By Faith, a Team Expansion worker
Years ago, after a volleyball game, one of the guys stopped me and asked about my name. Not knowing I was a missionary at all, he said, “Since your name is Faith, does that mean you have a faith?”
Before I could fully respond, he started pouring out his heart and how he didn’t believe in anything, but he wanted to.
We made plans to get coffee soon with another friend. There, he shared even more of his story and we encouraged him to share his struggles and feelings with God as well.
He works as an engineer and has 3-1 month work schedule, where he works three outside of our country, and then has one month off to visit family or travel. Over the years, he started coming to our English Bible study when he has a month off. And every time he comes back, he’s making huge progress.
Growth and Obedience
The first time he came back, he talked about how he took our advice and started praying on his way to work. It was awkward at first and he felt silly, but he noticed a big impact at work and he was less angry.
Every time he’s here, he shares how he’s seeing changes. Last night, he came to the study and after we got kebab with some of the university students I’m working with. We had an incredible and raw conversation about Christianity/Catholicism/Islam/Judaism, denominations, even politics.
In the study, we had read Exodus 23, where it talks about the Lord driving out their enemies and says “But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you.” God did this to give the Israelites time to multiply and grow over the years.
In the same way He doesn’t usually give all the info, He gives us what we need and gives us the next step as grow and become ready. I feel like I’m definitely seeing that with this friend I mentioned. It’s so cool to see his progress every time he comes back to the study after being away.
