The nations are among us!

Today Emily and I walked over to Lavenya's apartment. When she opened the door, she was so excited to see us. We sat down, she got us a drink of water, and we immediately started talking and asking questions. It was so much fun! We talked for about two hours! Lavenya told us so much about her culture, her country, and her family. She explained that many of the families have moved to Meadowood (our apartment complex) because there is a strong Indian community. Many of them are here on short-term work permits, and will be returning back to India within one to three years (unless they get green cards).

We talked some more, and then we watched the DVD of Lavenya's wedding. The ceremony was three days long, and the video was techno and abstract. It was like a pop-music video mixed with fruity pebbles. It was really good to watch that and understand her culture a little bit better. As she pointed out her family members in the video, she told us that she is going back to India next summer for three months to visit them. Then she invited us to come with her to meet them! Heck Yes! I am so there!


Then we had to leave because I had to go to work and we also wanted to say goodbye to our roomate Sandi who just moved back home. As we were walking home, giddy with excitement, we started processing what had just happened. First of all, we had so much fun hanging out with our new friend! She really enjoyed the company as well.

Then we started realizing how big this story really is. It all started last semester when we prayed for opportunities to reach our neighbors with the Gospel. We tried several times to interact with our neighbors, but we never really got anywhere. Emily started going down to say hi to the neighbors below us, and then we started going in groups (so as to not be overwhelming), but it seemed like we were shooting at the dust.

Then God started growing things in our hearts. Emily really had a burden for the Indian family below us, and I was so certain that God was calling us into coorporate prayer. By the grace of God, we joined together and started praying for these neighbors of ours.

For seven months we have been praying for our neighbors, and this weekend, God opened the floodgates of heaven and started doing crazy things. The birthday party, now we are planning on meeting with Lavenya often, and the crazyiest thing is that we are not doing anything! He has already established a community of Indian people here; it is like a Church waiting to happen. We were faithful to pray and knock on some doors and be awkward and introduce ourselves a few times, and He is doing all of the growth! I am so grateful that I get to be a part of this!

We are starting to realize the urgency of the Gospel with our new friends. We only have so long before they go home to India....but that is good news. If they become Christians here, and then go back home to India, what an opportunity this will be for the Gospel to be spread to the ends of the earth!



If I can leave you with one thing, it is this: GOD IS FAITHFUL. He is faithful. Seven months. And we only just now realized it. Trust Him. He will see it through.