It's been approaching 5 months since landing in Berlin. Let's run through the list of how God's provided for me out here.
1: God led me to a long-term apartment (a huge one) with three other German Christian guys.
2: I've been gifted a home church that's been pursuing me and of which I'm being active therein.
3: Language school is yielding fruits. I'm able to speak in German to the point of conveying stories after only 4 month's of training. Plus I've had people pursue me in outside of class therein.
4: My one-year Visa was secured in December without me being in the room. Even after going through stress and personal blunders in that season God gave me favor in the eyes of my interviewer I was late for.
In all the culture change I've noticed this consistent trend: God keeps me moving forward all along the way and lunges me through all kinds of change and experiences I never expected to encounter. That's when I encounter the first realization about how God works: God prefers to give us what we need, not what we want. As I reflect on the different relational growth points I've encountered this last month, I found myself glad that I couldn't see the future. In fact, I actually find comfort in that (thanks to hindsight). I wouldn't have predicted being invited to an Arabic smoking bar (of which I didn't participate) and grow relationships. I didn't expect to go to a Kurdish wedding in January, of which I couldn't speak and relate to ANYONE, also being on the other side of the nation from Berlin. I didn't expect the apartment I currently have, and am comforted that God's been supplying all my needs therein. I didn't expect an equal portion of God having people pursue me, equally between Christian and non-Christian circles. All this I see how God's blessed me.
Second realization: spiritual discomfort takes place in many forms. Case and point: Chicago style pizza. This astounds me. Berlin is the largest international scene in Europe. You find food from all parts of the world, between Vietnamese to South American to Texas-style Barbecue, but no deep dish pizza anywhere in site. I have always been a proprietor for the importance of little things in the spiritual journey. Am I exaggerating this, to say that a certain way for making pizza is equatable to spiritual warfare? Probably a bit. However it serves a greater point, there saying that there is a reality that God can use little things to move a person through the week. Sometimes, find that the things that bring my week up a notch in terms of being positive is really good conversation and periods of rest. Things, then, that feed off that are naturally enriching for me.
Third realization: I never realized how much of a problem-solver I am. This was easily satisfied in college, easily given that engineering school is simply defined as one challenging situation after another. With that satisfied, and with my settling in Berlin coming along smoothly, I have little that really challenges me. Language class is somewhat a challenge, one I have already solved but the solution is a long-term process. I am left fidgety without anything to really stimulate me mentally.
So, in conclusion to this self-exploration, I will end it with this: 1: God is good, 2: I have enjoyed how God's been moving me and I'm thankful for the relationships I've been making, 3:I still miss Chicago-style pizza. I recognize this blog cuts off, but the rest of the story is still a discovery process for me; because of this I find this ending fitting. Cheers!