A story bigger than me

I imagine that some of my old friends might be curious about what became of Jimmy Foster, whom they once knew. Many know that I married a Romanian and moved to her country. Some may even have heard that our meeting was connected with trips I made behind the Iron Curtain a few years after I became a Christian in 1985. But no one knows the whole story. That is why I have decided to write it down in the pages that follow.

Over the years, I have had the pleasure of reconnecting with some old friends from my hometown of Greenville, Cal- ifornia, and the surrounding area, as well as visiting former college professors, employers, and fellow auto mechanics. I have had some communication with them through social me- dia, but nothing of real depth. I can understand and respect anyone’s reluctance to initiate a discussion with someone they know, regarding the subject of that person’s Christian con- version. In fact, before 1985, I too avoided everyone who wanted to talk to me about Jesus, God, or the Bible.

As you read this book, you may think, “Sorry, Jimmy, but I’m not interested in religion. It may work for you, but it doesn’t appeal to me.” If you feel that way, I assure you that I understand your reservations. I am aware that the world is teeming with false religiosity, but I also believe that this perversion of the truth does not exclude its existence; on the contrary, it confirms it. Therefore, I ask you to be patient and read this story to the very end before drawing any conclusions.

This book also exists because I feel a duty to my Roma- nian brothers, sisters, friends, and neighbors who may know something about me but have never heard the whole story. However, the main reason I wrote it is to give you a step-by- step account of my journey from darkness to Light. That may sound somewhat cliché, but it is the most vivid way to de- scribe what I have experienced. It is truly a story bigger than me. And my sincere hope is that, after you have journeyed with me, you will better understand who I am and why I am who I am, and that one day we will meet face-to-face and continue to get to know one another.

In one sense, I am the author of this book and have written my own story, but in another sense, I am not the sole author of either the book or my life. As you read, I hope you will discover that mere coincidence cannot explain the experiences I have had. The truth is that my life has been so intertwined with Providence that I feel compelled to share it.