We've been in Germany now a little more than a week. We're so thankful that we've been able to take it easy the last few days. Surprisingly, there hasn't been too much we've had to do in order to transition. So, we've spent the past few days exploring the city and getting to know our new home. It's been such a strange feeling - both foreign and familiar at the same time.
One of the things we've come to terms with the last few days is the reality that we have gone from being "insiders" to "outsiders". We are now ones who don't fit in, who don't belong. It's a strange feeling and one we didn't expect. And, in many ways no matter how good we integrate or learn the language, we will always be outsiders. It's humbling.
How do you minister to people who see you as outsiders? It's a tough question that we don't know the answer to. We know though that Christ was the ultimate outsider, and he cut through those boundaries by taking on our nature and identity. Love and the Gospel make those barriers disappear. It's just figuring out how that works in the nuts and bolts of life. That's going to be the challenge of the next year or two.
