Journey of Faith: Wade's Transformation in North Africa
Episode 8 | 15 Minutes | Jul 31, 2024
Wade shares his experience of a trip to North Africa and the impact it had on him. He talks about the people he went with, his favorite moments, and the cultural differences he encountered. Wade also discusses how God worked through the trip and how it has shaped his perspective on cross-cultural service. He offers advice for those preparing for similar trips and shares his plans for future involvement in cross-cultural ministry.
In this Episode:
Significant moments where he had a two-and-a-half-hour conversation about the gospel with a local, overcoming language and cultural barriers.
Reflections on the challenge of confronting and re-examining his beliefs, particularly in comparison to Islam, which enriched his spiritual understanding.
Cultural contrasts such as the density of urban areas, street food availability, and the conservative clothing norms in predominantly Muslim environments
Discussion on local and global cross-cultural service - including potential local opportunities like refugee ministries and global church initiatives at Wheaton College.
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Wade is a spirited 19-year-old sophomore at Wheaton College, where he's deeply involved in both his studies and extracurriculars. He recently returned from an impactful month-long trip to North Africa, a journey he describes with contagious enthusiasm and spiritual growth. Wade's openness to learning and his willingness to engage deeply with cultural and religious differences underscored his journey's transformative nature. Culturally, Wade found himself fascinated by the density of urban life in North Africa, contrasting sharply with the suburban tranquility he's accustomed to. Post-trip, Wade is eager to explore further cross-cultural opportunities, possibly through local refugee ministries or global church initiatives at Wheaton College. Wade's journey to North Africa wasn't just a trip; it was a pivotal chapter in his ongoing spiritual and personal development. His story serves as an inspiration for others, illustrating how immersion in a different culture can lead to profound insights and a deeper connection to one's faith and purpose.
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Introduction and Meet Wade
Hello! Today we are here with Wade and he is going to tell us a little bit about his trip, but first I'm going to allow him to introduce himself. So Wade, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Well, my name is Wade, as you heard, from Sophie. I'm 19, and I go to Wheaton College, where I'm a sophomore, then, next year. I'm moving from Traver Dorm to Fisher Dorm, which is pretty unpopular for the Traver kids. I don't know how many Wheaton College people are going to be hearing that, but maybe that should give you some context about what's going on.
Wade's North Africa Trip Overview
I went on a trip to North Africa this summer, and it was fantastic. And I went for a month. And I'm excited to talk about it. So, yeah.
Love it. So yeah, let's just start with the basics of the trip. Tell me when you went, tell me who you went with, how many people were in your group, um, and then we'll also get into a couple more details, but first let's start with that.
Yeah. So I went to North Africa and I went with two other people from my college and then four randos but they're not randoms. They're, you know, like they're cool people. And it was like this internship program is what it was labeled as. And yeah, I went with those six, and there for a month. So from the middle of May to the middle of June, it was an awesome experience to get to hang out and you know, really become close with those other interns, but then also the host family was really like rebel. So yeah, like I enjoyed hanging out with that group and you know, sharing testimonies and doing ministry with them and all that sort of stuff. That was a really special experience.
That's awesome. I love to hear that.
Favorite Moments and Spiritual Insights
And I want to touch on that spiritual aspect of the trip because everyone talks about that for hours how God has worked through the trip. But first, I just want to ask what was one of your favorite moments or favorite stories from the trip?
Yeah. I didn't know whether or not I was going to be able to share the gospel. So when I went there, I was, I mean, like there's a language barrier and there's a cultural barrier and there's a religious barrier. And so my expectations were really low in terms of what I was going to be able to do and the impact that I was going to be able to have. And I think God challenged me in like one regard where I met this guy and we started, you know, talking, and then we got closer and eventually he was like, Hey man, you want to get, you want to get coffee one of these days? And so we got coffee and we got to have a super long conversation about the gospel, like really like two and a half hour long conversation about the gospel and about, about Islam and Christianity. And for me, that was a really special experience because because I didn't know if I was gonna be able to do that, you know? So being able to talk with him about that, he had some really good questions and I'm just really grateful for that.
And then also, for me, at least in, in kind of the spiritual side, It was really good to disengage from my context, right? And then move over to a situation that I'm not like familiar with. I think that kind of pushes you into an uncomfortable situation. And um, and it makes you like ask like why are you doing this, you know? Like, why do you believe what you believe? Especially when you're kind of challenged by Islam in a certain sense. Like, a lot of their, a lot of the framework of their religion is, is close to, to Christianity. Think I was able to learn a lot about Christianity because I had to examine some stuff that I had always taken for granted, um, and so in that respect, it was, it was really good. So yeah.
That's awesome. I think that's a, um, that's a cool perspective to gain from seeing the differences and seeing how Christianity can compare and seeing and being able to talk about that with others and talk about the differences and then kind of share the gospel authentically. I think that's super cool. Speaking of the differences and the culture shift. what were three new things that you experienced from this culture?
Cultural Differences and Adjustments
Yeah. I think I think the biggest difference for me was definitely like density like I'm going out in like my suburb streets and I'll go for like a walk and it'll be eight minutes and I, you know, like won't see a soul, you know, maybe a dog and a person. I go to the place where I'm at, where I'm in kind of downtown, And, you know like I take a 360-degree turnaround and there's like a hundred people within sight all the time. And so, that's what's cool is that there's just, you're constantly brushing up against people. and it's just, it's dense and close. So that was kind of a cultural like, Oh, like, okay, this is, this is, you know, like this is tight so that was one thing, the street food and like the walkability of it all was another thing. It was like, like, you know, like we had a few car rides, but everything was within a 12-minute walk. You can't get anywhere in America, you know, like in 12 minutes. So that's another thing it's super close by So those are two big things and then I would say the clothing was way different in America, you got much looser much more. maybe less clothing but um In kind of a Muslim country where I was most of the bodies were always completely covered all the guys were wearing pants from long shorts and so, that was a really big culture shock and I was like, my shoulders are kind of popping, not, you know, popping out. And so, yeah, it's like, so that drew like a few eyes, but it's okay. But yeah, mostly I wear not like business casual, but, you know, like the baby of business casual and casual. Um, so like. Much much longer clothing much Um much less exposed in clothing and so I mean like I knew about that before I came on the trip like that was one of the notes that we had to Prepare for but yeah, that was
Post-Trip Reflections and God's Work
we've kind of talked about the spirituality of it, how you've learned about Christianity, and unpacked the gospel. So I want to ask how has God been at work since this trip as a result of your experience. I think this is a really interesting perspective because you were in such a non-Christian culture. And so talk to me a little bit about how God worked within that and through that.
Yeah, So I'm so I was a minority in like my culture so like in that respect, I think your, identity is more exposed because you're more like unique. And so this isn't even like sort of a Christian thing, but if you go to a place where like you're different than the other people, You're like, like all of your differences become much more emphasized. And sort of my Christianity and my cultural upbringing was, was I noticed that a lot more. So that's one thing but being able to examine myself, it was really good - being able to say, like. This is who I am, but I think it's more so what I was talking about before. Just like the like beliefs that I had about God, like, you know, like I had to examine them because I had to explain them to people. I had to, like, like, like I was reading about Islam and it's like, man, Islam, Christianity, you know, like what, like, what are the differences, like a lot of a lot of Muslims would say. And so just coming from, from there back to here, where I can like to blend in, you know, or I'm sort of walking around and nobody notices me. Everything is as easy as water. You know, just swimming through water. It, it, it does make you analyze and look at, um, your own culture. And you're like, wow, so this is, this is what people do here. And it's different from, from what people do there. And so looking at that, um, that was something that, that has touched me.
I would say the second part of that was we talked to a bunch of different workers who were there and got to have dinners and long conversations and something that, that I kind of realized was that they were doing things that I could do. So they were doing like discipleship. Right. So we kind of have this view of missionaries where they're like, on the street corners and they hand, like they're handing out Bibles and they're, they're walking up to people and, and, having these conversations. I've seen those extraordinarily extroverted and charismatic workers who just are like bam, bam, bam. But then I saw a lot of workers who were just really faithful about the people they were talking to. So they're, participating in church and they're trying to have a kingdom impact with their business. And I realized, like it's not a cultural or a missionary thing. It's just it's like a disciple thing like go and make disciples. That's That's what we're called to do. Um, and I can do that here even I mean even better than what I'm able to do there um Like not through me but through but through God working. And so kind of having clarity. That made me excited because I feel like I'm empowered here to do that, to do that type of stuff too.
I think That is a perspective that not a lot of people take away from trips like this is understanding the work that's already being done and then being like, oh wait, I can do that where I am in my context. So, that was a great answer. And that was a really good thought. And you have processed this trip and thought about it deeply. And I think that's also really powerful and unique.
Advice for Future Travelers
And so now that the trip is done and you've had time to process what the trip was and reminisce about the memories, I want to shift the conversation into thinking about people who have signed up for a trip, as someone who has gone, what advice would you give them? How should they prepare for trips like this?
God can do miracles and when I signed up for the trip, I was kind of sad because, I was only going for a month, and I was not going to know these people as well, and I was not going to get any conversions, or whatever, you know? I was taking a walk while I was thinking about those things. there's this guy on the street who approached me and asked me questions and, we got to have a gospel conversation and I prayed with him and like literally as I was thinking those thoughts, God win. What are you, like, you know, what are you talking about? Like, you think that, you know, like that I'm too weak to make stuff happen? Um, and, you know, you have to understand that if God wanted, he could, he could do anything that he wants to you have to believe that. Um, you have to go into, like, maybe not hopeless, but like, you know, like you might look at a situation and go, man, it's tough here or, you know, but the reality is, is that you have, you have no idea the sort of, um, the kind of power that God has to change people and to change places, to change peoples. that's extraordinary. It's just like, go in and do your best, because, he could do so much with the little you do. So, that was, so, so that was like the experience I had, was just feeling down on myself because I felt like I had this responsibility.
Everything's, you know, like in God's hand. And then, shoot. Then my second thought was, I'm always being formed You know, and I'm always being shaped And I think this trip is an opportunity for a lot of these people who go in these trips To sort of be formed as well um and like to be shaped as well because You're going to go on the strip and you know depending on like your background or your capability There's going to be varying levels of difficulty and like your circumstances but hopefully something's going to blow your mind On the trip when you're reading your bible or when you're having a conversation or when you have an experience something's gonna blow your mind and um, just kind of hold on to that and pray through it and Try to figure out how it's going to change how you live.
For sure. Yeah, I think again, a unique perspective. I think so many people who I've interviewed have said, like, go into this with an open mind,
Future Cross-Cultural Service Plans
my last question for you is simply about your cross-cultural service that you want to get involved in. What will that look like in the future? Do you see yourself going on another trip? Do you see yourself doing something more local?
So there's a couple things I would love to do and have the trip, um Really good. I still need to figure out Where, when, what, and how, but those are questions that they're going to come up when they come up in this day and age with everything that's going on, there are probably going to be refugees in your area so there's a refugee ministry in the area that I'm in.
And I want to get, like, an Arab, like, refugee ministry. And I want to get involved with that. That's one thing that's been on my heart. There's a club,, at Wien College that's dedicated to, sort of, the global church. I want to get a part of that. Yeah, I would say those are my biggest things just taking opportunities as they come. And you know, like we're, we're, we're in a, we're in a day and age where like people can move so easily and languages are easy to learn. And then I don't, like, if you're American, I'll like, That the basic level of English is crazy. And like, in like, like non-English speaking countries, a lot of people are learning English as their second, third, second, third language. And you're like, wait a second, you're using word sight. What does that word mean? You know? And, and like, that's his third language. And so I'm just like, I'm kind of blown away. And so there's just, there's just a lot of opportunities that have never been presented to me. To, like, generations. Um, And, we're kind of the first to have, to have these opportunities, so god's gonna do stuff, um, and let yourself, Have eyes wide open. I love that you're able to recognize the service within your backyard, within what's going to happen in America, what's going to happen in our city, our town. um, we don't have to fly overseas to go serve and I think that's, that's great.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
So beautiful. And I'm very excited about the passion that you have and the heart you have for cross cultural service so that is all the questions I have but I loved your answers. They were very thoughtful, very unique, and I loved hearing your story how you took this trip to heart, and how you're, um, taking it to influence the ministry and world around you so so much. So I'm sure that this will help future short-term team workers as they join the field and as always this is a testament to how God is working through you and the world. So thank you so much for joining us and we will talk to
Thank you so much, bye bye