The first thing I noticed about him was the smell of old tobacco and his small, squinty eyes. Jason was standing on the porch of Condo 6 at the AFM Center talking with this homeless man. He had seen him over by the road and gone out to talk to him. As I approached, the man started telling his story over again, asking for some food or money.
“Sure, we’ve got some food you can have,” I said. “Come inside and sit on the couch while I get it together.” Jason made small talk with him while I packed a grocery bag full of corn on the cob, potatoes, baked beans and a piece of pie. When I was done, we prayed with him. He thanked us, took the bag and left.
Living in Benin has totally changed the way I relate to people in need. Previously I would have felt uncomfortable, maybe resenting Jason for putting me on the spot, unsure of what to say or do. In Benin it’s quite common for people to come to us asking for things. It made me uncomfortable at first, but God has been enlarging my comfort zone and helping me relate with His compassion instead of my own insecurity. He will do the same for you if you let Him, whether you’re in Timbuktu or Tennessee.

• Twitter