A North African asylum seeker with graying hair and lots of stories, he has been on the refugee highway for over seven months. He is on his way through the Balkans to the EU.

Drinking his coffee with gusto and speaking fluent English, he and Andy sit and talk for over an hour. As an IAFR missionary, Andy finds these conversations with refugees at the center where he volunteers in Sarajevo fascinating.

A quick learner

He and Walid have spent their time together talking about their families and past lives. Walid greets a newcomer in Turkish and chats with another refugee in Arabic from his place at a low table as he converses with Andy.

He speaks several languages quite well, and Andy is impressed. Walid picks up on this, "Learn five new words a day," he advises when he finds out Andy and his family are learning Bosnian this year. Walid has picked up a bit of Bosnian himself, even though he's only passing through.

Do you know Denzel Washington?

"Do you know Denzel Washington?" Walid inquires.

"I know who he is."

"Can I show you something on YouTube?" Walid requests.

"Sure," Andy passes his phone to his new friend.

Walid pulls up a commencement speech by Denzel Washington. In it, Washington encourages graduates to pursue success in life—even at the risk of failure.

When you hit closed borders, you still can't give up.

"When you hit borders, and they don't open, you still can't give up," Walid observes sturdily as he and Andy discuss the advice in Denzel's speech.

When Walid leaves the center to go to the bus station, he wishes Andy peace. Andy returns the blessing, watching Walid limp away, a broken flip-flop strap making his shoe flap awkwardly. Walid seems unaware of the awkwardness, as if the footwear-induced limp is just another part of life.

God uses small connections

"I found it amazing and a little ironic that Walid was enduring untold hardships for himself and his family's future—and yet, he held onto the philosophy that giving up is really the only failure," Andy observes, remembering the conversation later.

"I don't know where Walid stands spiritually, but our interaction illustrated how God could use any small connection—even a Denzel Washington video—to prompt a deeper conversation. It was a blessing to connect with Walid, to learn from and be motivated by him."

Offering hospitality, care, and encouragement in Sarajevo

As partners who support our IAFR missionaries, you make these human connections possible, providing hospitality, essential care, and encouragement for people like Walid as they navigate the dangerous and unpredictable journey of the refugee highway in search of safety.

You make it possible to show up on Walid's epic journey.

As partners who support missionaries like Andy, you are helping break the isolation of Walid and other displaced people, connecting them to the vital resource of a safe and welcoming community and hope for a better future.

Missionaries are our greatest asset.

Relationship is at the center of God's plan to rescue the world. That's why we celebrate Christmas - the day that the Creator of all things and the source of Life itself chose to be born into the human family and live among us.

And that is why missionaries (like Andy) are our most valuable asset. They are like shepherds, waking up every day to walk alongside of people who have lost their place in the world and are in need of hope and refuge.