It is so easy to go through each day with monotonous repetition, fulfilling all the tasks and responsibilities we bear. Life is full of things that have to happen and its often difficult to add one more thing to our already busy schedules trying to achieve everything on our agenda.

However every now and then we notice something that calls us out of our ritualistic cycle of life and we notice something new. For me it was seeing a large rectangular shape of strong plastic used to enlarge the rear mudguard of a motorbike. Initially one would think this is a strange thing to do, for under normal weather conditions this modification is not required.

However the south of Thailand has a very high rainfall often causing roads to be flooded. This extension to the mudguard protects the driver and passenger from the water that is sprayed up due to the back wheels rotation, thus giving a more comfortable and safe journey. As missionaries it’s important to be aware of culture and practical practices that are done as seasons change. These observations help the missionary to connect and understand the people they live among and therefore the be better equipped to engage with them.

It is important to have a mindset where a person is constantly thinking how can I change this conversation into a deeper and more meaningful discussion, in particular a spiritual one, just as Jesus did with the Samaritan woman at the well, where the conversation changed from water to living water. For example as a result of my observation about an extension to a mudguard offering a safer journey the conversation was able to be changed to the protection that we receive from Christ as our shield. How are you allowing everyday habits or observations to shape your conversations to draw others to Christ?