This past week was another big answer to prayer! I received permission to volunteer in the orphan housing! Until now I’ve been going each week with with other volunteers but now I have permission to go on my own.

It really breaks my heart to have to go and then leave. Two of the kids tonight were playing a game with me, and I had my coat on (because I was cold) and they said oh, are you leaving? –no. Is your friend leaving? –no. How long will you stay? –for a while. Until tomorrow!? –:( no.

These are the ones who were left or taken and now they find themselves stuck–stuck because of their parents choices, stuck because of bureaucracy, stuck because of the older kids’ abuse, stuck because of satan’s lies….the biggest lie is that they are unchosen.

But we know the truth. They have been chosen, by God, for his compassion, grace and mercy. These children are so loved by God, they are set aside with a purpose, they have value in His eyes, and yet so many will never know that love or that purpose or value.

This week when I went to the home, I was joined by a group of others from a local prayer group…we all go to different churches, from different backgrounds, but united in this hope–to show the love of Christ to these kids. We sang songs, gave hugs, prayed with them, laughed with them, got to know them a bit more and of course surprised them with some treats. They blessed us too–when at one point they began to sing “Anchor” by Hillsong. The words echo from a deep chasm in their souls, which can only be reached by a deep and strong anchor. These children, so unsure of their future, sang about God standing unshakable in their life…..if that doesn’t move you to compassion for them, then ask God to move in your heart, to awaken you. Is our faith truly anchored by Christ?

So I wonder. How does God want us to love these children? How can we be Christ to them, how can we share Christ with them? Christ himself prayed about us in John 17:15 that we would not be taken out of the world but that we would be protected from the evil one…and yet I hope with my whole being for each of these kids to be taken out of the situation they find themselves in. So how can we encourage them while they remain in this reality? How can the Spirit show them that their life is not worthless, is not forgotten, is not abandoned by Christ?

God, open my eyes, open our eyes….teach us to love the orphan, to love the ones unchosen. Help us to teach them about your redeeming power, your love for them, your purpose for them. Let us be your arms to hold them, to embrace them and love them. Let us be your quiet and comforting, strengthening and encouraging voice. Let us speak truth with love. Let us hurt with them, cry with them and rejoice with them. Do not let our eyes be blinded to their trials. Let us not cover over their struggle with a shallow word, but let us be willing to go to the very depth of their heart to walk with them into your glory. God, open their hearts to you. Do the work that only you can do. Help them to hunger and search for you, and do not hide yourself from them. God show us how to love.

Anchor

I have this hope
As an anchor for my soul
Through every storm
I will hold to You

With endless love
All my fear is swept away
In everything
I will trust in You

There is hope in the promise of the cross
You gave everything to save the world You love
And this hope is an anchor for my soul
Our God will stand
Unshakeable

Unchanging One
You who was and is to come
Your promise sure
You will not let go

Your Name is higher
Your Name is greater
All my hope is in You

Your word unfailing
Your promise unshaken
All my hope is in You

(Listen to the song Anchor HERE!)

*Two pages were redacted for print only, due to security in Egypt–Check your mail to see what you’re missing here!

**Sorry for the typo (is??)

Wow. What a wonderful experience I’ve just had.

This Spring I was invited to join a team to teach English in Egypt and I heartily accepted the invitation! We were going to work with a group of locals, young adults, who take their relationship with Christ and His call on their lives very seriously. For them, the risks are very high, but the risk is worth it and they are willing to share the Gospel no matter what that means. To be surrounded by people like this will really challenge you, as well as encourage you…..at least this is the affect it had on me.

The area where we were, was exactly as I would have imagined for the country of Egypt…it was crowded, loud, colorful, dry & dusty, animals here and there, and riddled with fast drivers (though no one really can prepare you for HOW fast). Our English team was comprised of Americans, a Canadian, Polish & Romanian gals and a German! We partnered with a group of Egyptian believers who were so gracious and welcoming to us.

Each day we would meet in the morning together, then go into our English classes, conversational & reading groups. We used the Scriptures in our reading group and it was so fun to open and study them with such young teens. Many have grown up in Coptic homes, which is a very strict ancient Christian religion, based deeply in tradition & works, so it was particularly exciting to share with them that God died for us before while we were still sinners and that it wasn’t because of anything we had done to deserve his grace, but that He offers it freely! We ended each night with another group session, a testimony, worship & group activities. …usually youth games are cheesy and lame, but this group really knew how to put together some amazing activities!

One thing that really encouraged me was during our evening program early into the week. We had just begun to worship, when all the power went out. It was totally black, and yet the worship team didn’t even skip a beat and kept on singing!

We sang for about 20 more minutes, with nothing but a few cell phone lights, and continued our whole evening program as if nothing was wrong. We did spend some extra time in prayer that night and it was so clear that the Spirit of God was present with us. This team was such a witness, in that despite the power outage, they pressed on and didn’t let it deter them but actually compelled them into deeper prayer and worship. It was amazing. I couldn’t help but thinking about what our churches would do if the power suddenly went out and stayed out for an hour…..would we have kept going? Or just sit stunned, wondering what we should do?

One of the many students who blessed me, was very quiet in the beginning, and always on her phone. But one day she brought her Arabic Bible and I found the scripture that I have written on my arm so she could see. Later on she found me and through a translator asked what concerns I have, because she had a list of them with verses in her Bible and she wanted to write my name by that verse so she could remember to pray! Wow. Who would have imagined that would happen!

(Later she gave me the note below as part of her homework–hilarious!)

The Egyptian team shared with us about their ministries, educating children, witnessing throughout villages, leading Bible studies with women, teaching music, teaching video editing, and more. It’s incredible how they have found practical ways to influence their community & country with the Gospel. I would ask that you say a prayer for them–that they would continue in boldness, that they would be protected from the dangers surrounding them both physically and spiritually, that they would have provision for their needs and for open doors in witnessing. One lady said that at the market, a seller had remembered her name because she stood out to her as different than anyone else because of her kind character. These are just the opportunities one would ask for–an open person who is seeking the reason behind a visibly different life. Would we be noticed for the same?

On the last day we were in Egypt, we visited a monastery that was built over the place where some of the earliest Christians began a communal society. In the mid 200’s, Christian monks & nuns separated themselves from the rest of society, dedicated themselves to charity and prayer. It was an interesting place to visit. The newer monastery was similar to other places I’ve been, but significantly it is a place that most Christian and Coptic parents bring their children to be baptized. A short distance away was an archeological dig of the original site which was more interesting. Here, there are remains to the original baptismal, as well as other pieces of the settlement. Much has been stolen or removed for  safety, but from what we saw, it had been a very large and beautiful settlement of early Christians living in Egypt.

Over all, God really showed me a new kind of devotion to Him. The people I met face persecution daily, and yet have so much joy. They are cut down, shut in, kept out, etc and yet they persevere in Christ. It was refreshing to serve with a new group of teenagers too, to see their excitement to learn, to teach me Arabic, to dance during worship, and learning more about Jesus. There’s something great about trying to share the Gospel in a foreign language…..you’ve got to keep it simple. I’m sure there’s more I can say, but for your sake, I’ll end this post now.

Please keep them in your prayers! Just today, the government has closed down all Christian camps and another American team had to evacuate. Please pray. Our God is big, and He’s more powerful than any of the trials we face, we only need to trust in Him!

We had our English class under this tree. A new friend gave me this bracelet which quotes Genesis 45:5b which says “…it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.”

Well. It has been quite some time since I’ve written. I know many of you have been keeping up with me outside of this blog, but for those of you who haven’t, I’m sure there is quite a bit that has happened that you don’t know about. (If you fall into that boat I’ll attach my last two prayer letters at the end of this post.)

To be brief, let me just say that the last 6 months that I’ve been in the US has been a wonderful blessing….I’ve grown much in my faith, learned new things about God and myself, grew deeper in relationships…meeting new people and being reacquainted with old friends, getting some answers & direction on my health (which had drastically declined in Romania), and much more.

Through a process of discernment, prayer, invitations and conversations, I’ve decided to accept an invitation to return to Romania for a time. I will be leaving this Friday, June 30th! This seems soon, and yes, it is, but this has actually been developing for a while but I was waiting on a few other things before announcing it.

While in Romania, I will be working alongside homes that help young women and new Moms get on their feet to become self-suffient in society, and hopefully through this, showing them the love of Christ which gives our life purpose and hope. I’m planning to be there for 3 months and be praying during that time to see if this could be something I could invest my life in. Please be praying about this with me. This is an exciting opportunity and hopefully you will continue to journey with me into this new chapter.

Also, I will be traveling to another country that I will leave unnamed, to participate in an outreach unlike anything I’ve ever done. Once the trip has concluded, I’ll give an update of what we were doing & how it all went. For now, be praying for Divine guidance, strength, courage and protection both physically and Spiritually. This will be soon after I leave, so be in fervent prayer.

For now, this is really all I can say. I will write again once I am settled in Romania. Will you join me in this adventure? Please be praying, I will need your support in this! The photo at the beginning of this post was part of a vision that came to me of this next stage….like a flower just on the cusp of blooming. This could be the beginning of something big, and we will all have to wait, trust and see what God will bring and do!

Here are those older prayer letters that never were posted here:

September 2016

April 2017