Living Life

Before working overseas, we believed we weren't qualified. Well, we still think that some days. We thought to be a worker overseas meant being someone who is super holy, super disciplined, super knowledgeable, and someone who is just super in general. So of course, we wrote ourselves out of the equation. Surely He doesn't want us! How could we be used? We are sinful, imperfect, insecure, and lacking in many areas, and we don't have any special worker skills. Well we tried these arguments with Him, and it just didn't cut it. He told us to go, so we went. And now that we are here, we've learned a little secret about overseas work: what we did in the states to serve Him, is the same thing we are doing here.

In the states, we invested into the lives of people He brought our way. We were purposeful and intentional with our lives, and we sought out those we knew were lost. However, the way which we did that was simple. We lived our lives, opened our eyes, asked for diving appointments and then the "work" began. There was nothing "super" about it. I enjoying cooking so I joined a cooking club with internationals. Through that, I made a friend. Through her, I made another friend. We developed authentic relationships in which I could share my faith, but more importantly, live it out. My husband opened up his eyes to his workplace. There, he was able to build a solid relationship with a man who was really seeking for Truth. In both of these situations, there was nothing extra special about how we met these people. There was no program geared for us meeting unbelievers, we simply met them as we lived our life.

In Europe, our life is no different. We have become friends with one family. How did we meet them? It was really quite simple. They own a store that provides services we need. So one night, we went in and through our child, a conversation was started. Because we were able to connect easily, we started going back to that store when we needed things. Over time, acquaintances have turned into a friendship. And then one day, we were invited into their home. We celebrated a birthday with their family, and felt truly welcome into their North African home. Now we have a relationship on which to build upon. We pray that we will be able to share the Hope we have one day. We seek to live out our faith so that we are transparent as glass, and that some day, our new friends will know why we love Him like we do.