Stories at The Well
WELL STORIES
Well Known: North Africa
When God called their family overseas, it didn’t come through a dramatic moment but through a slow, steady invitation to trust Him. Leaving a life they loved in Austin felt heavy, yet with every question and fear, God met them with peace—and a growing longing to join His work among the nations.
The way God met us in the decision to go overseas was slow and personal. We deeply loved our life, our church, our friends, and everything that made Austin home. This made the whole process feel heavy. We kept thinking, “Why would God ask us to leave something so good?” But every time we wrestled with that and brought it to Him, He met us with His peace. We were continually drawn to the Scriptures about the nations standing before Him and praising Him, and we felt a deep longing to be part of that.
Not because He needs us, but because He chooses to use us and bring glory to Himself. We were excited about the thought of getting to be a part of that. In the end, it wasn’t a dramatic calling. It was God saying again and again, ‘I’m with you, I’m going before you, trust Me and go.’
“It wasn’t a dramatic calling. It was God saying again and again, ‘I’m with you, I’m going before you, trust Me and go.’
We’ve seen God move in so many ways. All the questions we had about housing, day-to-day life, and what life would look like here—He has answered and provided for in huge ways. He has also moved deeply in our hearts, even at this early stage of living here. The promise Jesus gave His disciples at the end of the Great Commission has been experienced time and time again. He will be with us. Always. We’ve seen Him meet our kids when school drop-offs have been really hard, comfort our hearts when fear starts creeping in, and hold us through the many tears already shed.
This is the hardest season we’ve ever walked through. It has been beautiful and painful all in one breath. One of the hardest parts is truly releasing our kids to the Lord. In America, we had the privilege of shielding our kids from a lot of things and providing comfort for them in so many areas (A/C, heater, trampoline, chicken nuggets—etc.) Here, even at a really early age, they are learning what dependence on the Lord looks like and how only He can meet the longings of their hearts.
We are all adjusting to a completely new culture, which requires us to come face-to-face with our own weaknesses and limitations. Buying food is different, cooking is hard, public transportation is different, language school is hard, making friends is hard. It’s all really hard, but if God is who He says He is, it is all certainly worth it.
If you’re thinking about going, pray. Take the first step. Talk to your community. Pray more. Read about the nations and learn God’s heart for His world. Ask God what your role is. Keep praying and asking. You don’t have to have it all figured out. Take one step at a time. He who calls us is faithful. It’s not easy by any means, but the Lord who called you to a good work is faithful to keep you until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6). What greater gift could there be than to experience the ever-present love of the Lord wherever you are? Praise God that He is the giver of good gifts, especially the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Even the desire to serve the nations is a desire that only comes from the Lord. It is part of the prophetic call of the church to see brothers and sisters from all tribes and tongues come to worship and receive the marriage supper of the Lamb. Our story isn’t one of receiving the call to go from tablets in the sky or a prophetic word (though we praise God for those stories), but rather asking God what He had for us each day.
Ask the Lord where He might have you serve the nations and the unreached in Austin, and continue to pray and take steps of faith toward going. Maybe the Lord will confirm the call over time, or maybe He has something beyond your wildest thoughts that doesn’t involve going—but it will be hard to discern the Shepherd’s leading if we do not know His voice. Continue abiding and remaining in the vine.
Lastly, we want to tell our church family that getting involved in the nations isn’t just for a select few. It’s for all of us to be part of God’s global story. Not everyone will move overseas, but everyone can take part in what God is doing among the nations. Pray intentionally, give generously, go when God prompts you, and encourage those who are already on the field.
Your prayers, your support, your willingness to go or send—every part matters. Ask the Lord to show you where the nations are in Austin. If you’re looking for them, there is a big community in Travis Heights. Go visit them. Pray. Take short-term trips to open your eyes to what God is doing in the world. And for families with young kids—take them with you. Show your kids God’s heart for the nations. Take that first step, and God will truly keep leading and guiding you in the ways He wants you to be involved.
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