The IAFR Blog

"And then I had a dream. It was a dream about Jesus..."

We sit around the table late in the evening. The small kitchen is cold despite the propane heater laboring in the corner. Our coffee and tea sit half-forgotten as we listen intently to the incredible stories of this family from Syria.

Following Jesus to Lebanon

My Swiss ministry partners invited the man and his daughter over after feeding me dinner. I'm here in Jordan, working with them to expand the curriculum for a supplemental education program for Syrian refugee children.

As I listen, the man's seventeen-year-old daughter, Reya* sits beside me. She rests her hands on my arm and smiles shyly. Dressed in a hijab layered with a hoodie to try and keep warm, she seems uncertain what her place is in her father's vibrant stories.

"My brother is following Jesus, too. He dreamed that God wanted him to serve the Syrians in Lebanon. So he went there to obey."

Besides an occasional comment, Reya is quiet. She rests her head on the table as if weary.

Reya's Gift

Seeing it is late, my Swiss friend suggests we pray together. As we finish, Reya looks at me, her large dark eyes pensive, "I am so sad that I didn't know that I was going to meet you today, Whitney, because every time I meet someone that I love, I want to give them a gift. And I don't have a gift for you. And while we were praying, I asked Jesus to give me a gift for you."

I can feel my eyes tearing up. This young woman's generous spirit is so pure and sweet.

She continues shyly, "So I asked Jesus for a gift for you, and he gave me a picture of you with your face shining... I see Jesus in the faces of all of us around the table, but I see and hear Jesus in your voice."

His Spirit is speaking...

The tears overflow and slip down my cheeks as I smile at this young woman, in awe of how God has just spoken to her. She doesn't know that God often gives me opportunities to bring music into spaces as a form of ministry to others. And tonight, I have not sung and have hardly spoken, primarily listening. It feels like an obvious word for me in answer to Reya's prayer for a gift to give.

"Reya, you have such a tender heart toward Jesus. It's obvious that His Spirit is speaking to you." I tell her.

"I tell her that all the time," her father nods his approval.

This holy moment in the kitchen is why I have come.

Reya is struggling through trauma and depression, trying to find her way in a foreign place with her family, who has suffered so deeply. And yet here she is ministering to me with encouraging words, and I am humbled and deeply honored by the heartfelt love I receive.

When I tell her her words are true, Reya smiles, and I know at that moment that even more than all the educational work I've done on this trip, this holy moment in the kitchen with Reya is why I have come. We have seen Jesus reflected in each other and are both strengthened and encouraged by this love.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Whitney's work as IAFR Refugee Education Specialist!

Why I Serve People Seeking Refuge

When asked why I work with the displaced, I instantly think of how deeply the Lord cares for each of these people seeking refuge. I can sense his sorrow at the size of the world's displacement crisis and His deep longing for these precious image-bearers to know they are seen, known, and cared for in their suffering and the loss of everything they've known.

For me, saying yes to the calling to walk alongside displaced people is a natural response to my understanding of how God views things. His sorrow and love compel me to act because I have been invited to the Lord's Table, where I have felt His care and love, and I want to invite others to mine. I find joy in the opportunities to offer relational hope through drinking tea together, offering warmth and safety, and being a familiar person who remembers a person's name. I pray that those I encounter experience a glimpse of the great hope and love we have in Christ.

A Global Community Of Hope

When I'm asked what sustains me in the work I do, I think of the deeply personal nature of the work. It is important for me to be able to tangibly live out my heart for people. When I'm actually interacting with people and not just sitting behind a desk, I find the most meaning in my work.

It's also significant to me to feel connected to a global community investing in walking with the displaced worldwide. In my relationships with IAFR colleagues and leaders, the community that supports me, and my relationship with the Lord, I am nourished and strengthened as I realize I am participating in something much bigger than myself - a community of hope and love in the body of Christ.