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When Paulo* and Sophia*, both originally from Asia, met while studying in Europe, they never imagined the cross-cultural journey they would be on in a few years. They both attended a church that had a focus on missions, and over time, they shared this heart for those who had never heard about Christ.
Later, the now-married couple relocated to Australia. They lived there for a few years, a “formative period,” said Paulo. During that time, they got to know OM team members, who shared about their lives and mentored the couple. Prompted by their church’s vision Sunday, Paulo and Sophia realised they wanted to go and serve cross-culturally, both sharing the strong feeling that: “There is no time like this time.”
While exploring options on how to move to the Arabian Peninsula (AP), Paulo looked into using his profession. Relocating with a profession can have some advantages, one example being that with visa regulations getting stricter in many countries due to global political shifts, having a visa sponsorship through company channels, like Paulo, makes an extended stay much easier.
After applying for a job and going through all the paperwork, the couple moved to the AP with their two young children. “One thing that we quickly realised: It’s very difficult to build relationships with locals. They tend to live outside the [expat] bubble,” Paulo said.
His profession, however, gives him opportunities to naturally build relationships with colleagues and team members. Paulo spoke of a young local member in his team whom he now mentors and supports on a professional, technical level. “This is where, naturally, as things progress, I’m able to share more about my life, my beliefs and share about Christ.”
Sophia shared that her children also provide natural ways to connect with other moms and families in their building. Moreover, she works remotely on an international project. “It starts a conversation,” Sophia said. Many of the countries she works with have an Arabic background, and Sophia has felt the conversations changing. “They feel like I understand their culture. Even though we do not have the same background, they see me being in this place and say: ‘Oh, you are in this area, you are exposed to Arabic culture, and you are interested in this’.” Both of them are currently learning Arabic with the aim of building deeper relationships with the people in the region.
It is not always easy, and feelings of giving up are not uncommon, shared Sophia. Being intentional about sharing their faith in conversations while working can be a challenge. But going with the support of a sending church and OM has helped Paulo and Sophia stay focused and remember the things God has already done during the months they’ve been there.
“Our monthly calls [with supporters] help us to reflect. Because as we are going through [life], we don’t always see what has changed around us or how it has shaped us. But having others’ perspectives and input helped us,” Paulo shared. For both of them, having a prayer group and mentorship from abroad is extremely important. “Partnership is really needed in missions. It’s not a one-man show,” said Paulo.
For their OM home office and sending church, it was a new experience to send the family abroad using their profession. Paulo and Sophia’s life in the AP shows that there are a variety of lifestyles and possibilities for Jesus followers to use their skills for Kingdom work, in close cooperation with a support network and church, which provide structures for accountability and help foster a feeling of community, regardless of physical location. Or in Paulo’s words: “We know that we are just messengers and God is working through and from [our supporters’] prayers as well.”
Sophia and Paulo understand that missions is a lifestyle, and every conversation, every encounter with those around them, is a chance to be a light. After all, it is not too difficult to relate with one another. “Through schools, the work setting, we share the same frustrations and experiences,” Sophia said.
And those seemingly mundane, daily life moments, she said, create opportunities to show what makes them different as Jesus followers.
*name changed
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