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Collin is a warm-hearted student at a school in Virgina. He loves reaching out to people who need a friend, and God is taking him great places.

We were rushing down a crowded sidewalk to catch a bus, but that didn’t stop me from talking with the missionary I was following.

God had been teaching me a lesson about listening, and I was so excited to share it.

A few years before when I landed in the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, I took my first steps outside North America. I was completely overwhelmed by ALL of the German. I couldn’t take it. I suspect jet lag also had something to do with it, but anyway, I started to shut down my senses, ignoring audible input and relying solely on my eyes. It was the only way I could register anything! This response was totally out of pride. I was so closed off, that English might not have even registered, if someone wanted to speak to me.

Going Beyond Words

Later, I had an opportunity to talk with some English-language students in Central Eurasia, and that really helped me. I spoke to them about their culture, what they like, and even got to talk about some of the problems in their lives. I realized that they were just human beings with the same struggles as everyone else. We got along great. The only real disconnect between us was the language barrier. It was such an encouraging experience for me, because I found a kind of freedom from striving to understand my new friends’ language, and I realized that I cannot cut myself off when nobody speaks my language. On a missions trip, what if there is one person along the road who speaks a little English, and I miss them because they look foreign?

Even in my limited ability to communicate, God can use me if I’m willing to humble myself and be open to those around me.

Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (ESV).

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