It starts with a cup of Turkish tea.
A sign of hospitality and respect that most Turks offer–a rejection of that cup would be a rejection of a possible conversation that could change the course of someone’s eternity. These past nine months have showed me how to see the people in front of me, with no other agenda than to get to know a new friend.
Primarily in Muslim-dominated cultures, it requires a desire to seek and understand their point of view. Though we have opposing views, the both of us seek the same desire–to be heard and understood. I have felt more welcomed internationally with families who don’t believe in my God simply laughing over our communication barrier and a cup of tea.
Google translate has become a dear friend of mine on this trip. She has helped me share the Gospel in Russian, Chinese, Hindi, Turkish and many more languages that I hardly knew existed. The conversations shift toward the Lord effortlessly when I’m in constant communication with the Father, asking for discernment when and how to present His message.
This lofty, and often feared, idea of evangelism isn’t so scary anymore. Evangelism doesn’t have to be standing on a street corner, snagging each passer-by (though I’m sure some of you feel comfortable doing so), but rather seeing people around us as potential friends, and stopping our incredibly busy schedules to smile at, pray over, conversate with an individual. Because whether you know it or not, the Holy Spirit is noticeable to others in those touches.
Time and again, my team and I hear from others that they “want our joy”, they ask why we’re so happy, they ask for understanding. WHAT?! How much more easy could sharing Jesus get!?
So I’m in Month 9 in the BEAUTIFUL country of Turkey; sharing the Gospel had become second nature. My dad used to tell me that in every conversation he’s just tapping his foot in eager expectation to share Jesus. EXPECTATION. Last friday, a couple of my teammates and our host family hopped on a two hour ferry across the Mediterranean Sea to attend a couple house churches, to encourage fellow believers and to equip them to then “go and tell”. (Read my other blog!)
BUT that’s not even the coolest part. Of course, we always pray for English conversations, because well, we speak English.. this woman approached me (before getting on the ferry) when she heard me speaking English and asked with a smile, “what brought you girls to Turkey?” YES. We collectively shared the Gospel and it brought her to tears. Come on, Holy Spirit! Our host gave her reading material about Jesus, we prayed over her and went on our way.
After our two hour ferry, the same woman came off the boat, approached us and invited us to her house. She said she read the entire book given her on the boat and had questions. So we went. It’s being available. It’s remaining faithful to His promptings.
Our night finished with a cup of tea.
