When I got the opportunity to be a part of this internship, one thing I was interested to see was how many opportunities I would have to be able to share about my faith that I care about so deeply and about the Bible, the book that has shaped and formed my life in so many ways. It turns out that I didn’t have to wait very long, for in just a few conversations with Mukama, one of the current residents, I found a very good friend who loved to talk about religion and faith, which is incredibly important to him as well.
Mukama is a Muslim, and with prior experiences that I’ve had with talking to Muslims about my Christian faith, I didn’t really know how it would go. But I quickly found that Mukama was very kind and almost always open to talking about his faith. He is incredibly passionate and dedicated to his Muslim religion, yet willing and open to kindly talking about my religion and what makes our faiths different. He also makes it clear that the reason he is so open to talking about religion is because he cares about me and loves me.
“If there was no love, there would be no reason to talk cordially about differences in faith; the only goal would be to be correct.“
One afternoon as I was giving Mukama a ride to work, I mentioned how much I appreciated the conversation we had had earlier about each of our respective faiths. As I finished thanking him, he said, “Oh yes of course… but I think I have made a mistake.” I asked what he meant by that, and he explained that he thought he was talking about religion too much and that I was probably getting tired of it. I quickly explained that this was not the case. On the contrary, I actually greatly appreciate anytime someone is willing to talk about faith. He shared my enthusiasm and said,
“It is because I love you.”
It was only fitting that the first time I received such words of affirmation came after this moment of evident shared love for our faiths and for each other.
He also makes it clear that the reason he is so open to talking about religion is because he cares about me and loves me. If there was no love, there would be no reason to talk cordially about differences in faith; the only goal would be to be correct. But with Mukama, it’s been different. One particular moment has demonstrated this.
Maybe some of you are like me, someone eager to talk about their faith and learn about others’ faiths. Maybe you’re eager to listen and learn from others’ stories and life journeys. In volunteering and interacting with our friends at Jonathan House, there are many opportunities to talk, listen, and learn in these ways. They all have a unique story and faith journey that we can learn from. I’d encourage you to take a step toward this, whatever it may look like for you. How can you take part in welcoming, encouraging, and listening to our asylum seeker friends today?
This story was written by Case Mulder, a Jonathan House intern. Looking for an internship with experience in cross-cultural ministry, nonprofit leadership, and spiritual formation?
The Jonathan House internship application is open now through May 30th. Click below for more information and to start your application!