“JUST DOING LAUNDRY – part II”

November 7, 2007

In February of 2006, Larry and I were at the Las Vegas NHRA warm-up session.  As with all the excitement of race events, there is also the practical side.  When it’s over, it’s time to prepare for the next one, which includes doing the laundry.

Not far from the track, in a slightly scary neighborhood, is “Thunder Suds Laundromat” where several of the racers do their laundry.  It’s always fun to be there together making the laborious task of doing laundry seem to go faster.

That day in February, I was the only race-related customer.  I didn’t see my little Korean lady friend who runs the establishment, so I asked about her.  I was directed to her husband who surprised me with the news that his wife had stomach cancer and the prognosis looked grim.  He was a very angry man.  Even though his English was broken, I understood that he was angry at God and angry at the church his wife attended.

I tried to console him and minister to him, but he threw up his hands.  I remember in past visits with his wife how she longed for her husband to have faith in “Cheezus.”  Now I could see why she prayed for him so much.

There were a lot of things going on in and around the “Thunder Suds Laundromat” that day that prompted me to pray.  There was a spiritual battle going on in that place and I was very aware of it.  By the time I got back to the race track, I was emotionally drained.  I was going to miss my friend.

Monday, October 29, 2007 after the Las Vegas NHRA Fall Nationals, Larry and I were out running errands.  On the way back to the track, we decided to stop by “Thunder Suds.”   We walked in and I asked the girl that appeared to be in charge about my Korean friend.  She pointed across the room.  I looked, but didn’t see her.  Then this white haired lady almost ran over to me and hugged me.  I had never known her name before, but I learned that this was Mrs. Moon, the lady with the terminal stomach cancer.  She had six rounds of chemotherapy, lost all her hair and it grew back in white.  She was much rounder than I remembered, due to all the medical treatments.

After long hugs, she pulled out a chair for us and began to pour out her heart.  Once again, praying for God to give us ears to understand her broken English, Larry and I got the gist of things.  Her husband left her and she has no idea where he is.  He drained her bank account, left her with Laundromat repairs and no money to fix them and she was crushed.  Once when he returned, she asked for an explanation, but he was very angry and refused to talk.  Then he left, again.  Our hearts were broken as Mrs. Moon cried and bore her soul.   

We held her and prayed for her while she wept.  We assured her that we would be praying for her and would put her on our RFC prayer list.  Then before we left, she put her arms around us and prayed for us in Korean.  I heard our names every now and then between the weeping.

I know that Mrs. Moon needed that opportunity to “let it out” and unburden her heart.  She needed a good cry…she needed to know that someone who knows her “Cheezus” cares for her and would continue to lift her up to our heavenly Father.  We are.

This was another day of ministry at the Laundromat.  I really didn’t expect to see Mrs. Moon that day.  I wasn’t sure she was alive, let alone working.  I can only imagine what the workers and patrons were thinking that day as these two strangers walked in off the street and made their boss cry. 

We left Las Vegas to drive to the final NHRA race of the season in Pomona, CA, committed to keep our little Korean friend, Mrs. Moon in our prayers.  This time I have an address so we can send her notes of encouragement.  We pray that God will return 100-fold the things that the enemy has stolen from her and that God will bless her with healing of body and heart.  She has made a difference in Larry’s and my life, and I know God has used her to make a difference for His kingdom in that dangerous corner of the world in North Las Vegas, NV. 

Linda and Larry Smiley

Racers For Christ

P.S. You can find the original article written in March 2006 in the devotional archives here.

If you would like to send Mrs. Moon a note of encouragement, you may either email us at IMFORGOD@aol.com, or mail it to us at P. O. Box 129, Arcadia, OK  73007-0129.  We’ll see to it that she receives them.