Hojo: For Such a Time as This
Hojo sat in his favorite chair in his family-owned coffee shop – Pappi's Place, reading his Bible. He has often wondered why God would bring him home from the mission field to this - owning and running a coffee shop. "I should be in Malaysia teaching the Bible at Grace Bible School and helping develop church leaders, not here serving coffee and baked goods," he sighed. It had been one year since he had arrived back in Charleston and inherited Papi's Place. Hojo knew the community had not yet accepted Pappi's Place becoming Pappi's Coffee Shop. They missed the old hamburger joint his father owned, and frankly, Hojo had been gone for so long that no one knew him or trusted him.
We find him studying the Bible because there was not one customer in the shop. He was studying the Old Testament book Esther. He had stopped at the famous phrase "for such a time as this" in Esther 4:14, where Mordecai says, "And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" "For such a time as this," he said the words out loud. So, what are you trying to tell me, Lord?"
That's when he noticed a group gathering around the coffee shop entrance. He jumped up and ran to the door and saw that a young woman had collapsed. She was barely conscious, and her breathing was labored and very shallow. The bystanders frantically tried to call for help, but emergency services were delayed.
His heart raced. He had recently taken a mandatory first aid course through the county health department but never thought he would need to use those skills. Without hesitation, he pushed through the crowd and knelt beside the woman. "I'm trained in first aid," he announced. "Let me help."
He quickly assessed her condition and realized she was having a severe allergic reaction. Her throat was swelling, and she was struggling to breathe. She was going into an anaphylactic shock. Hojo remembered that the first aid kit for the coffee shop, which was mounted near the front door, had an EpiPen—a crucial tool for such emergencies.
He ran into the shop, opened the kit, grabbed the EpiPen, and returned to the woman's side. He quickly jabbed the EpiPen in her thigh, just as he had been taught. Hojo prayed that it would work. Slowly, her erratic breathing stabilized, and she regained consciousness. The crowd watched in awe as Hojo's calm demeanor and quick actions had potentially saved her life. "Thankfully, God had been with me," thought Hojo. "For such a time as this."
When the paramedics arrived, the woman, Sarah, was stable and ready to be transported to the hospital for further care. The paramedics commended Hojo for his decisive actions, explaining that the outcome could have been disastrous without his intervention. He was in the right place at the right time – for such a time as this.
Hojo invited everyone, including the paramedics, into the shop to enjoy a free cup of coffee to celebrate Sara's turn for the better. Sarah would be welcome at any time and a permanent guest of honor.
News of Hojo's heroism spread quickly throughout the downtown community. People who had just walked right by the coffee shop in the past dropped in. Everyone had stories of the "glory days" of Pappi's Place. They loved all the pictures Hojo had framed and hung throughout the shop.
"What a day," Hojo thought to himself. His actions and selflessness had left a lasting impression, and he became a symbol of quiet strength and reliability.
Hojo's unexpected medical service had not only saved a life but had also transformed his own. He kept thinking, "For such a time as this." He discovered a newfound confidence and sense of purpose, realizing that his actions could profoundly impact others, no matter how small.
In the days that followed, Hojo continued to work at the coffee shop with renewed vigor, knowing that he had the power to make a difference. One of the things that the Lord laid on his heart was to expand his seating areas to allow small groups to come and study the Bible. On most days, several small groups would be there to study the Bible and drink their lattes, cappuccinos, smoothies, and Pappi's home-brewed Root Beet, a local favorite. Twice a week in the evenings, Hojo closes the shop and packs it with eager students to hear Hojo's stories and teaching of the Bible. "For such a time as this."
His story inspired others in the community to look beyond their roles and recognize the potential for greatness within themselves, proving that occasionally, the most meaningful changes arise from the most surprising sources. and unexpected times. "For such a time as this."