Noticing God on a bus, and all around

I have officially moved to a suburb of Athens, Greece, where I'll be living and teaching during the next year. What I've been struck by most since I've been here is God's presence with me, his care and provision and how others are Christ to me. Moving to a completely new environment has opened me up to noticing the sweet ways God tells me moment by moment that he loves me, has allowed me to realize and live my dependence on him.

This started becoming apparent to me on my third day here, when I became separated from my group at the beach. They all boarded a really crowded bus headed back to our house, and because I'm not aggressive enough to navigate crowded public transportation, I did not. I didn't yet have phone service, nor can I read or speak Greek, nor did I understand how the public bus system works.

As I watched the bus drive away, there were about three seconds in which I wanted to break down into tears. Then I turned to a girl my age who spoke English waiting at the bus stop, and asked her how to get back to the neighborhood I live in. She and the people she was with invited me with them, saying they would take me. After a 20-minute bus ride, I exited the bus with the girl and she told me the next bus to take, and then left.

This time, a woman sitting on the bench at the bus stop directed me, and after waiting about a half an hour for the bus I needed, I got on and asked the bus driver which stop I needed next. He said he would let me know.

This turned out to be one of the most beautiful legs of the trip -- I got to ride for about 30 minutes through Athens, seeing the sights and understanding how the areas of the city fit together.

There were little moments throughout this bus ride specific to my heart that let me know God was with me and everything would be OK -- I saw a car like my best friend's, we passed the United States embassy, and a high school boy waved at me, even though people here don't really acknowledge one another unless they know you. All of these people and things were God's presence to me, and I am so grateful for each of them.

When I got off the bus at my stop, my housemates were walking toward me and yelled my name, after which we group hugged in the street. They'd split into two groups to look for me, and one of them was actually at the very back of the last bus on which I rode -- I was at the very front. I felt so loved and taken care of by people and God.

Take-away messages? Be nice to people who don't speak English. And open yourself up to noticing God all around you -- he's there, waiting for you to notice.

Mia Pohlman is a Perryville, Missouri, native and graduate of Truman State University with a bachelor's degree in English. She now lives in Athens, Greece, where as a Fulbright fellow she teaches English.