My Feelings...In all Honesty...

So, I am sure that you all gave up on this post. I can come up with a million reasons why it has taken me 2.5 weeks, instead of two days, to write this including being busy, sick, having sick little ones, and such, but I should have made time for it. Sorry.

I recently received a card with these words:
"It's an uncertain world that we live in
where so much keeps changing so fast,
And things that we thought we could count on
too soon become things of the past..."

Wow, this so describes the situation in my land. The voting is taking place and we still don't know the outcome, there was a short calm period, and then, out of nowhere, more violence, deaths, protests, etc. I must say that I was discouraged to hear about the recent activity this past weekend, but, at the same time, it is so evident that the Lord is using this to show the people the reality of Islam. So, sometimes there is a struggle within myself. There is a part of me that wants to live in a stable environment where I don't have to worry about when I might be trapped inside my home and having enough food if we are, if I will have to wear the hijab or not, if my friends and family will ever visit me or not because they feel there are security issues, if I need to watch the news to know what parts of the city to avoid. However, I know I keep saying this, but I truly believe that God is preparing hearts in all this to bring people to Him. I believe this with my whole heart. I pray for more laborers right now. The people are opening their hearts and minds. They are listening and receiving Bibles. How could I want anything different than God's will. This is what we are here for. Maybe it is God's will for things to get better, but in these times, with my uncertainty, how could I ask for anything except for the Lord's will to be done. So, maybe, there will be more gunfire outside of my ground floor apartment and there will be moments of doubts and fears. I don't think this will happen, but God is our rock shield, fortress, deliverer, high tower... My prayer is for God's strength and boldness. I know I need God. I know that I can not do anything without Him, and there are times that I confess that to Him and beg Him for the strength and boldness that my family and I need, and also for the attitude to serve Him willingly and joyfully. I read a quote the other day, "I find that it is not the circumstances in which we are placed, but the spirit in which we meet them that constitutes our comfort."-Elisabeth King. It is our attitude that often stinks when our walk with the Lord isn't what it needs to be.

I love the country which God has placed me. If my friends and family would all move here then I would never need to leave. :) My greatest fear is actually in a time where visas are terribly difficult to come by, that we would have to leave. The Lord has knitted my heart with the people and the work here. I am really looking forward to getting this language down so that we can focus on ministry and watch the Lord work in the hearts and lives of the people.

Why No Change…The True Need…

The people of the country are looking for change in the wrong places. They look to the government to protect, provide, and please them. They are looking to men to provide them with things that we know come from the Lord.

1.) God is our strong tower, shield, fortress, rock…when we have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation, we are in the Hands of the Lord and He covers us with his wings.
2.) God provides for our every need. He gives us each day our daily bread. He promises to clothe, shelter, and feed us as we seek first the Kingdom of God and make Christ the center of our lives.
3.) We find comfort, joy, and peace from God alone. He is the God of all comfort! In Him alone can we find joy no matter what the circumstances are, and through Him we can have a peace that passes all understanding!

We know that after Christ is preeminent in this country, then the politics will follow.

The true need here, the same as any country, is first a spiritual need, which demands laborers. “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God,” Romans 10:17. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:14.

We truly believe that God is using the things that are going on here to open people’s eyes to the deadness and wickedness in the false religions. Even the muslims, are readily accepting Bibles and are asking questions about God’s Word. Is God working to fulfill his prophecy in Isaiah 19?

What's Going On...My Perspective...

Part 1 in a 3 Part Series: What's to come:

2) Why No Change?...The True Need…
3) My Feelings…In All Honesty…

The country is in a state of limbo. When we arrived 17 months ago, the country was considered a mostly Islamic country but with a large amount of religious freedom and stability (safety). However, shortly after our arrival, we began hearing of Coptic churches being burned and the people being attacked. Then in January of this year, the youth of the country decided that they had enough. They had enough of being arrested and tortured without cause. They had enough of the government taking their money when they could barely afford to put food on the table. They had enough of the same president that had been in place for 30 long years, and they really didn’t want to see his son take his place. So, after 18 days of protesting, over 840 deaths, and 6,000 injuries, Mubarak stepped down and turned his power over to the military.

So, what has happened since then? The country became a free state, the economy has improved, people are treated fairly, and everyone is satisfied and content, right?? Wrong. The crime rate has gone up, and, according to the people, the economy is even worse than before. Therefore, in the last month, the youth has gone back to the square. We have seen a couple of weeks of violence, with a break for parliamentary elections that were held on Monday and Tuesday, and which will be continued December 14.

These elections are supposed to be the first in more than 30 years that were not fixed. They are particularly important because the members will take a big part in writing the country’s new constitution. The candidates consist of both secular and religious groups. The most extreme group is known as ‘Salafi’. If this group takes the country, every women will be made to veil, the pyramids will be closed, and tourism will no longer be an industry. Of course, churches of any type will not be allowed. The second group (more well-known) known as the ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ or the ‘freedom and justice party’ are a little more lenient but still have a strong Islamic influence. I believe they would heavily tax Christians and other non-muslims, and try to force them out of the country. We hear a lot about these parties, mostly bad in our neighborhood, but when we ask who the people want in office, the large majority of the people answer, “I honestly don’t know.”

Please keep the country and these elections in your prayers. Tomorrow, I will continue with “Why No Change…The True Need…” in sha allah (Lord willing).

Glory be to God for one saved!

Selwa, a 24 year old coptic girl that babysat for us when we first came here, came over to the house today to visit. She sat with tears in her eyes and told me about problems she was going through and how she wanted to go to america or any other country. The conversation quickly turned to religion and I asked her to tell me how she believed she would go to heaven, being that many people call themselves "christians" but believe very differently. After not being able to give me a good answer and changing the subject back to her problems, I was able to tell her my testimony and explain to her that her true need was a personal relationship with Christ through faith alone. She was very interested; it was very obvious that the Lord was working. I sat down with her and lead her through the plan of salvation. After taking much time to make sure she understood, she told me this was something she wanted to do at the time. This young lady began praying in a standing position with her palms up, like the coptics do, but ended it on her knees, face down, begging God to save her.

There was a very sweet moment in the middle of the time we were talking, after going over Romans 10:9-13, that it looked like a light bulb went off in her brain. She said, I always thanked God for the cross and for loving me, but never thought to ask Him for salvation.

She left with gratitude and joy. She talked about how she was going to tell her family. Then, she asked if we could explain it to her sister as well. Thank GOD!!

I am so humbled and overjoyed to see God work in such miraculous ways!!! -Just last night, I felt defeated. - God is Good!!!

"Want to go home?"

So, I haven't written in a while. The last couple of months have been super busy. We have upped our hours in language school and will up them again next week. The kids are doing well. Joshua is potty training and finally getting the hang of it, and Sandy is beginning to talk a little more. I have been a little worried about her speech, but I believe it is coming slowly due to her hearing two languages everyday.

Now that Ramadan is over, I am not sure what to expect to happen in the country. Elections are supposed to be in the next few months (it's difficult to know exactly because they keep changing the month and never give an exact date). The islamic extremists are coming out from under the woodworks and really working their way into the runnings. While the educated population is against these men, the average person (majority) seems to want these men in office.

I battle with thinking on these things and continuously reading the news. My heart will become uneasy, and then the Lord reminds me of His promises. Here is an excerpt from one of my devotions a couple of weeks ago:

Psalm 94:3,6-14,16-19,22-23 – The psalm begins by the psalmist praying for vengeance against those that are boasting in iniquity and hurting and murdering the Christians, widows, and fatherless. Then, it is as the Lord is saying, ‘I made the ear and formed the eye, of course, I hear and see what is going on. I chastise the heathen, of course, I will correct also. I teach knowledge, of course, I have knowledge. But, blessed is the man that I chasten and teach out of my law. For, I will not cast off my people or forsake them.’ “Who will rise up for me against the workers of evildoers? Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.” Then, he speaks about how they are accusing him and he is innocent, but how the Lord is our defense and refuge.

The Lord is showing me that He hears, sees, and knows what is going on in the world. He will avenge the heathen, but He will also chastise the believers. He says, I know what they are doing wrong, but I also know what you are doing wrong. Then, He asks who will stand up against them. I don’t believe He wants someone else who will rant and rave against them or to give revenge. I believe He wants someone who will tell them the gospel. Then, the psalmist said, I am falling, but the Lord had mercy and held me up. He gave comfort and delighted my soul in the midst of tribulation.

Lord, Father, God, Savior, I understand now that You know what is going on in the world and will get revenge. Yet, You want me to focus more on my life and walk with You and minister to those evildoers and workers of iniquity. Help me to set my focus and to continually be a witness for others. I love You, Jesus! Amen.

Recently, someone asked me, "Doesn't that just make you want to go home?" I have to say, "No, definitely not." My Lord is Great and He deserves all honor, glory, and praise. Please pray with me for boldness to do His will.

A Year, Already!?!

Cant believe we have been in Egypt a year now. Two weeks ago, I walked into the bedroom one night and told David how happy I was that the first year was coming to an end. I made it. From what I heard, that was the most difficult time for missionaries. Then, after that, I had one very difficult week-maybe the worst since the first month. Lonely, disappointed, stressed (did I say lonely?) - these are a few of the emotions I was experiencing. I thank the Lord that He saw me through it, and I am doing much better now. I have learned that there will always be trials, but the Lord is always there to help me through them. An attribute that I love about Him is His LOVINGKINDNESS!

This past year I have been shocked by:

*How difficult it was to find and buy furniture to set up our home. Then, how long it took to get it delivered. "Really, you can't deliver before 60 days?"

*How the Lord used Churches to provide for our needs and encourage us through prayers and letters and cards.

*How it can be so fun and frustrating at the same time to learn a language.

*How many american items I can get in this city!

*How religious the people are. Didn't realize that a country could be so religious. -But how easy it is to witness to people because of this. :)

*How quickly things can change. Aka-the revolution.

The Lord has been so good to me this past year. There have been some tough times and there still are, BUT, there are so many MORE GREAT times. God's grace has been so evident to me and to my family. And those tough times have grown me closer to Christ!

Culture Shock or Sin?

In the last week, I have heard so many people talk about how much they hate Israel. It seems like most of the people in this country does not even think of them as people and would love for the people of Israel to be slaughtered like cows. This has added to some frustration I have had (like feeling used all the time) and I have found myself with a very bad attitude towards the people I am supposed to love and serve.

And then it hit me: CULTURE SHOCK! Right!?!?

I spent some time talking to David about these things a few nights ago. He agreed with me that some of the things we have recently heard (not on television, or through the "grape vine", but from people we know) have been horrible things. Then, he discussed the idea of culture shock. Does it happen? Certainly! But the Biblical term for my thinking was "Sin". Ouch. Without realizing it, I had made an excuse for my sin. So thankful that my husband was so honest with me so that I was able to confess it to the Lord and ask Him to help me to love people as He does.

Matthew 5:43-48 - Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.