Refugee Stories From Southern Europe

[00:00:00] Eileen: I think for me, what it is, is it makes the gospel more real and tangible when I see what they’re willing to give up. We’re in some ways just growing up in it where it was just so normalized and seeing their willingness and what they’re willing to give up for it. It’s like, yeah, okay. This is why, this is why we do this. This is why we go to crazy places to see this kind of faith lived out and persevered.

[00:00:29] Matt: This is the Relentless Pursuit Podcast, where we hear stories from cross cultural workers on what it’s really like to be a missionary. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

[00:00:39] Jess: I think we’ve interviewed a lot of people who’ve talked about relationship building and taking your time and really investing in the people and the culture and all these things when you become a missionary, right? But imagine if you only had two years. To develop a relationship, build trust, share the gospel, disciple someone, and then imagine that two years struck down to like six months or even less, right? I mean, imagine what that would do to your ministry. And that’s the story we’re going to hear today.

[00:01:11] Matt: Yeah. In this episode, we’re going to talk to Eileen and she and her family lived in a country in Central Asia for about eight years serving and ministering there, and then left and ended up in a country in Southern Europe where those people that are refugees from their former host country are now coming and then going to other parts of the world to resettle. And so we’re just going to talk to her about what her ministry looks like now, what the opportunities are that she’s encountering, what it’s like to serve people that are in this type of a situation.

[00:01:44] Eileen: We’re in a transitional country. So not a destination country. So it’s a lot of trauma that they’ve gone through or going through as they try to get adjusted here. And we’re teaching English and partnering with some close cultural. Refugees who are in ministry with them and those that have been here for a few years, helping to develop them in their leadership and spiritual teaching. And yeah, just, Just being there, journeying with them through this refugee experience.

[00:02:22] Jess: So, can you just to give us a little bit more context, they’re refugees, they’re transitional, so you said that this is not a target country, kind of explain a little bit more of like what kind of situations they’re coming from, how long they are in Southern Europe for before they get moved or do they like willingly find a new place? Like, how does all that work? Maybe just give us a little bit of a picture of what that might look like.

[00:02:46] Eileen: It has changed a lot the last nine years since we’ve been here. When we first arrived, we saw some being here, stuck here for two years. But two years or more and then beautifully seeing some come to faith and feeling called to stay here in their refugee journey and joining ministries and serving in ministries.

[00:03:11] Now the government where we live has become much more organized. And so it’s three to five months. Oh, it’s short. It’s very short. Very short. Yeah. And so everybody here on the ground has had to really be flexible and change their mode of ministry and their strategy. And yeah, that’s been a challenge and a lot of just yeah, on our knees, seeking the Lord for direction.

[00:03:39] Jess: Yeah. Has that been kind of like a gradual change? Like it went from like two years to like 16 months to, or is it kind of just seems like sort of over like the course of a year, like really kind of shortened down like that.

[00:03:49] Eileen: It was kind of fast. We were, it was like the beginning of one year we’re like, Whoa, the government got really organized.

[00:03:57] And on one side, you know, it’s like, wow, that’s impressive. Well done. Yeah. But then on the other side, it’s like, okay, now we need to change how we do things.

[00:04:06] Jess: Right. I mean, how, like, how did you guys work that? I can imagine that’s such an abrupt transition going from working with someone for potentially up to two years to all of a sudden you have less than six months with them. That’s, that’s pretty drastic.

[00:04:21] Eileen: I think that some of my friends and coworkers, they started going out of the city a lot more to the camps that the government had set up. And then we kept a contingency in the city that was still able to be there at the refugee centers that were established and had been there for a number of years.

[00:04:43] And so a lot of networking, learning from each other, what’s working, what’s not working. which camps are open, which aren’t. And it’s always been a beautiful picture of the unity of the body of Christ. Because even when it was like, they were here for two years, the refugees would rotate ministry centers.

[00:05:03] And so nobody could claim, Oh, this is, you You know, this is because of my work that I have all this fruit because the refugees were going to everybody and hearing the same beautiful message and seeing the love of Christ, especially so many I have heard came to faith, especially the men because they saw educated Western men cleaning toilets.

[00:05:27] So, I mean, over and over again, I heard this. I’m like, I couldn’t believe so. And so the director of this ministry was washing the toilets. And that’s what opened me up to Christ because nobody would ever do that in my country. And of that level of respect. And so I always like to encourage people, if you want to see fruit, you need to be cleaning toilets.

[00:05:51] Jess: That’s so good. So practical. Listen well, all of our listeners.

[00:05:53] Matt: Yeah. Well, it’s interesting too, that it wasn’t as though it was shameful. I mean, maybe at first they thought it was shameful to observe that, but then there’s something that they saw that was attractive about that. It just blew their minds.

[00:06:05] Eileen: Yeah. Just, and just the, you know, like in in the States, at least we have that song. They will know we are Christians because of our love and, you know, from the eighties. And it’s been such a stark thing for these refugees to come from these Muslim countries. And then by the grace of God, they hit the Southern European country that is filled with more Christian faith and people serving out of that faith.

[00:06:35] And they’re just so overwhelmed with the love that they see just in so many areas. And they tell me like, Oh, I was so drawn to the story because of the love. It’s so different from anything I ever saw before. And I’m like, Oh my goodness, it’s working. It’s Jesus love is really working in their hearts.

[00:06:55] It’s not some static thing or something they just read about. And, you know, but sometimes it’s hard for them because then they see refugees come to faith and they’re baby Christians. And so they’re judging what they learn by these baby Christians. And we’re like, no, no, no. You need to be looking at the Bible, looking at Jesus.

[00:07:18] Don’t be don’t be looking at all of us because we’re making mistakes and especially, you know, these ones that are new believers

[00:07:25] Matt: So before you arrived in the country that you’re serving right now You are working in another part of the world where some of these refugees are coming from. So that’s gotta be different to observe the ways in which they may have responded or not responded to the gospel and to the way you were presenting it there.

[00:07:45] And now in a different context, they’re in a different place in their lives. And then also, of course, you’re in a different place in your, your life. So what are some of the differences that you’ve observed in, in some of the new Either challenges or opportunities that you’ve seen in working in a different location.

[00:08:02] Eileen: Yeah. In that other country where our family served, there was a lot of pressure to be careful for those people’s security and also the other ministries in the city. And so just really needing to make sure that people’s interest wasn’t a setup. to get us in trouble. And so it was quite yeah, just a culture shock in some ways to come to this country and to be totally free to say whatever.

[00:08:39] I didn’t have to wait. In fact, like our, my initial mentor was like, okay, whenever you’re teaching the Bible, you need to go right to Jesus and right to salvation because we don’t know how long these refugees are going to be here. I’m like, No, we need to take our time. We need to, you know, build a solid Old Testament foundation, slowly building to Christ.

[00:09:00] No, no, no, no. You need to, even if it’s an Old Testament story, you need to get right to Jesus. And I think one of the beautiful things too, for me is just this shared. Voicing of there’s no fear guys, you know, like, okay, we don’t have to worry about the government in this situation and just highlighting that when I’m sitting around with different refugees and just, we don’t have to worry about, you know, the neighbors seeing us that we can be free in these rooms.

[00:09:35] Jess: Mean, that’s one thing for, for you to like feel a little bit like, Oh my goodness, this is different than what I’m used to. But for people who’ve lived that way for probably their entire life for generations, maybe even, right. I mean, that must be such an important thing to continually remind them of that they are free to think and say, and believe what they want to.

[00:09:53] Eileen: Yeah. And it’s a journey for them. And oftentimes they’ll say, okay, exactly what you said. I’ve believed this one way my whole life to suddenly change. I can’t, I can’t do that so quickly. And we’re like, of course not. No, this is a process and you know, God’s gonna work with you on it. It’s nobody’s pressuring you. But yeah, and they still have fear because they’re still in relationship with their family members. And so, they are sometimes worried about that depending on how closely connected they are with them.

[00:10:27] Matt: So even if the government is not there to crack down on their religious practice, they are still in danger of being ostracized or persecuted by family members or even, you know, cut off, I guess, in, in those relationships.

[00:10:41] Eileen: Yeah. Unfortunately, many have shared with me, I’m not in relationship anymore with them. this relative, with this one, this, they’re not talking to me because of their faith. And, but they carry on and, you know, I can’t relate at that level, but the persecution is real. And they just hold on to those passages where Jesus promises, this is what’s going to happen. But that they have that other family with the body of Christ. And, you know, It’s beautiful to see.

[00:11:16] Jess: How do you wrestle with the fact that you don’t have, at least you personally, like you mentioned, don’t have a whole lot of experience with that kind of persecution personally, right? And now you’re sharing something, you’re sharing the gospel with people with the understanding that they probably will face that persecution, right?

[00:11:36] And it’s one thing if you’d gone through it for yourself, right? But if you haven’t gone through it, right? I mean, how do you kind of wrestle with that as you’re? Trying to help people understand what the gospel is.

[00:11:47] Eileen: Yeah, Jess, I mean, you hit that just perfectly. It is a wrestling. For, you know, 21 years, God, why did you send this foreigner to this place where I can just, you know, leave or whatever? I don’t deal with it. And I just have to leave that in the hands of the Lord for some strange reason. He’s called me to this people group that I love. I will always be an outsider and I can’t relate at that heart level, but he wants to use me for some reason. And I’ve learned so much from them. I think. I think for me, what it is, is it makes the gospel more real and tangible when I see what they’re willing to give up and more precious where in some ways just growing up in it where it was just so normalized and seeing their willingness and what they’re willing to give up for it.

[00:12:44] It’s like, yeah, okay. This is. This is why, this is why we do this. This is why we go to crazy places to see this kind of faith lived out and persevered. And they’re just inspiring to me. So for me, a lot of times it’s just a privilege. I find myself being like, wow, this is amazing that I get to be in this environment with these people.

[00:13:08] Matt: Yeah, that’s amazing. Are there any specific stories that kind of pop out in your mind or people that you’ve encountered that. You wish that our listeners could meet?

[00:13:20] Eileen: Yes. There is a pastor here from the country that I used to serve in. And every time he talks to other believers, I’ve been in groups with him where he’s Talking to different believers.

[00:13:35] I feel like I’m in the presence of like a king from the Lord of the Rings, like the dwarf king. And just how he just is so inspiring. And this guy has only been a believer for like 10 years, but the anointing that God has put upon him, the crucible that, that God has brought him through. I mean, he’s just so inspiring.

[00:13:57] One time I heard a Westerner say to him, You are my pastor. And it’s just beautiful to see how God used his religious background as this. He was like a a Mula, like an Imam, this mystic seeker. He would go out into the desert where he used to live just to have the spiritual experience. And then to see God transform that, like he used to say before he became a believer that he like wanted to have like this holy, Jihad upon Christians and to, to undo everything they did trying to bring people to faith. And now he’s just this leading pastor, just international has international impact.

[00:14:41] Jess: Wow. So did he become a believer after having arrived as a refugee in Southern Europe? Yes. Wow. Yeah. And his whole family. Was it through one of your, all of his ministries or the work of like one of your partners?

[00:14:53] Eileen: Yeah. It was through the, one of the summer camp outreach ministries that he went there specifically to convince everybody not to accept anything that they were saying. Classic. Yeah. And that’s where just God got ahold of him. And he continued to come there year after year, just Now sharing his faith and his family members got baptized there. It’s just beautiful.

[00:15:21] Matt: Now, is he staying there in where you’re at or has he moved on to another part of Europe?

[00:15:26] Eileen: This year he just moved on. Yeah. Because of how fast everybody’s moving through here. What we see in the destination countries is a lot of people struggle. They just get caught up in the grind of having to learn language, get a job, and they’re not as connected to their community. And so he’s going there to, he and his family are going there to shepherd. Those ones that feel so alone. That’s awesome.

[00:15:54] Jess: Yeah. You mentioned he became a believer at a summer camp. Tell me, is it all right if you tell us a little bit more about what that is? Is that happening like at the refugee camps or is that something completely separate?

[00:16:04] Eileen: Yeah. It’s something totally different that for, Maybe about 13, 14 years the ministries where we live partner together and there’s this off the grid location where they bring the refugees to and it feels like you’ve gone to like some island in the middle of nowhere. It’s just, you can only go there by Walking on a trail, this rocky trail, or taking a boat in, like there’s no road access.

[00:16:34] And so the refugees kind of, we all kind of feel like we’re stuck there, but we’re there living together for five days. And just lots of gospel messages and just having fun together. Like a lot of these refugees have not actually had a lot of fun and a lot of them have had trauma because of their journey there with the water.

[00:16:59] And so they get swimming lessons with life jackets on and. We put them on paddle boards and they’re like, this is the first time I’ve actually been able to be back on the water without fear and, or to be on a boat and yeah, just living life together and just learning about Jesus. It’s a a precious and intense time because this culture does, does community like on steroids.

[00:17:24] So for the introverts, it’s like, It’s so hard. They like want to run away, but it’s always special. Something that our family looks forward to participating in every year.

[00:17:36] Jess: So it’s basically like a, like a summer Bible camp, almost, like almost kind of what you would expect from like your church day, Sunday school and stuff like that, but for adults and families.

[00:17:45] Eileen: Totally. There’s rock climbing, archery. Yeah. And it’s super, super fun. And the swimming. What a blast. And we have it for, just for women one week, just for men one week, and then we have it for families. So, yeah, we, then we have the kids programs and the adult programs.

[00:18:04] Matt: So have you encountered anyone that you remember or that you already knew from the previous place where you served that has now left the country?

[00:18:14] Eileen: Yeah, crazy enough several times, especially in the beginning when we first moved here. Both my husband and I when we were at their initial landing point. We were just helping, you know, just handing out blankets or whatever. And we would hear people like call out our names amongst, you know, hundreds of people, they’d see us cause obviously we’d stand out.

[00:18:35] And so it’s just so special to have that connection and just to see God kind of connect the dots of Yeah, re, redeem and use that time that we had in the other country.

[00:18:49] Jess: Can I ask a little bit about why southern Europe? Right? I mean, obviously you’re from the U. S., right? And then when you left the country in Central Asia, right? I mean, I’ve heard I feel like most people would assume, oh, I guess the next step is for you to come home. And, you know, obviously there are ways to do international ministry here in the U. S., right? But y’all chose to do Southern Europe instead, right? So could you walk us through a little bit of how the Lord led you in that way?

[00:19:14] Eileen: Yeah, a lot of it was my husband’s vision for how he wanted to raise our kids outside of our home culture, but to continue serving amongst this people group. So we just started looking where we could find a continuation and language learning is hard for my husband. So that was also a factor of seeing where, where in the world it would be.

[00:19:41] An easier landing for him with that consideration. And so we had some different friends that we talked to and checked out some different places and yeah, super grateful to get to be here.

[00:19:53] Jess: That’s kind of interesting what you said about you kind of had a specific goal of the environment you wanted to raise your kids in, right? I don’t think we’ve heard too many other workers share about that being kind of one of the deciding factors in where they chose their location, but could you kind of elaborate on that a little bit?

[00:20:09] Eileen: Yeah for us, When we started out in this adventure that God set before us, both of us were very passionate that God first, children, and then ministry.

[00:20:22] And so when we set out originally, we said, okay, this country’s really intense where we’re going to. And we see for the health of our kids that we should only be here until our daughter is a teenager. Because it would be really hard for her and God honored that and allowed for that. And so then.

[00:20:46] Because so much was on our heart about our kids, we wanted to see where they could thrive in the next location. And this location has very much been that. And they’re a part of our ministry by the grace of God. They go to those camps that I mentioned earlier, and they serve. And we give them responsibilities that like in the States they’d never be qualified to do, but we’re like, hey, we need help.

[00:21:14] Here you go. And they, they jump in and so grateful for all they’ve gotten to learn. Our oldest is married now, married somebody from the Southern European country and we get to serve together with them as a couple. So that is just a sweet gift from the Lord. Sometimes we probably drive each other crazy.

[00:21:36] I know we do, but it’s just a, lovely thing to see God just circle her back to her roots and just to, to use that and yeah, in precious ways.

[00:21:52] Matt: What are some of the challenges that, that people face? I realize there’s the, you know, just the logistics of, of what refugees faced physically, and many of them don’t even make it because of drowning in boats or being You know, abducted and trafficked or being just not allowed to come into what other country they’re, they’re going through.

[00:22:16] But what are some of the things that you’ve just consistently observed that people are facing and what they’re, what they’re continuing to deal with from a trauma standpoint in their lives, having gone through that process?

[00:22:29] Eileen: Yeah, I think I mean, I deal a lot with the women and a lot of them Have taken the, you know, this opportunity with the that the refugees have to escape abusive marriages.

[00:22:45] And I see a lot of them as a, as a teacher, I see a lot of them saying, you know, I can’t concentrate right now because of my head injuries because of the abuse I’ve gone through. Or I can’t concentrate because of the stress. Of what I’m dealing with because my husband here in Europe is in prison or he’s addicted.

[00:23:12] He was an addict in these other countries and he’s continuing this. And so once they get asylum in this country, then they’re on their own. And if they have not. Saved money from the provisions that the government gave them. It’s scrambling time. And sometimes they’re looking for loans from family members or different things.

[00:23:39] And so they’re really impoverished and they go to these ministry centers for just the next meal and they get. You know, whatever extra meals they have. And I see these precious women just wrapping up extra fruit and cookies and putting it in their purses to feed their families. And so that’s, that’s intense.

[00:24:04] And so these ministries are just so critical to these refugees until, you know, they get their feet on their ground and they decide to stay here or they get stuck here or they go to the next country.

[00:24:18] Jess: So you guys provide. You know, food and some physical needs, right? I’m guessing maybe there’s some like language kind of training that happens along with obviously sharing the gospel. What else kind of stuff does the ministry, do these ministry centers do?

[00:24:35] Eileen: Those are the primary ones, you know, just meeting those basic needs. There’s some that offer showers or laundry services. Or a lot of them clothing, baby supplies. So yeah, it’s kind of copy paste, repeat, you know, a lot of them do similar things or just aspects of those. Just so, cause they really can’t listen to the messages we have to share if we’re not meeting those basic needs, right?

[00:25:06] Jess: Yeah, and I think what you said earlier too about like, obviously they’re in such survivor mode when they land, especially, especially for those who haven’t figured out like, you know, where am I going to get money and what am I going to do next?

[00:25:18] And so, I mean, even ministries on top of that, like your summer camp where they can have fun for the first time, go on the water for the first time. I mean, I can only imagine how. impactful that must be on them, impactful for your team just to like be a part of that. Yeah. How do you stay grounded in the midst of what seems honestly from an outsider view, a little bit chaotic.

[00:25:42] Eileen: It’s funny how it becomes normalized, right? Like you’re just Or I told somebody the other day, I’m really comfortable with organized chaos. And, and just, yeah, I think there’s just a balance. The Lord provides seasons of. You know, chunks of needing to do administrative work. And so I’m not in it like 24 seven, it’s kind of an ebb and flow and different times with homeschooling kids that kept me more at home, built up my energy, and then I could go out and pour into these people.

[00:26:17] And so I see that also with my coworkers is there’s a, there’s a healthy balance. And because we’re in Southern Europe, it’s, It’s a beautiful location where we can just be restored by nature as well, just to kind of catch our breath and have Sabbath when we you know, on a disciplined weekly basis.

[00:26:39] Matt: I would imagine there’s, there’s also a sense of uncertainty as people come through, you serve them, you minister to them. And then they go away into another country, and you don’t really always know, probably, what the outcome is. Maybe you had an opportunity to sow some spiritual seeds, but you don’t know whether those are going to take root in the country that they’re going to.

[00:27:00] Or maybe even you, you know, you reached a point where someone made a profession of faith, and was growing in their faith, and all of a sudden they’re gone. And then you have to just kind of give them up. to the Lord, because you can’t disciple them anymore, your ability to connect with them might be limited due to technology or you just don’t know where they’re at.

[00:27:18] So what is that like, to, you know, this is not like you’re working in a place where you’re, you’re planting a church in a, in a community where there are people that have been born there and will most likely live and die there. This is very different. I’m sure it brings a whole new level of uncertainty.

[00:27:34] Eileen: Yeah, it’s been a learning process for all of us. There’s a lot of networks in their destination countries and we’re connected with them. And so we try to get people to, Connect with those believers or those churches in those other cities and, you know, just depending on how much they want to stay connected, but there’s so many different training programs that are done virtually to continue that depth of faith if they want it.

[00:28:07] And so they’re able to participate in that. And that’s one of the programs I’m involved in is yeah, training. Those believers that want to grow more and want to go into ministry. And so, yeah, a lot of times they’re just so attracted to it because of the community that they can find in these online trainings that they missed in this Southern European country that they had before because of all the ministry centers that we served together with.

[00:28:36] And they go to these destination countries and they’re thrown out in the middle of nowhere. And just, they, they love the community. They have, even if it’s online, they just love it. They don’t see that as a barrier and COVID was the best thing to train even illiterate women. And how to get online and to be a part of these meetings.

[00:28:57] I’ve had so many illiterate women just join with Bible studies and everything, but they can’t, they can’t read or write at all because of the lack of opportunities, but they know how to get on zoom. So it’s really beautiful. It’s so beautiful. I love it.

[00:29:15] Matt: So, if they can’t read and write, is a lot of this kind of built around oral stories from scripture that you’re, you’re kind of going over in like a discovery Bible study type of a context?

[00:29:26] Eileen: Yeah. Yeah. A lot of it is exactly. Discovery Bible studies and just getting deep into the stories and I, I love just how it really connects and resonates with them.

[00:29:41] Matt: Well, I had a question about people that might be considering going into this type of ministry, going to a part of the world where a lot of refugees are coming.

[00:29:52] And I’m wondering, what are the types of skills or giftings or passions you feel like, you know, and I realize anybody could come and serve, I’m sure, but there are probably some skill sets that if you were recruiting someone for your team, you would love to have if the Lord was prompting them in this area.

[00:30:14] Eileen: Yeah, for sure. I think that if you have the opportunity to go to their countries, or if you have been in some of these refugees, countries, that helps so much just to connect with their their hearts at a deep level.

[00:30:33] Matt: And then if you have something in common with them, maybe exactly from their home country?

[00:30:39] Eileen: Or their, you know, their dominant faith, that is a huge thing is to really study up on that as if. You’re going to their destination country. I mean, excuse me, if you were, you were, you were going to the country of their origin is what I mean by that. Just to understand their worldview. I think a lot of times people come to. Southern Europe and because it’s an easy access country. They haven’t done as much work to prepare as they would if they had to go to a creative access country.

[00:31:15] And so, yeah, like I know for our team, we’ve actually seen the importance of knowing some of these refugee languages. before coming. And so we have made that a requirement that you have studied or at least begun some of your studies just so you can really connect at the heart level. And I mean, of course other, any third world country, you need to have a flexibility, but I think you need to have flexibility and then some with refugees just because of how fast the ministry scene is changing and how fast they move.

[00:31:51] And you just have to have that perspective of working quick and deep and yeah, just being willing to emotionally let go in some ways, but still journey with them virtually.

[00:32:06] Matt: Yeah. But I would imagine there’s also a similar openness on the part of people who are refugees because of the pandemic.

[00:32:15] Their fact that they’re in transition, that maybe it doesn’t take as long to get as deep in relationship as it would if they were in their home country. I’m just speculating, but I’m wondering if that’s, if that opens up new doors for people because they’re in a position of vulnerability and transition.

[00:32:31] Eileen: For sure. For sure. But I think also these refugee countries that are coming here are so warm anyways. That it’s just, you know, heart to heart connection super fast because that’s just their nature. They’re just wired that way. And they just invite us into that space. So whereas in their country, they would have been inviting us into their home and having tea and it would have been on their turf.

[00:32:58] And now it’s just like, okay, we’re just making this table like by home. And here’s my story. And so, yeah, but as far as like, Connecting with yeah. Things of the Lord. It is a lot faster in this country because there’s this rawness of surviving that they have to go through that as soon as they get to their destination country, they just get sucked into life.

[00:33:24] And so I’ve heard a number of times from different people that this is just a very special situation, but again, it’s changed. Yeah. So, sometimes it was just a period of time that we got to see.

[00:33:37] Jess: Yeah, it kind of reminds me of that like phrase, like, you know, this too shall pass, right? That kind of ecclesiastes. There is a time for, you know, refugees, there’s a time for two, three months, you know, times with others. And it’s sort of, yeah. Really cool though, to see that this is obviously when you were picturing living in Southern Europe and working amongst refugees, I’m guessing that this is not what you imagined and expected life to look like, but you are very much kind of rolling with the punches as they are now.

[00:34:08] Right. And I can kind of see how this is just one phase and the Lord is going to probably change something sometime in the future. And you’re going to kind of have to shift again at that time. But that’s just sort of all part of, part of that. calling in that life that you guys are living in, in Southern Europe.

[00:34:24] Eileen: Yes. Yeah. A lot of just holding it open and just like, okay, Lord, you created us, you know, best how you want to use us. And I used to have agendas. Okay, Lord, use me this way. I want to be this involved in this ministry, da, da, da, da, da, da. And now it’s like, eh, you know what’s best, Lord.

[00:34:42] Matt: That’s good. One thing we like to do, Eileen, is ask if there’s anything as we kind of wind to a close here, if there’s anything you’ve been reading or listening to or watching that’s been inspiring to you or challenging to you.

[00:34:56] It could be something related to your work or it could be something related to your spiritual life or something entertaining or informative that we can share with our readers or our listeners.

[00:35:07] Eileen: Yeah, oddly enough, I am reading the book called Alaska by James Michener. And he goes into the history of reaching out to the, the people, the indigenous people.

[00:35:20] Inuit? Yeah, but not just Inuit, like he goes into all the different, Does specific Indian people there and just reflecting on the outreach that they had like in the 1700s and thinking about how we do things now and just some of the beautiful love and the passion that the priest had for the Indians that at least in the portion that I’m in right now, I mean, they’re, he’s highlighting some of the bad things too that was done, but it was, you know, It’s just interesting just to reflect historically how we’ve changed and how like so much of what our ministry now is so much more of empowering the locals and journeying with them.

[00:36:09] But with that being the end goal, not that we would be like the savior or be all and end all and just. Thinking of just how the Lord has brought us to that place of, you know, just a posture of humility. So James Mishner, not a believer, but his book is good to reflect on the history of how far we’ve come in just reaching out and just how some things continue of just, you know, he talks about orphanages and meeting those basic needs. That carries on today to show the love of Christ.

[00:36:44] Jess: So many encouraging stories from Eileen today, but I have to be honest and say that one of the things that’s going to stick in my mind the most is just this idea that you can be sort of proclaiming the gospel through your actions, even when you’re cleaning toilets.

[00:36:58] Right. So that is such just a humble reminder of how the Lord can, you know, Use us into so many different kinds of circumstances, regardless of how ideal or not ideal the situation may be. So we really loved hearing those stories from Eileen. We’ve got one more additional one linked in the show notes below.

[00:37:15] So if you want to hear a bonus story of just some more of the things that were happening on at these summer camps that Eileen and her team were leading. Please check that out.

[00:37:24] Matt: Yeah. And also, we have a link to our book, Items May Have Shifted, which tells a story of missionaries like Eileen and her family who were forced for one reason or another to leave the country where they were serving and how God allowed them to be fruitful in a new location.

[00:37:41] So we like to use that book because it helps people, I think, manage their expectations. for maybe the place that they think God’s going to have them for the rest of their life might not end up being the place that he does want them to be and that they can still make an impact for the kingdom. Also we’re going to have a link to our Edge Trips.

[00:37:58] Edge is another way in which for a short term, you can have a big impact among the unreached. And we have trips coming up in the summer this coming summer, actually, that we to several parts of the world where you can be serving refugees, you can be working on an organic farm you can be on a tech team, all sorts of cool opportunities.

[00:38:19] And also there’s more content on our website that we’ll link to about refugee ministry opportunities in France, in the UK some of the stories that are being told in those parts of the world.

[00:38:31] Jess: Thanks for following us on this episode of the Relentless Pursuit Podcast. Our goal is to make missions accessible to show that it’s not just reserved for elites.

[00:38:39] If you want to be involved, just go to pioneers. org slash start and answer a few questions. We have a team who would love to help you discern your calling and what your next steps might be.

[00:38:50] Matt: At Pioneers, we love to partner with local churches and send teams to people groups with little or no access to the gospel. Keep up with what God is doing by following us on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube, all at PioneersUSA, one word. Or visit pioneers. org. Thanks for listening.

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