It Started with Hello

Sometimes the smallest gestures can make a huge difference. That’s what the TREK team to Germany learned this past year while serving in East Berlin.

Every day on their way to and from the church, where the team was helping with construction, they would greet a group of refugees outside of a grocery store selling cigarettes. Knowing the society tends to overlook these people, the TREKers saw this as a daily opportunity to show kindness to the men. It started with a mere “Hello,” but as their exposure continued, so did their friendliness. Soon their simple greeting turned into a full out conversation with one man surrounding his life and beliefs.

The man, whom the team nicknamed “KC” because of a necklace bearing these initials, is a refugee from India. Because of his status, he is not allowed to work in Germany nor take lessons in the language. As a result he is forced to do what he can to get by and make a life for himself in Germany.

KC has been exploring new religions since coming to Germany. The TREKers learned that he had been attending a Jehovah’s Witness temple. As the team shared with him about what they believed and why they were in Germany, KC decided to check out the MB church. After attending the Evangelische Freikirche Berlin on a couple of occasions, he had a lot of questions. Though his German comprehension was low, KC sought to find answers and the TREK team responded with diligence and care.

Since their return to Canada, the TREKers continue to pray faithfully for KC and are in the midst of obtaining Hindi resources to send back to him in Berlin. God is in the process of transforming KC’s heart, and it all started with “Hello.” Join the TREK team by praying for the salvation of KC.

The Next Step: You never know what kind of positive effect your actions might have on someone. Consider how you can be a blessing to strangers.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:3-4