Switzerland, Seriously

I have been home for a couple of weeks and I think that it's time to reflect a little bit about everything that I experienced during my time in Switzerland and upon returning home.

First of all, I loved my time in Switzerland. God showed me so much and really challenged the life that I live here in the US. It was a beautiful place and we met a lot of very gracious people. There are very few Christians in Zurich, but those people who are Christians really know what a precious gift they have in Jesus and they worship God with such passion. It was incredible to hear people speaking another language and realize that no matter where we are from or where we are at, that we are all here for the ultimate glory of the same God. That blows me away. The thing that troubles me when I think about it though is this; Switzerland is known for chocolate and fondue and neutrality but not for the growing need for a Savior. It is really easy to show someone a picture of physical desolation and ask them to allow it to represent a spiritual need. It is not easy to show people a place of beauty and abundance and expect them to understand the overwhelming darkness that exists in that place. I was overwhelmed time and again by the both the lack of thought that is invested in the idea of a creator and the complete opposition to the idea of a holy and sovreign God. Pray for Switzerland. Pray that people's eyes would not be blinded by their possessions and wealth but that they would see entirely how desperate and hungry they are for the living God. In the face of all of these ideas and conversations, I was really challenged and I began to ask myself how much of my faith was cultural and how much of it was rooted in the sacrificial love of Jesus. I prayed for three weeks straight and really learned the importance of constantly going back to what it is that I know to be authentic, which is that the word of God stands true and the love of God never ceases. It was intense to be in a place where there were so few believers and even fewer disciples, but God is so faithful and being in a place where no one calls upon His name made me more sure that His righteousness is the only thing even worth pursuing. I was blessed by this experience and I continue to be blessed as I pray that Switzerland would come to know the love and peace of Christ.