Here I am in Africa. New season. New team. New continent, (our last of four).
I’ve some great things to share about the upcoming month, but before I do so, I want to reflect on one of my favorite stories from last month, Bulgaria.
Rachel, Alyssa, and I did one of Sofia’s free walking tours one day. It was very interesting and informative. I was immediately intrigued by our tour guide, a beautiful girl name Viki.
Viki made a profound, but simple starting comment to our group that has stuck with me since. She said, “We have only just met. But we have two hours together. We can become friends for life.”
Along with the historical and cultural facts of the city, Viki talked about tolerance and the struggle of Christianity in the Orthodox religion.
(Btw. The majority of people here want nothing to do with religion, but the majority are also Orthodox as custom of the culture.. Fair.)
So we asked her after the tour if we could buy her coffee or lunch and talk more about the history of the city, communism, etc.
We ended up having the opportunity to meet with her a few days later, but didn’t talk at all about the city of Sofia. Instead, Viki had so many questions about what we were doing here and what we believed. We had the opportunity to sit with her and share the gospel for two hours.
We kept telling Viki how much Jesus loves her. How He wants a true authentic relationship with her, His daughter. She couldn’t believe it. She kept saying “no, He can’t love me.” “I am a bad person, I am not worthy of his love.”
We shared a depiction about God’s grace – the free gift that it is. A gift that is meant to be accepted – even if it feels weird and awkward. And by choosing to not receive it, you are breaking the Giver’s heart. But choosing to receive it, allows you to experience the fullness that He has for you in relationship with Him.
Viki gave into truth. The truth that we kept speaking over her, that He is speaking over her continuously and will never stop. She was blown away by Jesus’ Love.
In that moment she started speaking out truths and revelation as they were coming to her.
The peace of the Holy Spirit that my teammates and I experienced around the table as we got to pray for Vicki, and she prayed for herself, was a moment that I will never forget the rest of my life.
God is always good. And the change in Vicki’s spirit and her face as she lit up was just a testament of His goodness.
This is what Viki says:
One day I want to have all this strength and energy and guide other people that need it, that have lost God somewhere on the way, as I feel now, but for now I just feel thankful to God that he allowed me to meet with you, that he created this special moment and we had the chance to connect our universes!
So true. So beautiful. So thankful to the Lord for orchestrating that divine appointment.
I do hope Viki and I will be friends for life…
Stay tuned for my stories about Africa. Coming soon!! Hopefully anyway;) WiFi is so limited.
