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young people during sunset
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Some encounters are rare but not dramatic. They provide little satisfaction. People meet me and say youre so quiet today!” Nahh. My mind is just constantly searching; give me a minute! Most encounters are dramatic but none comes close to Oscars.

Generally, I take time to learn about a new environment, to talk to strangers and as a result I am slow in making new friends. Why?… Shyness, culture, tradition; Mother said take time to know someone.” Short story: Arrive in my room, make a call back home, a guy knocks” on my door. When I open the door, he is holding a phone on his hand and asking, Do you know how I can unlock this phone?”

What happened to it?” I ask. One should naturally be able to unlock their phone. He goes ahead to explain that he bought it but doesnt know why it is not working. It was asking for login credentials. Do you have the account details?” I ask him.

I had, but I think I have forgotten! it” he explains. His face is filled with worry and anxiety. Mine with questions. New country! New environment! Miles away from home and no phone! Do you have two phones? You lend me one?” he asks me. I smile and, quickly noticing how serious the situation is, I start to process a response. My time at the Ecumenical Institute should make my brain think faster; at least I tell myself so. Have you tried to reset it?” I ask. I wasnt sure he understood what I meant. We agree to sleep over the matter and look at it in the morning (we at times remember things while asleep).

Going to bed without speaking to your loved ones is weird. Sleeping without your phone is weird. Sleeping with your phone but not being able to use it is…! Breakfast was a long wait for Oscar. Did the phone work? Did you remember the credentials? Is everything okay now?” I had many questions for my now new friend. Not yet!” he responded, now more worried than he appeared last night. You said you could assist me to fix it; can you?” he asked me. I ask him to come with his laptop so that we can use it to reset the phone. My laptop is not working!” we both break into laughter. Yesterday your phone. Now the laptop. Tomorrow your heart or brain will fail!" I say. Okay, not funny!” I add. 

We both laugh again and walk towards our class now sharing openly. I succeeded in making the first friend—at least so I think.

It has now been four weeks of Bossey. While we have not fixed the phone yet, our colleague Imran managed to assist to bring the laptop back to life. I am an engineer!” Imran says. Really? You know how to repair devices?” Oscar asks. Yes. By faith!” Imran jokes. Are you able to help me to fix my laptop?” Oscar once asked him. I dont know. But we can learn with yours!” Imran responded. He later fixed it. His engineering faith has helped us to cross obstacles in and outside class multiple times.

Everyday, we make new connections, cross new boundaries, and break through obstacles. Some predictable and others requiring the faith of engineers. We travel through intercultural differences, navigating diverse doctrines to achieve a cohesive working environment. At times, our devices fail to work. At times we are the devices; at all times however, working together is the most effective display of strength. Even when you are as slow as I am in… Wait, didnt the tortoise arrive at the destination? 

About the author :

Alfred Mbai is currently studying at the WCC Ecumenical Institute at Bossey. A diligent communicator with a focus on sexual and reproductive health rights, Alfred writes, talks and speaks about human rights from an intersecting religious and contemporary angle. His goal is to present diverse human intersecting cultures as unified community.

Disclaimer

The impressions expressed in the blog posts are the contributions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or policies of the World Council of Churches.