July 25, 2017
Today is the second day of ATL Around the World, and has been one of my favorite days of our entire month here in Greece. I got a late start on my day because I was listening to a podcast from Passion City called “Don’t Waste Your Influence.” It talked about how we don’t have to have popularity or fame to have influence, but that we are woven into opportunities and circumstances, however big or small or seemingly “important” or “unimportant” in order to bring about change through Jesus Christ. I finished the podcast, and set out for H&M in order to buy some new clothes (and the minute that I walked into those doors the Lord reminded me that I do NOT need anymore clothes). After leaving, I wanted to stop by a coffee shop called Coffee Island. There are multiple Coffee Island locations here in Thess, but there was one right down the street for H&M (which I had never been to before), but I decided to stop in.
The Lord allowed me time to start talking to one of the baristas; her name is Niki, and she’s a recent electrical engineering graduate who is struggling to find a job in her field. We talked about her family, her dream job, and how long she’d been working there at Coffee Island. It turned out that it was her 1-year workiversary. So, I went and bought her a sunflower to celebrate. Allow me to clarify that part; one of the things on my to-do list for the day was to buy a sunflower. I figured I would just give it to Maggie since I pulled her name for Secret Santa. But, as soon as I heard that it was Niki’s workiversary, I knew the flower was for her. I gave Niki the flower and her face lit up. She came out from behind the counter and hugged me, and then added me on Facebook. I decided to hang out in Coffee Island for a while and pray for people who walked into the shop. The Holy Spirit was incredibly evident during that time of prayer, and clearly spoke to my heart and gave me things to pray about for these strangers. I called my mom and chatted with her a bit, and right as we hung up, Niki took her lunch break, allowing us more time to talk.
By the time I leave Greece, I will have only gotten to see Niki a total of three or four times. I don’t know if Niki will remember me. But having Niki remember me isn’t the important part. What I hope she remembers is that there is Someone who deeply loves her, truly sees her, and calls her “Daughter.” “Don’t waste your influence,” Louie Giglio explained during his podcast. “View your current situation as God’s assignment for bringing freedom to others.”
Niki, my prayer for you, above all else, is that you come to know the vast love, peace, joy, and freedom found in Jesus Christ.
