Community living is a completely new situation for me. I’ve lived my entire life in the same house with the same people—my family. I know their strengths and weaknesses, how to push their buttons and how to soothe their pains. I know when to say something and when not to say something. I really know them.

Moving to a foreign country, thousands of miles away, and living in a house with 12 strangers is quite the learning experience. And it’s different then living with family. Yes, these people ARE my family, but they’re also something more. They’re my team—the people I serve the Lord and the community with. And because we’re a team, unity is essential—especially since we’re serving the Lord. This fact makes me think twice before saying something short or snappy. It forces me to come up with something encouraging to say to each of my team members every day. Living in a team community forces me to look past the petty things that annoy me to see the Godly being inside every one of my team members.

Community living has changed me. God has placed 13 completely different people in the same house for a reason. We each hold a different personality and a different outlook on life. Living in unity with them requires me to be non-judgemental about their values and to listen to why they believe what they believe.

It’s a pretty enlightening experience.