Before we left Spin we received information on North Africa, things regarding culture, dress, food, and just some suggestions on travel. One thing that I could not wrap my head around was how to make connections. Here is the information our leaders gave us…walk up to a girl (girls and girls; boys and boys) and ask her if she wants to hang out. A stranger…just walk up to her and ask her to show me where the bread is or if she could take me to a great tea spot. Without fear of being rejected. WHAAAAAT?!
I have the same friends I made from age eight so this concept overwhelmed me with anxiety. Will this really work? Are girls really this friendly in North Africa? Can I actually work up the nerve to go up to a girl that doesn’t speak my language and ask her to hang out?
Guess what. You can. We handed two women a box of cookies on our way home from the grocery store and they immediately invited us in for tea. They speak Arabic so Google translate and inadvertently playing charades has helped this friendship flourish. I have learned so much about these women, seen pictures of their children, seen them on their wedding day, held their hands as they told us abut their hurts, they shared their dreams for their future and we laughed with them when they told us about their day. They have covered our hands and feet with Henna, they have cooked for us, and they have out served us in every way (no matter how hard we try).
The sweetest thing about it all is when Jesus let me see how He loves them. They don’t know Jesus but He is pursuing them and He wants them.
This is without a doubt something I want to bring back home with me. Have you walked up to a stranger and just asked to be friends? We are way too guarded, we think we don’t need more friends than we have, we want everyone to see our best selves and/or we think we are too busy to be able to invest in someone.It has to be like a kid on the playground first day of school looking around for a new friend. When they find a kid to play the same game, boom, friends. I am not sure how as an adult it got so hard.
