Unexpected Encounters and Reminders
*** I’m currently on a bus to Turkey where we will be for 2 days in order to fly out to Indonesia! It’s really late or early.. we are on an overnight bus. So being on this bus may have created a not so well written and probably too many run-on sentences so bare with me. Thank you! ***
Krum was a very sweet man that we met. The day before we went on a tour through the city some of the girls on the team met him and his wife. Apparently they wished they would have met us earlier so they could have hosted us. They insisted to at least give us a tour in the city. So the next day me and a couple of people from the team went out into with Krum or Tony. His wife recently had surgery so she stayed back. His Americans name is Tony. He had lived in Dallas, Texas, for over 30 years and that’s the name he went by. He said, “Tony is easy and I feel like a Tony.” He is originally from Bulgaria and is now retired there but he has been all over the world. Tony was a nice businessman with many stories. He loved us well and it was a delight getting to know him. I know we planned on ministering to him by simply hanging out with him and sharing our stories but he ministered to me just by his simple love for us. He bought me food and was super kind. I wish I would have had more time with him so that I could have gotten to know him more and shared my story and learned more of his. All in all it all was a treasure and delight meeting Tony and seeing Jesus through his generosity. I’m not sure where Tony stands in his faith but I hope he knows He is loved and seen by God. From just being with Tony I met Ilko.
As we were at the beach resort, Tony is talking and guiding us around and we stopped for a moment and we all went different directions and I went to this watch store. I was intrigued by the watches although I knew they were fake but then I felt God say, “just hold up a little.” Soon, Ilko a young guy came by and was like “you are American because of your accent” and he immediately began to talk. He didn’t try and sell me anything he actually just began to open up about how hard life is for him and his family. He told me about the 2 little business his family owns that only runs in the summer and he works everyday with no breaks and then in the winter they do car washes but that’s only “so good,” as he said. He told me that living in America is his dream. If only he knew “Grass isn’t greener on the other side.” We talked and shared a little bit about Bulgaria and what employment is like there.. As we were talking I felt God nudge me to tell him about his purpose that’s found in Jesus and God’s plan for him. So.. I said “hey man, I have to leave but before I do, I want to tell you something. I feel like God wants me to tell you that you need purpose and that purpose if found in Jesus and God’s plan for you. God sees you and He loves you. He sees your desires and He sees your hard work. He wants to bless you and give you abundance but what He first wants is relationship with you and that’s what your purpose is. So began to talk to God because He wants to talk to you. He sees you. He loves you. Hey man.. thanks so much! It was nice to meet you.” He was touched and moved. I could see it in his eyes. We shook hands and I turned around and ran into one of the displays… how awkward… but it was great. Honestly, through that encounter I was reminded of what it feels like to be noticed by God and others but I also was reminded about my purpose. It’s not found in another place or the “new thing” but it’s really in relationship with God. He’s the biggest need my heart desires and thank you Jesus for giving and meeting that need. Jesus took our place to fulfill and give us our deepest need, our need for Himself. Oh what amazing love.
I was a sojourner on a journey to find fulfillment. What I really was searching for was intimacy. Our greatest desire is to be known but our greatest fear is to be known. I searched and searched. I was never satisfied. I searched for a destination of popularity. I searched for a destination of success. I searched for a destination of love and romance. I searched for a destination to be liked and loved. I searched for fun. I searched for adventure. I searched for community. I searched for pleasure. I searched for fulfillment in whatever way I could feel it. I searched and searched to only be unsatisfied, lonely, and broken. What I didn’t realize was that the place my heart was really searching for was Home. A place where I’m fully known and fully accepted. This place is only found in the arms of Abba Father. This is why My God is My Home. For Jesus left us to prepare a room for us to only come back and take us to Himself.
Just like Ilko was reminded that our purpose on this earth isn’t our work or the things we do but our purpose is in a who. I wonder how many times we need to be reminded of that too?
So remember.. Your life and purpose isn’t found in a “what” but a “who.” Remember it’s not about what you do or where you make it to, but rather it’s in who you become and the lives that have been changed around you. Life is meant to be loved and to love.
I’m reminded of these two scriptures after these encounters with Tony and Ilko..
Colossians 1:16 ESV “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”
Matthew 22:36-40 ESV “”Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.””
