SEPTEMBER: Good Bread

Maybe it says something about our time over here, how I feel like titling every ministry update something like “Still Alive!” or, if I had space for more words, “September: Somehow Still Breathing (and Better), Joyfully Standing Firm, and Embracing a Mission That’s Fuller Every Day by the Grace of God” That’s a little wordy. So honestly, “alive” sums it up pretty well. When life is a whirlwind, God doesn’t just give us survival. He gives us life, abundantly.

This morning, after a full night’s rest, the Lord gave me a hug from a friend, the warm sun on our porch, and fresh avocado toast (the bread is so good here—even the heel makes me smile).

We’ve learned so much. For one thing, I love our team! We’ve become fast friends. Leading with Melanie has been a joy. She is extremely good at this job. I couldn’t be more grateful to share leadership with someone so capable because, as it turns out, leading a team is very difficult. I love it! And some days it can verge on overwhelming. Please pray for us, that God would give us wisdom to guide the team with care.

And the mission itself? Beautiful. Right now, we are observing campus life and meeting students in Leuven and Antwerp. There’s a lot to learn and adjust to. Faith is a very personal thing to this generation. The vast majority of Belgians regularly say they don’t find God or religion to be very relevant. They typically don’t know anyone their age who practices faith in God. They don’t talk about religion with each other. That officially makes us weird for starting these conversations, which is very fun to laugh with them about. It’s often their first time associating Christianity with a young, friendly face.

That said, we’ve also found that Jesus followers are out there, often quietly holding their spiritual journey close to their chest. God has already led us to several of them on campus—more than statistically reasonable. And then there was worship night…dozens of students gathering for prayer and praise, and a bunch of first-timers. We hope these new connections develop into missional discipleship groups on their campuses.

In the coming weeks, we will transition from decoding to relationship-building. Through all of this, I thank God for your prayers. Many days have been so joyful. Earlier this week, I was walking across campus thinking “I love my job.” Many moments have also been very hard. But even on these days, God gives our daily bread without fail. And, wow, this European bread is still so tasty.

Together in Christ,

Esten