Burden.

"What is this?" A young Somali girl asked me pointing to my necklace.

"It's a cross!" I answered.

"What is that for?" She questioned.

"It's to remember Jesus who died on the cross for us," I responded.

"I will never believe Jesus is God!" She exclaimed. "Never ever ever ever."

Those words have been ringing in my head all week: "I will never believe Jesus is God! Never ever ever ever."

Here is this young girl who I have grown to love. We go into their home at least twice a week to work on reading and math. She and her siblings are so fun. They each have smiles that light up the room. They love to make up jokes and laugh. They won't let me be greeted or say goodbye without the biggest, most genuine of hugs. Their mother is kind and welcoming. I have truly grown to love this family. Yet the tough reality has begun to set in: they pray to a god who does not hear them. They are devout for a religion that is not truth. They spend hours a day at a school learning and memorizing a Holy Book that is in many ways contrary to the Bible. If they were to die today, I would not see them in eternity. Ouch.

Along with this deep burden, this week has been a really good week. May we not forget our call. We have been invited into homes, mosques, and shared meals around many different tables with many different people this week. It has been so good. However, it must not be taken lightly. Relationships continue to be built and Bible studies continue with our friend, A. There are also more potentials of Bible studies that we will continue to pursue this week. We are bringing light into thick darkness and at times we become weary. But God is faithful. What comfort it brings that he hears us when we call on him!

 

These verses have been constant in my mind and brought much comfort:

2 Timothy 1:7- For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind.

1 John 4:4- little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Please pray that Bible study continues and that we have open opportunity to share the life saving news of the gospel.

New Normal

"'Once you hit the road, there is no going back to life as it was before.'  How you see God, how you see the world, and how you see yourself is about to change.  Your life will never be normal again, whatever normal means.  Or, hopefully, you will enter into a new normal."

...I read these words in an email soon before this journey started. I could imagine how these words would be manifested in my summer, I could even use past experiences to try to understand what this meant for me, but truthfully, I would never be able to truly understand until I "hit the road."

Distracted.
Distractions have been very real for my team and I this summer. We are still very much fighting the appeal of worldly riches that come with a big city, new friends, and normal every day life. Each day, we must wake up, with our mission for the day strongly branded in our minds. In all honesty, I have not been the most faithful at this every day. However, my prayer is that as I get into the discipline of this this summer, as it becomes the "new normal" every day for the rest of my life.



Tried patience.
We often work long days, we make a lot of new friends and relationships, we go into different communities, we share stories about our father, and we go home. In spite of that, very little fruit has been seen. We may never see fruit this summer or never hear of what fruit came from it. So, we continue to be faithful and rejoice that we do not see everything or know everything. We trust.

Thankful.
Yes, there are distractions. Yes, we have to be patient and trust that God is at work even when we do not see it, but there is so much to be thankful for. One thing to be thankful for is our new friend, A, and her three beautiful children. She does not know the Messiah, but her heart is seeking. We have met her in a time where the newness of living in the US has worn off, her husband has divorced her, and she cannot work. Times are tough. Yet her heart is seeking. We try to study the Word a few times a week together, and there has already been a lot of spiritual warfare. God is good and always faithful. Pray for our friend and her lost and seeking heart.


Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5