Just for the record as you read this post, I’m not referring to our foreign exchange student we hosted a few years ago. I’m a youth leader so I have a lot of interaction with jr high and high school kids and this post is in reference to one of the many.
I visited with a young girl who’d been in the United States temporarily. I asked her about her time here and if she’d enjoyed coming to church while she was here (something which was a new experience for her).
Her response: “I do like it, but I don’t believe.”
Me: “Really? Like you don’t believe in God?!”
Her: “No, I don’t.”
Me: (without any hesitation whatsoever, because I lack patience) “So what do you do??!! What do you do when you hurt, when you fear, when you worry, when the bottom drops out?! Where do you place your hope?”
She hesitated thoughtfully… but didn’t have an answer.
Our conversation was soon interrupted, but I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to look for another opportunity to visit with this out going girl before she returned to her homeland; so a few days later I was picking her up from school, grabbing soda pops from a little family-owned coffee shop, and then heading to a beautifully landscaped, wide-spread park—where we proceeded to walk and talk…
She knew ahead of time that the purpose of us meeting was to talk to Jesus, but I didn’t want to freak her out either, but even more so, I didn’t want to miss my chance.
(We’ll call her Vera from here on out for the sake of privacy and mainly because my husband and I wished we would’ve named our youngest daughter that;)
So at what I felt was the right moment I finally said, “You know Vera, I’ve been thinking about how you said you didn’t believe in God and honestly I don’t want to be forceful at all, it’s just that as a Christian I’m called to be obedient to God and ALL I want out of life is to see people saved. I just don’t want to see you unsaved, that’s all.”
I also explained how if this whole God-thing is made up then when we die that’s it, we’re done, when our life is over no big deal, no loss for anyone!!—BUT on the other hand if the believer is right and God does in fact exist, and He is who He says He is, (which is what I believe) then those who have chosen to believe end up in Heaven one day and the unbelievers are consigned to the fires of Hell. (the fiery Lake of burning sulfur, according to Revelation 21:8)
To which she replied, “I’m just having trouble understanding how people got here, how the earth populated, how there’s so many languages, and I just don’t think that it could be this way by itself.”
Yes!!!! She’s on the right track, I thought to myself…because people and the beauty of mountains, oceans, sunrises and sunsets are entirely too amazing to be here by random chance or accident. It’s all too incredible to deny that an awesome Creator is in control of it all. It takes a Perfect Creator to come up with the blessings of life and beauty…I could tell the wheels were turning and she’d been doing some thinking. She wanted to know more about creation…
With her being from a different country, I kept my answers very short and simple so I wouldn’t risk being misunderstood. I pointed her to the first book of the Bible (Genesis) where a lot of her confusion could be answered from a Biblical (creation) perspective. She remained attentive and respectful of our conversation.
We walked and talked…a lot.
I returned her to her host family later that day and wondered if our conversation left an impact on her heart.
A few weeks later on a Sunday morning at church that same spunky young lady excitedly approached me. This time she held in her hands something that has the power to forever and dramatically change one’s life….the Word of Life, the answer to worries, fear, forgiveness and salvation, the call to live boldly and free from bondage.
“I got my first Bible!!!!” she proclaimed enthusiastically.
The church had gifted Bibles to the graduating students and she now had her first and very own. I saw the joy in her eyes and heard the passion in her voice as we chatted about it…
A pretty incredible moment…too incredible to deny. The seed was planted, watering was done…now it’s up to her to remain obedient so God can do the growing..
(PART 2 TO FOLLOW)
Applicable verses:
Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. John 17:17
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Mark 16:15
For His Purpose 
I LOVE this story! I wish more Christians were aware of the mission field that is right in their own high school. And the “mission field” has done all the hard work! – bought the passports, learned the language, traveled thousands of miles, adjusted to a new time, new culture. ALL we have to do is befriend them and show them the love of God!
It’s so simple a lot of us miss it while we’re planning fundraisers for our next mission trip. So ironic…
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Ya so true, very well put!! We always have the opportunity to witness..whether it’s in the checkout line, the lunch line, or even church…we just tend to complicate or overlook God’s work…there’s always someone who needs reached no matter WHERE we are
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Yes, definitely with local people we encounter every day. But think of the ripple effect when we’ve led an exchange student to Christ, and that student (usually from a wealthier, more influential family in his or her country) goes home with a newfound faith and shares it with others in that country? A new missionary is created, who already has relationships with people in that nation, already speaks the language and understands the culture. ..!
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Yes!! That’s so true!!
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What a wonderful experience. Isn’t it wonderful when God allows us to see how He has used us to work in the life of others!!
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Indeed, It’s so amazing.. I guess I get selfish sometimes and want to see the follow up effects but in this particular case I haven’t gotten to..but to witness this girl excited about receiving God’s word was a blessing and for that I’m thankful:) ..I’ll I can do now is pray she studies it!
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This is so wonderful Alicia! Both parties benefit. The one who shared her words and time (you) and the listener (this young lady who accepted your words). Yep, that’s so wonderful.
Proverbs 11:24-25 English Standard Version (ESV)
24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
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Ya very true!! I love that and thanks for the verses to go with!! Perfect! Praise Him, love how He uses His people to spur one another along:)
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