The past week, I have been seeing spirals non-stop. It started with noticing the tattoo on Ethan’s arm with a spiral in a sun, and then led into me seeing them in the concrete as I walk on the street, in stickers, in the paintings around our apartment, and even in a coffee stain on the counter in our kitchen. I knew God was trying to show me something, but I didn’t know what, and as I prayed and journaled, I kept coming to a blank. 

It wasn't until Christmas came around that I finally understood the sign God had been wanting to reveal to me. 

Christmas this year was the first Christmas I had away from my family and my home. It didn’t quite feel like Christmas at the start. There was no snow outside like there usually is and no big Christmas tree lighting up the living room. No cinnamon rolls for breakfast, a family tradition we have at my house. No stockings with little treats and trinkets in them. 

The more I grow up, the more I realize how much these things don’t matter. These are just things we do every year that have nothing to do with what Christmas is really all about. But they are still comforting. Still tradition. 

We did some of the same Christmas traditions I do back at home: a big breakfast, presents (Secret Santa style), and reading the Christmas Bible story. After that, things died down and I couldn’t help but think about my family back at home, wishing I could be there with them to celebrate and spend time with. 

I walked around the small, festive town where there is a beautiful view of the Dolomite mountains sitting on top of the lake. The streets were not as crowded as they are in the evening with only a few people walking around here and there. Eventually, I entered a local church and spent some time praying, becoming very emotional thinking about what Jesus really did for us. He came down to earth when he didn’t have to FOR US. He loves us SO much that he was willing to live in this evil, sinful world, living a perfect life, and take the punishment that every single one of us deserve. 

I always knew this truth but it seemed to click a little harder with me this Christmas. I’ve been falling more in love with Jesus every day since being on this trip. I see the ways he loves us and cares for us, constantly forgiving us for all the bad we do and loving us anyway. He is such a good father. Such a good friend. 

A few days prior to Christmas, I had gotten the idea that on Christmas night, we should go around town and hand out sandwiches, hot chocolate, and cards wishing a merry Christmas to people, specifically poorer people. There are quite a few people I have noticed when wandering around that are asking for food and money and I thought this would be a great way to share Jesus’ love on his birthday! 

That night, 6 of us huddled together in prayer and then broke off into 2 groups heading in opposite directions. 

Ethan, Alyssa, and I headed in the direction of a McDonalds and a grocery store where one lady usually sits and asks for money. Like we expected, both of the businesses were closed for the holiday and the parking lot was pretty much empty except for a couple cars. Even with the quiet, crisp air, I had a feeling we should stick around and that God had something for us there. 

“Lord, whatever you want for us here, please show us. Show us who you want us to talk to and where you want us to go.” 

I kept repeating this prayer as we wandered around the dim parking lot. After a few minutes, the 3 of us gathered back together and began to walk back towards the direction of town. 

Just then, I saw 2 figures come out of the darkness from a distance, walking towards the direction of McDonalds. They tried to open the door but figured out shortly it was closed. 

“Should we go talk to them?” we whispered to each other. I began to pray again and ask God “Lord, should we go talk to these kids?” 

Yes. 

Yes is all I needed to hear. Why was I even second guessing? Hadn’t God just answered my prayer clearly, giving me someone to talk to? 

Ethan ran over to them and gave them sandwiches and cards. As me and Alyssa approached, I saw that they were two young teenagers, a girl and a boy. 

We introduced ourselves and clicked with them right away. After only a few minutes of conversation, the boy invited us over to his house! The 3 of us looked at each other and said, “Why not?” 

As we walked, we had a good conversation with the two, getting to know them and their faith. The boy is a Christian and told us his testimony about how he became a believer and the girl is atheist. How incredible is it that God had brought these two to us to talk about Jesus with! 

The boy invited us into his home and brought us up into an attic/hang out area. There was a couch with several comfy chairs, a kitchen with a dining table, a record player, books, and a collection of empty redbull cans. We sat down and talked as he immediately began preparing pasta for us to eat. He is only 15, but right away began hosting us! 

As we ate, the boy shared more of his faith. He told us about when he was younger how he had seen a light in the shape of a cross in his window and at that moment, he knew that God was real and that Jesus was real. It was inspiring to hear his story and what had drawn him to become such a strong believer. 

Before we left, we got the contact of the boy with plans to hang out with him and the girl the next day! I couldn’t believe what had just happened. I had asked the Lord and he had provided in such an amazing and unexpected way! Thank you Lord for bringing us together with them!

The rest of the night, we handed out more sandwiches and hot chocolate and prayed for people around town. It felt so uplifting to share the love of Christ and give rather than receive. I feel so blessed to be able to give to others and spread Jesus’ love, even if it's just with some sandwiches and cards. 

The next day, we planned to meet up with the two again. That morning, I felt the urge to go to a cafe that’s just down the street called Sole Cafe. I read my Bible and journaled as I ate a chocolate chip muffin and drank a cappuccino. When I was leaving, an old lady that I was talking to a couple days prior walked in. She speaks only Italian, but I was able to communicate with her fairly well through google translate. I went back into the cafe and sat with her while she chatted with me about church and Christmas. 

One of the servers of the cafe came up to me when he saw us, curiously asking me if I spoke Italian. I told him no, explaining I use only google translate. 

“You are a nice girl,” he told me. 

I noticed that he had hurt his hand. There was a thick bandage wrapped around it and it appeared to be a red tint. 

“What happened to your hand?” I asked. 

“I slipped and fell and ended up hurting it,” he said. 

Pray for him, I felt the Lord saying to me. 

I asked if I could pray for him and he said yes. I felt him warm up more to my presence and open up his heart posture. I could tell the love of God had touched him. Thank you Jesus. 

Later that day, we passed Cafe Sole on our way to the boy’s house and somehow, it was the first time I had noticed the spiral in their logo, in the shape of a sun. My heart dropped and that’s when all of the signs connected. The constant spirals were meant to guide me to the cafe and assure me that that’s where God wanted me to go and who he wanted me to talk to. 

But that wasn't all. My leader Tammy sent me two photos of spirals she saw that day and told me later she ended up seeing a total of 11 spirals! And then as we made our way up to the boys house, I looked to my right to see a whole line of spirals on a concrete wall. I couldn’t believe it and just thought God, I hear you and see you. I see you guiding me. Thank you Lord. 

When we arrived, the 2 took us to a church built up high on a hill, alone and overlooking the city. It was breathtaking and peaceful. Simple, with no gold or marble, but beautiful. I have to say, it may be my favorite church we have been to so far since it's not big or flashy, just a humble little church. 

Taking us back to his home, he told us he didn’t know what to do now. We mentioned playing a card game called Slapjack, a game we played all the time in Albania, and had the best time! The girl turned on music that she thought us Americans listen to, like Eminem and Katy Perry and Bob Marley (the one artist I actually listen to out of the 3). 

“Do you listen to Christian music?” I asked the boy. 

He immediately lit up and said yes, pulling up some of his favorite Christian songs in Italian. His clear voice sang along with the words as he focused on the card game. 

After some time passed, I asked if he reads the Bible which led to us having a deeper conversation. He told us he read Genesis, but is nervous to read the entire Bible because it has a lot of big words in it and is hard to understand. He then continued to talk more about his experience with the church and what he had been through, telling us how he had formed a group of 13 boys around his age and how the church had broken up their group since they didn’t like the unity they had. 

He continued by saying how he isn’t mad at God though. That he knows it's not the Lord’s fault but the church’s fault and that he still loves God. I felt so much love and compassion for the boy at that moment. He had been hurt badly by the church which had made him not want to return, but still kindled his fire for the Lord and didn't lose the love he had for him. 

“You have such a strong faith,” I said to him. 

I could tell he was listening intensely by the way his eyes widened and locked in with mine. I felt like I was looking into his soul, so pure and childlike. 

“Don’t ever lose that faith,” I continued, and he nodded, a big smile spreading across his face. 

We kept talking about Jesus and the Bible and he shared with us more of his knowledge on the church and the word. For this kid to be only 15, I was surprised at how much wisdom he had. He told me things I had never even known before and was so intelligent in the history of the church among other things. I had only known him for 2 days, but I felt so proud of him for opening up and being vulnerable with us with the things he shared about his past and for the place he is at now with his walk with God. 

It came time for us to leave and we said our goodbyes to each other. I wished so strongly that we could stay longer and spend more time with the 2 of them, but I knew that this was the amount of time God had wanted us to be together. I knew that I had completed what the Lord led me to do. 

We formed a circle holding hands and prayed before leaving and then waved them goodbye. I turned around one last time before he closed the door to see his face and smiled. I know the Lord is working in him and am so thankful to have been able to get to know him and talk with him about God. Moments like these remind me of how everyone is on a different walk with God but how we can still influence each other's journeys. 

When I returned, I began sharing with the rest of our team the experience that we had with the kids. As I spouted it out, I realized how God really has been leading me this entire time, whether I knew it or not and it was SO BEAUTIFUL to see. God doesn’t always work overnight. Sometimes it's over a span of days, weeks, months, or years! I’ve come to realize that it's way better to see all the dots connect with time rather than in the snap of a finger because it shows his steadfast presence and how he’s always working.