My time in North Africa was absolutely my favorite on the Race so far. As soon as we stepped out of the port and into the country I thought, “Wow! I love this place!” The thought came completely out of left field because I wasn’t particularly looking forward to the area at all. But that is how some of the best things in life happen, isn’t it?
All of our time spent in North Africa revolved around relationships. Most of the work we did there involved meeting people and getting to know them. We learned about their lives, their hopes and dreams, and we got to share our lives with them as well, including our faith. All the build-up to North Africa had me wondering how that would happen. There was a lot of talk of internet security and how we should introduce what we were doing. All of it was good and valid! But that coupled with my own perceptions of what it might be like being a foreigner in a Muslim country left me unsure of how the 40 days would look.
What I found in North Africa was completely the opposite of the uncertainty and worry I felt beforehand.
The people were some of the most warm people I have ever met. As soon as they met you, they were happy to invite you into their lives, including into their homes. We shared so many meals in people’s homes, it was amazing. And when you went to someone’s house, you were treated as family. They served coffee and played games. Some girls even got to try on traditional clothing and got made up.
It wasn’t just the hospitality of sharing meals the people of North Africa excelled at. They were so willing to share their lives with us. They would share their hopes and their worries with us. We were told by some friends that they don’t necessarily share those things with people who are inside their culture, so we got to be a sounding board for that release. And, because of that, we got to speak life over people.We got to share our stories and how Jesus has impacted our lives. We had so much opportunity to tell them that they were valued and loved.
God is so good that we made relationships not just with North African people, but with many others as well. We met friends from all over the world and got to share life with them. We organized an office and got to attend two amazing churches while there. I was even blessed to get to be part of the praise team at one church – something I realized I’d been dearly missing.
The fellow workers we met were incredibly passionate and diversely talented. Some of them excelled in music, others had a passion to coach people to realize their dreams, others taught language, while others channeled their passions to start companies that created opportunity to build meaningful relationships. It really showed me that you don’t need a particular skillset or degree to be called by the Lord. All that’s required is the willingness to say “yes” when He says “go.”
And I think that was my overall lesson of North Africa. There really is no formula. There is no best method to share the good news. There is no specific kind of person the Lord calls. Every single person on this Earth is unique and yet all of us are similar in our need for Him. So it only makes sense that the people He uses and the way they reach out would be just as unique.
North Africa was a beautiful time filled with the feeling of family and belonging. To unpack it all would take too many blogs, but the country holds a very special place in my heart. I learned so much and felt loved by so many people. I would truly love the opportunity to go back.
