The call to share across cultures and languages

Arvin* and Cristina* decided as a young Colombian couple to submit to God’s leading them wherever He chose. That decision developed their trust in His sovereignty and knowing what was best for them despite circumstantial challenges — even their baby daughter’s health crises.

Prayer became an essential building block of their faith and trust in the Sovereign God. Their experience in setting up a business in Ecuador gave them God-directed experience and expertise in setting up a non-governmental organisation (NGO) among Muslims in Kosovo.

Over seven years later, God invited them to choose to be led out through a ‘wilderness’ of challenges. Recurring health issues, a global pandemic, visa rejections, country relocations and linguistic and cultural demands refined and equipped them to relocate to the Greater Caucasus.  

Arvin and Cristina now live as intentional Jesus followers in a village community reaching out to whoever God brings across their path. They are setting up a small business to encourage micro-enterprise, introducing a wellness centre and a holistic ministry.

“We want to empower others, including migrants and survivors of domestic violence, through language learning with purpose, among other services,” explained Cristina, adding: “actively being a ‘house of prayer’ to bring Jesus’ healing and restoration to the persecuted and suffering.”

Visiting neighbours

“Getting to know people is not difficult, but visiting them [at home] is,” explains Cristina. “The culture [means] people are not so comfortable receiving others [there] because they have a high expectancy of needing to give [lots of] food and hours, if they have guests.”

The couple decided to approach their neighbours at Christmas time and give them a typical Colombian present: a plate of seasonal food. Their neighbour seemed to start inviting them into his house — but then realised he needed to let his wife know. He called to her, and she asked him to wait. She then came to the gate, offering a bar of chocolate.

“We understood we could not come in; that she was kindly saying it was not a good time today,” said Cristina. “So, we greeted them, but we understood there [was] a wall [between us] that we needed to respect.” They said their goodbyes and left. Half an hour later, the husband knocked the door and gave them five litres of homemade wine. Arvin and Cristina recognised the first steps of a possible friendship between the two families.

Sharing languages

One day, Arvin and Cristina went to collect their daughter from a traditional dance class. Others were waiting outside for the class to finish. “As we waited, I decided that I would take the opportunity to practise [speaking] their language,” said Arvin. This provoked many questions from waiting parents.

Cristina felt prompted to say: “We sometimes speak in English [also]; if you want to practise your English, we could do that together.”  This led to conversations with several women, including Tamar* and her husband Levan*.

They learnt that Levan was an ethnomusicologist, studying the practices and customs that help form regional folk music, particularly carols. Tamar told them how keen Levan was to re-introduce the music on the streets each year.  Arvin and Cristina were eager to join in.

Early in January, Tamar invited them over to meet her husband. They got on well. Arvin and Cristina then invited Tamar and Levan to join them for a special celebratory meal on 14th of February: “Because it's a special day for us, and we want to express our gratitude for the nice invitation that you gave us.” The couple came.

“That night we got to serve food and to tell them the story of Abraham. We felt we engaged with them,” related Arvin and Cristina. “From then on, we [began] building a relationship.” As the families became closer, they could share more examples of how God had healed their own daughter, and who was this God they put their faith in every day of their lives.

Praying for the sick

Arvin and Cristina were waiting one day for Baadur*, the man who mends the broken fixtures in their home. When he finally arrived, he told them that his wife was in the hospital with a stroke. “I just felt in my spirit that I must offer to pray for her,” said Cristina.

She asked Baadur permission to visit her in the hospital so that they could pray. Baadur was not comfortable with that, so Arvin and Cristina began praying for her from home. They then rang to ask how she was doing. “She is doing better and better!” came back the messages.

Some weeks later, the couple’s landlady contacted them. She had heard of their prayers for Baadur’s wife, who was now recovering. “Will you come and pray for my daughter-in-law, Elene*? She has goitre.” Arvin and Cristina prayed to God to give them a word of wisdom for Elene before they went to the house. They heard the word ‘trauma.’ Nothing more.

Cristina read Elene the Bible story of the woman who had internal bleeding. She explained: “There is nothing in us that is [powerful] just the presence of Jesus who changes and hears people, through His touch.” Then she asked Elene if there was anything besides healing that she wanted to ask God for, and Elene said “Peace.”

Cristina was reminded again of the word ‘trauma’ and said to Elene: “I don't know if this makes sense, but this morning we were praying [for you] and the Lord said ‘trauma’”.

Immediately, Elene’s face lit up: “I know what He's saying. He's talking about my childhood.” Although neither Arvin nor Cristina understood, God knew what was going on.

Cristina explained: “God knows, and He wants to let you know that He sees you, that He knows you and He wants to heal that trauma. I'm [now] going to pray for you in Spanish, to make it easier [to let the words flow].” Cristina began praying, but in tongues, not Spanish, as she placed hands on Elene.

Afterwards, Elene said: “A few days ago, before anyone knew you pray for people, I had a dream. Somebody put her hands over me and prayed in a weird language. And as you started to pray in that language, I knew it was you. This is amazing! Orthodox [believers] don't pray for each other. They pray in front of an image, lighting candles and bringing [people to] mind.”

The landlady asked Elene to repeat her excited words. As she did, Elene felt immense fire burning strongly inside her body. Arvin and Cristina felt it, too. “It’s burning me!” she exclaimed. “This is so special. Awesome.” Hardly able to contain herself, Elene ran for a drink: “I need water!”

Cristina finished by reading Bible verses about Jesus coming so that those who receive and welcome Him become His children [John 1:12]. Elene said she understood and knew this Truth for herself before they left.

Although Arvin and Cristina have not been able to visit Elene since, they have stayed in contact with her and know she is healing safely in God’s family.

*name changed