Lovin' Europe

God first began to give me a passion for Europe when I lived in England. I was at Bible School for 6 months, you see. One time three of my classmates and I had an opportunity to share about Christianity in a Religious Education class for kids around 13-14 years old. I remember one of the questions they asked us was why we came to England just to learn more about God. The idea boggled them, and it was a loaded question. We all could tell what questions they were really asking.

"Did your parents make you come?"

"What could possibly be so important about God that you travelled all this way to learn more about Him?"

"Only old people care about religion, what's wrong with you?"


"Who is this Jesus guy anyways?" 

I looked into their eyes and saw that their hearts were so open. I knew that they had no clue who my Jesus really is, but it was evident that they were at least a little bit curious about Him.

We spent about an hour in that classroom, answering random questions about where we came from and why we became Christians. I fell in love with them, just seeing the honest curiosity and desire to hear more. I wanted to sit down with every single one of them and hear their stories and learn their passions and share their struggles and give them the Hope that got me through it all.

We left that classroom that day and I never saw a single one of them again. I still think about it, and it still kind of haunts me.

But God reached my heart for Europe through those students in a way I never thought possible. It was because of them I realized that almost everyone in Europe thinks church is only for old and foolish people. Thanks to them, I have a better idea of how very few actually hear about the only Way for true life in Europe. Because of them, God was able to tug at my heart and commission me for France. For that I'll forever be grateful.

I hope I can meet some of them again someday. I don't know any of their names, and I definitely wouldn't be able to recognize them. But they made a lasting impression.

France is in a very similar religious state as England. Very few actually hear the gospel. That's why I'm going. If I can pour my heart out to just one young woman in France and she comes to know Jesus as a result, it would be so worth it. I want to cry just thinking about it.

Don't judge our coolness. I know it might be too much for you.