of Faith card. He greatly appreciated it. I also invited him to church, pointing to the back of the other card where it gives the address of the church plus the date and time to attend. He thanked me greatly for both cards. He told me his name and said he would be in touch.
It’s amazing to me that God can put people in your pathway when you least expect it. Of all the pizza delivery guys in our area who could have brought me a pizza, what are the odds that the guy who does do it has children and grandchildren who are Mormon?
It’s amazing what God can do as he pairs up people who can help each other. It’s a wonderful adventure with God at the helm!
And the pizza tasted especially good…
follow the spirit, god, hastening the work, jesus christ, joy, love, papa johns pizza, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
