Another Similarity

So, I was telling you how there are unique similarities (and plenty of differences) between here and Arua. Yesterday Billy graciously gave this homeschool mama a moment alone with Jesus and a cup of coffee. His classes start next week and this seemed like the right moment to take before this new work really begins. I was grateful.

Walking thru the town centre and asking the Lord where He wanted to go on our date I found myself devouring my first George MacDonald novel (Scotland seemed like the right time). Jesus met me in the Tutor's First Love and gave me a renewed excitement and vision as we raise these precious girls to be LIGHTS for Jesus, Truth in a Dark world. As I moved between coffee shops (yes, I just typed that, WOW! Billy is so kind to me!), I noticed "fresher" week in St. Andrews. There were a lot of new students and just more undergrads returning and I noticed some public actions that weren't exactly PC let alone Lugbara Culturally appropriate. Details won't be helpful, the comparison is really this.

We are still called to "the nations" as Jesus puts it in Matthew 28:19. The nation we are settling into now looks different, so different than the last nation He allowed us the honor of living in, but both "nations" are still desperately in need of a Savior.

Settling in to coffee spot two, I sat alone reading at a table for two.

Mr. S. moves the chair across from me and sits down with his coffee beside me. This might be shocking to some of you. You don't need to tell me if you are shocked that someone might be forward toward me, but I think in a lot of your host cultures, personal space is a big deal. Good news, it isn't for me and it isn't for Mr. S. He's from Pakistan. I was comfortable with his arrival as personal space has been relative for me for some time, but as I slowly looked up from my book, it dawned on me we are not in East Africa, nor central Asia...He maybe should have stayed a half an arms-length away.

Anyway, the conversation that followed was one of the hardest I've had and one of the most thrilling too. I got to share Jesus with Mr. S. He never knelt to pray "the sinner's prayer" but we both moved closer to God in our hilariously bizarre meeting yesterday afternoon.

As I left him with a copy of the psalms (he writes music) and a refusal of my phone number(!) Jesus whispered to my heart. These are the nations. If you feel I am not letting you go out, watch me bring the seeking to you here!

Don't you just love Him!?!?! He is so creative, kind, incredible, amazing...words are so incomplete. He is good. And His Love endures forever.

Will you pray with us that Mr. S. and his extended family meet the Living Lord Jesus?! He works locally at an Indian Restaurant.

As I made my way home, the Holy Spirit kindly reminded me of one of our family's dearest friends in East Africa. Imam, who we met in an Indian restaurant where he was working. We had the thrill of becoming friends with him and seeing he and his family come to Jesus and grow faithfully in their walk with Him.  Imam now leads his church's children's work and is impacting HUNDREDS for the Kingdom!!!

Only Jesus knows what the future holds for Mr. S, but thank you that we do not carry him to Jesus alone. Where is Jesus asking you to go and make disciples today?! We are praying for you!!!