Yesterday morning we went to the Foreign Language campus to
do Soularium and talk with students. Soularium is a tool Cru that uses to spark conversations with students
about their lives and about God. There
is that word again, conversations. I
will admit talking to college age students is not in my comfort zone. I am a kid person, but I love hearing
people’s stories so I was excited to be able to talk with some of the English
speaking students.
After the second hour ended there was a student standing a
little ways off from us but glancing at where we had the pictures set up. Rikki and I said hello and she came over and
I asked if she had a few minutes that I could ask her some questions about the
photos. Soulariam gives you specific
questions to ask but it leaves plenty of room to just have a conversation about
the different pictures the student picked and why. We talked about how she likes things to be in
order and how she is nervous about change. Valdet is in her third year at the university, which is the last year in
I Albania, though students can go on to study for one or two more years. We talked about how she saw God as her
protector, watching over her and how that is a comfort to know in times of
change. Another student was watching us,
so I began to talk with her. Resmirta
loved life, but she had a much more open view of God. She couldn’t pick a picture because she said
that he was in every picture, but she finally picked one of a beautiful sunset
and said that she saw God as a creator. Mostly, we talked, sharing our stories. I told them about the World Race and about Student Life at their
university and found out they are both Muslim. Resmirta and I talked a little bit about Jesus, but soon after I
mentioned him she said she had to go, but not before we exchanged Facebook
names. My hope is to get back to the
Foreign Language building this week and get them connected to the Student Life
staff. I was so grateful to God for
opening a door for me to share a little bit about my faith, but mostly listen
to both Valdet and Resmirta’s stories. Because sometimes other people’s stories are the best place to
begin.
