The stories that God is writing in the lives of international students do not end when they board a plane to return to their countries of origin.
Over the last 18 months or so, one of our Spectrum team members, T, joined an excellent World Missions Apprenticeship program with a great church in London, UK. Recently, she took the opportunity to hop over to Spain to visit one of the students, M, who was with Spectrum a few years ago.
When we first met M, she had a pretty secular mindset, but told us that her grandmother was Catholic. T followed up with her and they stuck up a fast friendship. When she returned to Spain, the thanked us for reminding her of what she “used to believe” and for showing her “the way of Jesus”. After she returned to Spain, T remained in contact with her through emails and Skype. They even started a Bible study using a series called Christianity Explored.
What follows is an email from T about her visit with M. Names have been changed for privacy.
“Thanks all for praying! M really wanted to show me the cathedrals around her city so it actually became a natural conversation starter. She actually brought up the topic of transubstantiation (communion wafer becoming Jesus’ body and the wine becoming his blood) on her own so that led to some good conversation. She also introduced me to some of her Catholic friends who are much stronger Catholics than she is and I got to have some interesting conversations with them as well, though I don’t think I changed their opinions about anything.
I was reminded that when M first came [to America], she was pretty much your typical secular Spaniard, but through her interactions with us, she became more interested in community and religion, so when she returned to Spain, she purposely sought out Catholic friends and community (her family is already Catholic). She told me that in her life before Spectrum, she hadn’t had Catholic friends, but now a good majority of her friends are Catholics.
The things I told M about what it says in Hebrews about Jesus’ sacrifice being once-for-all, and about how we are free because Christ’s work at the cross was finished, and explaining how the torn curtain showed that the way was open, was pretty much new information to her, though she still seems to prefer the Catholic way of needing a priest and having to do penitence and service, etc. Anyway, in the end she said that she will read Hebrews in her bilingual Bible and let me know what she thinks.
M wanted to let you guys know that she misses you all! She also gave me a Spanish cookbook that is a gift for Spectrum. Her mom also sends her regards and said she was very happy that M had met us. She (M’s mom) said that when M was in LA she was very lonely before she met us, but then she (her mom) saw that M was much happier once she met us and she was grateful for how we took care of M. Her mom was really pleased that I was in Valencia with the express purpose of visiting her daughter.
Anyway, just wanted to send an update. Thanks again!”
The stories do not end when the students board a plane. Please pray that God would continue to work in M’s heart and life. She is on a good trajectory. Pray that she will encounter Jesus as she progresses on her journey. We do not know what lies ahead for M, but of these things we are sure: God knows those that are His, He is God over all the nations, and He will bring all His children Home.
Local Nations 