Worldly Holiness

Oliver & Austin, originally uploaded by papalars.

I'd like to introduce you over the next few days to some of our new friends here in Barcelona. You will notice they are in large part, people like us. "Like the Larsens," you ask? How do these guys in the photo resemble us? They are immigrants, foreigners in a strange land. That would be us too.

Interestingly enough, though we are from the other side of the world, Oliver and Austin are becoming our friends. They are from a region in Pakistan close to the Afghanistan border. I met Austin, the older guy, in church several months ago. I told a story on my blog back in October I believe about Austin. He is the guy that was sitting right behind me when I arrived late for worship one Sunday, and had to go way up front to one of the last seats available. I was frustrated that day, wondering if I would make any friends or headway in our ministry. You know, one of those mopey days that come to many of us. I was praying just before communion, “Lord, help me take the next step. I don’t know which way to turn or what I should do?” I turned around after the service to make my way to the exit and introduced myself to Austin. He spoke very little Spanish or English. We shared enough vocabulary to communicate and exchange phone numbers and eventually got together for a coffee with Oliver, the younger gentleman in the photo.

One thing led to another and we now keep in touch fairly often. We had them over for coffee on Saturday. In early December, I was able to invite them to a meeting for immigrants hosted by a group of churches in the region. We shared a meal together, worshiped and had an extended period of getting to know each other. There were pastors, immigrants from about 10 different countries and missionaries working among immigrants at this event. We spent a wonderful afternoon together, basking in one another's company and the fellowship of the Lord. One of my other friends, Miguel Juez, a friend from Argentina [I will tell more about Miguel in another post], hosted that event. He works with the special committee of the evangelical churches that is tasked with identifying immigrant communities and ways the church in Barcelona can serve them. So, as God shows his faithfulness once again, I am reminded that he is truly with us. Miguel has asked me to research the situation with Pakistani immigrants in this area more extensively with Austin, Oliver and some other friends Miguel is pulling together for a ad hoc ministry exploration team.

A little more about Austin and Oliver. These guys are Christian brothers and live here in Barcelona without their families. Austin has been separated from his 4 children and wife for about 6 years as he came to find work and better opportunities for his family. He presently works from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm 6 days a week at a restaurant in town. For this he earns about €350.00 a month. If you do the calculations, it is rather bleak. He has a wonderful attitude in spite of this and every time I speak with him he is grateful for the work and opportunity to provide something for his family. He does look forward to better times but his attitude puts me to shame. Austin has a vision to reach the other Pakistani immigrants in the region and Oliver is part of that vision as well. Miguel came into the picture and wants to get behind that vision, marshaling any resources we can muster from the network of churches here in Barcelona. There is a vision to have a radio ministry in Urdu that can also reach our focus friends in the region. So, all of this is what we call networking. It is also about following the Lord and trusting he will guide. I have had the opportunity to play a part in the jigsaw puzzle, the emerging work of the Lord, and I’m blown away how God continues to use a guy who has mopey days now and then. Praise Him!

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