The following story is from Karis. She and her husband Thomas spent 6 months in the Middle East on an iGo Global Go Year.

My friend and I have language class from 8-12 every day, with a 10-minute break every 50 minutes. Language is fun, and fulfilling when we get to use what we remember, but can be mind numbing and overwhelming at times. My friend and I were struggling a bit the third hour of class trying to stay awake and focus. We both had been rather frustrated that most of the words we had been learning have to do with animals and food- not too helpful when it comes to having deeper, truth-based conversations.

As we were learning words for different kinds of makeup, we got into a conversation with our teacher about the Muslim faith and what things are forbidden. She began to explain the many “do’s and don’ts,” and how each Muslim chooses if they’re going to follow or not.

She drew a staircase and explained that the people who do all the right things- cover their heads, wear modest clothing, pray, fast, give to the poor, don’t wear makeup, etc., are the closest to God. As people leave more of the rules out, they are on a lower step, farther from him. She said that on the top step people have hearts that are white and without sin, but that as people make bad choices and are farther down the staircase, there are more and more black spots. She then said that everyone tries the best they can, and when they die, God looks at their heart and how white or black it is and decides where they go.

I then was able to explain (in Arabic of course, as English is strictly forbidden in class) the difference between that and what we believe. I told her that every heart starts completely black, and that it’s only when we believe in Jesus Christ that our hearts are turned completely white, and are acceptable to the Father. I told her that we can’t work hard enough to turn our own hearts white- the Father only sees our heart as white when Jesus’ white heart covers ours up. I also explained that we do good things not to make our hearts white but because our hearts are already changed to white because of Him.

I then asked her if she knew where she would go when she dies. She said no, no one can know, that it is up to God. It is up to him, I told her, but He has said that if anyone believes and follows Jesus Christ, they can know for sure that they will go to heaven; their black hearts have been paid for completely. I then explained the peace I have knowing for sure that I will go to heaven when I die because my sin has been paid for.

It was a completely natural, Spirit-led conversation that came up because Father had ordained it and not because I forced it. Later we went back to our lesson, but my prayer is that our teacher will truly consider her lack of peace and her striving to be good enough to gain a perfect God’s favor. Please lift her up, and ask for more opportunities to share truth with her.

“Come now, let us reason together, says the  Lord : though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” –Isaiah 1:18