We have received job offers from another country (in order to protect our identity, we’ll call it “Aydun” on the blog – it’s an East Asian country with small Christian and Muslim populations). We will be flying out next week. Although not what we had in mind and not where we had felt God calling us, this opportunity may be able to open doors elsewhere, including Dunya if we decide to try again. We are trying to stay open to God’s working in ways unexpected. Which has been difficult – we’re experiencing a confusing mix of excitement over the new path and disappointment over the loss. We are not sure what to expect, but are praying for opportunities as well as eyes to see them.
A friend who speaks Aydun’s language agreed to teach me a little of the language before we leave. At the beginning of the lesson, I asked him, “So, how do you say, ‘Hello’?”
He replied, “Well, we usually just say ‘Hai’.”
“Hai. Haiiii. Haaaai.” I repeated, practicing the new word and attempting to get the inflection just right.
“Umm… so, it’s ‘Hi’… you know, like English… ‘Hi!’”
I felt pretty stupid. My wife laughed.