Evangelization Testimony at the Chicago Parade By Adrian Ortega
There were 10 days left until the Chicago event. Chuck reminded me that he had forgotten the previous year. He sent me a text message with the date and time. I read it and replied, “Let’s prepare with prayer and fasting.” I also told my wife, “Chuck and I are going to the parade again to share the Messages of True Life in God.” She answered, “I’ll see if I can go with you,” and that was settled.
A few days before the Pride Parade, I received a call from someone very close to me. They mentioned they were going to a parade in another city. I told them I would be in Chicago sharing the messages of True Life in God and handing out some leaflets with the face of Christ on the front. Their negative response hurt me deeply, even though I love this person very much. At that moment, I knew my prayers and fasting needed to be filled with great love.
Before the event, Chuck sent me a text asking what time I would arrive. I remembered that Saturday there was night Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and at the end of the shifts (which finish at 5:00 a.m.), the priest would celebrate Holy Mass. I told Chuck I would arrive around 10:00 a.m. He suggested I come earlier to avoid traffic, so I adjusted it to 9:00 a.m.
During the night adoration, my shift was from 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. In that time, I asked our Lord Jesus Christ to touch the hearts of everyone at the parade, including the heart of the beloved person with whom I had spoken. At one point, while fixing my gaze on the Blessed Eucharist, I said, “Vassula, intercede for us.”
Adrian & Chuck on the way to the parade
The awaited day arrived. I sent Chuck a text saying I was on my way. When I got there, I saw his joyful smile. He showed me the speaker we would use and the books. He lent me a blue cap that said “True Life in God” to protect me from the sun. I got into his car and we set off for Chicago from Chuck’s house. When we arrived near the parade route, the hardest part was finding parking. We drove around several times until we found a spot. We prepared with saying a prayer. I held my holy rosary in my left hand. Chuck, for his part, carried the speaker and a kit containing a book stand and a small folding chair.
When I got coffee at the coffee shop, Chuck took the opportunity to talk about the messages with some passersby. When I came out of the store, I saw that many people were already taking part in the parade, so I began distributing the leaflets.
I remembered the words Vassula said to me when I first met her in Chicago. I was wearing my jacket with the Masonic logo and told her, “I am a Freemason..” I stared into her blue eyes, waiting for a challenging response. Instead, she said in a gentle voice, “God loves you.” That was the phrase with which I would begin to distribute God’s love through the messages. (Much later, I learned that Vassula’s eyes are not blue, and I now realize that was a miracle! I have seen Jesus’ Eyes, and what Vassula said was coming from Jesus.) And so it was: with every person who approached, I looked them in the eyes—“the windows of the soul”—and said, “God loves you.” Some accepted the leaflet, others said “No, thank you.” To those who refused, I replied from my heart, “God bless you.” Chuck, for his part, handed out the books with a smile. Some took them, others just looked at the face of Christ and declined.
One person approached me and asked if God loved everyone, pointing toward those marching in the parade. I replied that ‘of course He does’.
Unlike the previous occasion, and because we had a speaker this time, we didn’t walk much. We decided to stay at an intersection that initially had few people, but as the minutes passed, more and more came by. Eventually there were so many that it became difficult to see Chuck.
Chuck had placed the speaker in what seemed like a safe spot. Since it was wireless, he began speaking and proclaiming God’s love. At first, people didn’t know where the voice was coming from, because Chuck had sat down on the small chair he brought. From his heart he told them, “God loves you.” The noise kept growing—motorcycles and cars with people on them playing music at full volume—making it hard to hear the speaker clearly. Only those around it could listen. At one point, Chuck started proclaiming one of the themes from the Messages of True Life in God about repentance. Suddenly, I saw from a distance, through the crowd, that someone had thrown the speaker. I went over to Chuck and told him they had tossed it. By then the air was filled with the smell of cigarettes and marijuana. I looked down and saw several cards scattered on the ground, especially one with the face of Our Lord that people were stepping on. Since it was a bit far, I didn’t pick it up immediately, but people kept trampling it. Chuck returned with the speaker, telling me it was still in good condition. I then set about picking up all the cards from the ground, saying inwardly, “Do not hold this against them, Lord.” Finally, I reached the one lying face up with the face of Christ stepped on. I heard in my heart: “Pick Me up and let’s go.”
I approached Chuck. We had already given out hundreds of leaflets and 32 books. We decided to leave the parade, thanking God for having used us to deliver His messages.
Thank you, Vassula, for interceding in those moments.
Glory to God for ever and ever.
Adrian Ortega
