Stretched

This summer, I spent six weeks with four other North Americans in Peru. Our main purpose was to encourage the few youth in the upper middle class MB churches in Trujillo and Piura, and to contact other young people in these cities.

We basically spent our summer with people. What other purposes do we have here on earth but to love God and then love others? But for me, conversing with people is one of the hardest things to do. I do not find it easy to make conversation, especially with people I do not know. I had to push myself outside my comfort zone.

During the last week, I was still struggling. On Tuesday, someone suggested I go and chat with Ceci, a friend of ours. I lost it emotionally. Going alone and trying to make a meaningful discussion happen was difficult for me to picture. My teammates encouraged me and prayed for me. One of them volunteered to go with me. As he chatted freely, I translated and began to add little pieces to the conversation as well. We had a good morning together. God began to show me that He can work through my weakness and can use me as I step out in faith.

On Friday, as I talked with another friend in broken Spanish about the Bible study that had just finished, she said that she wanted to have Jesus in her heart. I was blown away--I'm the one who has a hard time making conversation, let alone discussing anything deep. God chooses to show His power through our weaknesses. He chose to use me in ways I would not choose myself. I pray that here in my home country, in my school, my church and my neighbourhood, I will be available to let God work in ways that may not be comfortable for me.

Andrea Weins, St. Catharines, Ont., Orchard Park Bible Church

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