When the team arrived to Budapest on Saturday morning, an airport transfer service was standing by to bring us to Debrecen (about a 2.5 hour drive). Our group of 10 was divided into two minivans. But the second minivan would have two additional passengers: Ahmed and his mother.

Ahmed, from Jordan, is beginning medical school this fall at the university in Debrecen. He and his mother are here getting Ahmed settled in and ready for school. From our team, Than and Brenda especially enjoyed getting to know Ahmed during the 2.5 hour ride from Budapest.

Sunday afternoon, while walking around town with Jon Good, Than recognized Ahmed and his mother walking nearby. “Hello – good to see you again! How are you enjoying Debrecen so far?” The friendly reunion seemed as exciting to Ahmed as it was for our team members. It’s a comforting thing to see a familiar face in a foreign land. It seemed especially comforting to Ahmed, who is preparing to live in this foreign land.

But this reunion proved to be more than just a mere reunion of new acquaintances.

A large part of Jon & Amanda Good’s mission in Debrecen is meeting and connecting with local university students – especially students who come from outside Hungary to study here. In fact, their newly-formed English-language Bible study is one of their fastest-growing ministries. (Which is where our team spent Monday evening.)

Because of this friendly reunion on the street, and because Jon happened to be with us, another new ministry connection was made. An invitation was extended. Hospitality was offered. Jon was able to personally welcome Ahmed to Debrecen and offer welcoming hospitality to a student in this foreign land.

Perhaps Ahmed will remember this friendly welcome and come check out Jon’s English Bible study group. Perhaps Ahmed will find the Bible study group to be a tremendous source of friendship. Perhaps Ahmed will encounter a lonely discouraged student at the university and invite this student to join the English-speaking group. We may never know how this story ends. But we know how it began…

…with an invitation that came as a result of a friendly reunion with a student we happened to meet when we arrived to Hungary.

Perhaps more often than we realize God places just the right people at just the right place and at just the right time.

Perhaps more often than we realize God asks us to be those people… placed in someone’s life at just the right time and place to make a difference.