Be part of the ministry in Moldova

Knowing she needed to be creative in order to find friends, Diane*,  an OM worker in North Africa, joined a neighbourhood gym. Every day, she spent two and a half hours there, participating in group classes and using the exercise equipment. Still, she wondered how to start friendships with the women she encountered.

Once, she invited the women from her Zumba class—an aerobic dance workout originating in Latin America—to her apartment for a Latino-themed dinner. They came and enjoyed the meal, but the gesture didn’t lead to ongoing appointments.

Occasionally, Diane met one or two ladies for coffee or a meal at a nearby restaurant. But Diane craved something else—a reason to regularly meet with a friend and get to know her North African acquaintances on a deeper level.

After class finished one evening, Anaya*, Dianne’s instructor at the gym, asked her to wait for a minute. “I’m going to walk with you.”