I went to Chippington One towers for a service project with a SLAM group from Ohio. Cleaning went well, as did the fellowship and conversations with the residents. It was a slower day because we had about five rooms to clean, so we were able to spend more time with each resident and talk with them. During our break, we went down to the community room and Josie and I found a man there that we got to talk with for 40-45 minutes. He shared with us some things he was going through and some background about him. He has had a challenging life and living situation. His ambition is to be a missionary and minister. He wants to write a book about the Bible and what he has learned about it through his own studies.
I was impacted by the conversation as he shared several hardships he had gone through, yet his one desire has been to serve God. At the end of the conversation, he shared with us that we had answered some things that he had been praying about. He said that he heard God speaking through us in our conversation and he felt overwhelmed with gratitude.
As for it preparing me to serve abroad, it has emphasized for me the importance of having intentional conversations, being vulnerable, and willing to testify to what God has done in your own life. I am excited to have more moments abroad where I can just sit and talk with those we meet and not only hear their stories, but also speak into their moment and their lives. The interaction that Josie and I had reminded me of the story Mr. Garner shared about how God spoke through him to his childhood friend, Kenny. God used Mr. Garners words to even reshape the trajectory of life in which he was going. When God speaks through us, it can be powerful and make an impact on someone else.