When Kristen*, one of our cross-cultural workers, first moved to her country of service, she had a promising job opportunity in front of her. She knew that living and working in another culture would come with great challenges, but she was excited. The job seemed like a perfect fit – a chance to use her skills, passions, and experiences for God’s global vision.
But shortly after she arrived, the opportunity fell through.
Resolved to work where Christ is unknown and eager to remain flexible, Kristen decided to press on and explore new pathways of service. However, the following year was extraordinarily difficult. Doors continued to shut, and she pivoted several times in pursuit of God’s purpose for her in West Asia.
“That year was stormy,” Kristen reflects. “I wasn’t in any place for longer than two months at a time. But God used the story of Jesus calming the storm to speak to me. I found something really beautiful about the fact that our God rests in the midst of storms and invites us into that rest.”
Today, more than a year and a half later, Kristen is settled into a teaching role and will shortly return for the start of another school year – and feels, finally, a sense of home and belonging. “This place now feels like my place, this world my world, these people my people. It’s in large part the deepening friendships that make it feel so,” Kristen says.
In the context of these authentic relationships and everyday life, Kristen has seen conversations about faith organically arise: on the bus with a coworker, in the kitchen while prepping dinner, and on a holiday visit to a friend’s hometown. Sometimes, passages of scripture happen to come up as they swap stories, and friends will circle back to ask more. Sometimes, she has opportunities to clarify misunderstandings and explain core beliefs. And sometimes, she sees sparks of interest; when, amidst the wariness, curiosity peaks through.
“In one conversation, I was so struck by a friend’s awed remark, ‘Wow, that’s so beautiful!’ in response to a passage of Scripture – one so familiar that I felt I needed my friend’s fresh eyes to see it anew.