Hungary Slovenia Serbia Montenegro
Grace Swartzendruber Age: 21 Hometown: Wichita, Kansas Internship: Montenegro Despite being sent to a predominantly Orthodox country, Grace spent her time regularly fellowshipping with a family of Muslim faith. After the 21-year-old Bethany Global University (BGU) student met Deni, the daughter of Muslim immigrants, a deep friendship was born. “This Muslim family I met became my second family,” Grace said. Meeting Deni and what would become that second family, came during a chance encounter at a coffee shop after Grace had experienced a series of denied visas and pandemic travel restrictions to her initial mission destination. God had a plan. In the 16-months Grace lived abroad in southeastern Europe, more coffee outings with Deni turned into being invited to her friend’s home for meals, which then turned into an invitation to a family member’s graduation. “It was so sweet to see their heart for us, and their desire to see us be at home in a new place,” Grace said. With the pandemic closing most community businesses, the church Grace and her other BGU team members partnered with focused on community outreach. “It gave me a new idea of what ministry looked like, and how it is truly just loving people like Jesus,” Grace said. Whether Orthodox or Muslim, most people Grace met did not have a personal relationship with Jesus. Grace focused on praying, listening, and learning about the different cultures. “We could have conversations without anger and fighting, but instead understanding,” she said. Even after returning home, Grace said she keeps in touch with the Muslim family she came to know and love. Her prayer is one day the seeds planted will help turn their hearts to the Lord. “I loved pursuing them and pouring into them. I think they’re the ones God really worked the most in my heart for.”
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Matthew Hall Age: 22 Hometown: Neenah, Wisconsin Internship: Slovenia Matthew felt the Lord calling him to be a missionary after attending a year-long Bible school in Montana. It was there he discovered BGU and the chance to go abroad. “I had a huge desire placed on me to reach those who don’t have access to a Bible or have never met a Christian before,” Matthew said. After preparing for months to go to Asia, Matthew learned his team would head to Slovenia due to COVID travel restrictions — admittedly not what he originally hoped and prayed for. In a predominantly Catholic country, most people knew about Jesus. However, their team’s mission was to support the few evangelical churches that exist in Slovenia. “It was a huge growing experience being there and learning to just transform my expectations.” Once the students arrived, quarantine further paused ministry efforts. Matthew said the isolation took a toll. “I just struggled a lot with depression and loneliness,” he said. Matthew received counseling help through BGU, and God answered his prayers. Restrictions eased and allowed Matthew to begin connecting with the community. He took his love for skateboarding to a nearby park to minister to locals. He also started singing and leading worship at church. “One thing that brought me a lot of comfort was learning I don’t need to yell out to God to be heard by Him. He would hear the smallest whisper just as well as He’d hear the loudest cry out to Him,” Matthew said.
