Iranians in Diaspora #6: Why We Show Up
Why We Show Up
By Susan Stewart
GRACE Church, Bethlehem, PA
The Outreach Foundation is on a week-long visit with our Persian friends in Europe. The second leg of our visit brings us to Germany where we are spending time with new friends in the Persian-speaking diaspora of Europe. We are here to enjoy their hospitality, listen to their stories, and encourage them.
We have been blessed with calm beginnings to each day as we visited over breakfast at our hotel to prepare for the day’s events. Each evening has afforded us the rich company of our new friends in Christ along with great hospitality. As we head into our second full day in Nuremberg, we have much to still see, learn and experience together.
Our faithful friend Sargez arrived to help transport us back to the Old Town for a guided city tour which begins beside the Haumptmarkt which will soon fill with the world-famous ChristKindlesmarkt. We were met by his daughter Agape, K who is an elder in the church, and Sieghard who loves Sargez and his people. They were eager to share their city with us. We boarded the CityTour bus “mini-train” to be whisked around Old Town pointing out original buildings as well as many that were rebuilt following WWII. The architecture is an amazing mix of old buildings, really old buildings, and newer, more modern structures.
We then wandered our way to the Albrecht Durer House where we were met by more friends, whom we had met the day before. Clearly, the word was out where we were, and all were happy to see one another again. Leading our tour was a character actress of Durer’s widowed wife, who shared her husband’s paintings, stories, and home with us. A truly unique way to tour a museum.
A few final minutes in Old Town were spent enjoying the sights and sounds of the market and a peek inside St. Sebald church. Then we were off to meet up with the rest of Sargez’s family and enjoyed even more Persian food. Opportunities for personal sharing over the evening were rich!
The highlight of the evening was hearing K’s story of how he became a Christian. Remarkably, it was at the encouragement of his manager who was a Muslim! You see, he was very angry about many things. She called him into the office after noticing he was going to a church (they keep up with this sort of activity). She told him, “I know where you are going.” Imagine how his heart sank. Then imagine his surprise when she said, “This is good for you – we all see the difference. Keep going.” He told us, “Jesus healed my angry heart and now I want Jesus to do this among other refugees.” Of course, this decision has cost him in many ways as we have heard from many others. He is now an Elder and teacher at a German Church. Like many we have met, K awaits a positive approval on his application for the ability to seek employment in his new country.
So, after reading through this it would be easy to wonder “how was this mission?” Today was not only a beautiful warm day to sightsee; it was a time to grow in our own faith as we engaged through relationship with our Iranian Diaspora friends. The Outreach Foundation provides this opportunity to show up. We relax with new friends, talk over chai, pray as the Spirit directs, and enjoy what they enjoy. As Jesus did, we come with open hands rather than hands filled with tools and tasks to do. This puts our focus on listening, understanding, and embracing – the beginnings of solid friendship.
