When Slovakia Came to Chicago

It's not every day that you get to have coffee with someone from Slovakia. 

This is Katarina, a friend I met at a wedding in Slovakia a couple years ago. She is now married (as of three weeks ago!) and on full-time staff with Josiah Venture. She is also part of the intern recruiting team that is traveling around the States for about a month. 

Even with her busy recruiting schedule, she managed to fit in an hour for tea, and I couldn't have been more thrilled for the opportunity to spend time with her. This girl is incredible, and her faith was so encouraging to me. 

Sometimes worlds collide. On this regular autumn day where I watched the sun stream through the windows of my apartment, where I sipped tea from Polish pottery, and went to classes and work as normal, I also experienced part of my other world. When a day consists of tastes of both my Chicago world and my Europe world, it always feels right.

I long for the day when all believers are gathered up together and we will not only get to be with Christ forever, but we will no longer be separated from one another by oceans and airplanes. We will get to worship the King of Kings for eternity with every nation, tribe and tongue. That will be an incredible day.

Until then, I'll sit in the moments of glowing sunshine. I'll cherish times with friends I don't usually get to see. I'll also grieve the goodbyes, the partings, and the setting of the sun. It won't always be like this though. We have hope in Christ that he will bring the fulfillment of all of these shadows of goodness that we experience here on earth.

"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." - 1 Corinthians 13:12