Yamilex

Noon here at the Ljubljana airport.  I'm gazing out at the picturesque Slovenian mountains.  My team: Jim and Anne Mills, and Brian and Carla Butler.  We're on our way to the Balkans for an arts camp.

I had a very engaging conversation with my neighbor, Yamilex, on the plane from Brussels. Originally from the Dominican Republic, the sixteen year old moved to Antwerp, Belgium twelve years ago. She is on her way to a stay abroad program here in Slovenia.  We conversed for some time.  "There are a lot of strangers in Antwerp, a lot of Muslims."  "Are you Muslim?" I asked.  No, she was not. She half-heartedly followed her mom's Protestant beliefs. She read her Bible and prayed.  I prayed silently, "Help me Lord!"  I asked her if she knew Jesus personally.  "What do you mean?" she asked quizzically.  I began to outline the Gospel, beginning with the Beginning, to emphasize God's holiness, our death-sentencing sinfulness, and God's beautiful love for us in sending His Son Jesus. "And that is how you can know Jesus personally," I concluded.  I didn't confront her or force her to make an immediate decision. But we continued to talk and discuss different Scriptures. A little smile, a little wave and we were parted, probably to never see each other again.  

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building." 1 Corinthians 3:6

to all you dear family and friends who are praying for me and who gave to make this trip possible--thank you for working alongside me in the field.