Some of you may or may not know that I spent the majority of my 2021 year living with a family here. They are not believers. As a matter of fact, I met them while I was working back in September. They had opened their home to me and let me stay with them for 4 months. (Such beautiful generosity – isn’t it?!) I was looking back and reflecting on it, because in the middle of my homestay. I always wondered: God, what are you doing? I am just eating their food and spending time with them. I felt this immense pressure to just receive for those months. It was annoying, but I learned so much about delighting in Jesus.
There is a girl, my first student I taught English to (and also the girl I lived with). She has a beautiful heart. She was an angry girl when I met her, but I have seen her open up her heart to others more and more. She has asked to read the bible with me and pray. She also got healed months ago and was surprised, but never told me until later when she asked me to pray for someone else with an illness because God answered my prayer. She recently asked me: how do you pray? I asked her what she meant. She said, “I want to learn to pray to Jesus. Teach me.” I did. Kept it very simple. I was truly floored when she asked me because I have been praying for her so much. Keep praying for her.
I asked you to pray for my friend to get a job. He got the job! He has been continuing his interest in the bible and Jesus. As a matter of fact, he has been asking about baptism and sharing his desire to be baptized. It is truly a beautiful thing to see the Holy Spirit do the teaching and leading of those around me. The funny thing is, we have only read the creation story and are still in Genesis in our search for truth in the Bible together.
The Harvest is ripe. God is moving and receiving those who are lost. This same guy is so earnest in sharing his story with anyone and everyone. Just this week, he started his new job and asked me to stay to watch and support him. He is teaching English. I stayed and within the first few minutes his student asked, “What do you believe in?” He quickly shared his story from his Muslim background to finding something new, finding the truth in God. He then asked me to share afterward. I was in awe of Jesus’ restoration in his life for hope. He has gone through so much, but Jesus gives him this furious love. Keep praying for him.
There are a couple of things I have been reflecting on because I have been in the slow transition of learning culture and language. I forget sometimes that God is using me still and being a light through me in my stumbling use of the language. He uses my weaknesses (very much so) for His glory. Thank you, Jesus. We have our limits and it’s okay if God wants us to be stretched. Our discomfort for a moment gives people a glimpse of the love of the Father.
I also wanted to remind you all (back home) that despite feeling like you are not doing anything for God. It is the part of knowing Him and making time to get to know Him that is important. If it wasn’t for the times I spent reading, praying, and listening to Him. I would not be able to see the fruit or be a light. We cannot be a light if we do not start the flame from Him.
We cannot share the living waters if we are empty jars.
“Jesus said to her.” Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”
John 4:13-15
So many people are like the woman at the well. They are thirsty for truth. Pray for the unreached nations around the world. Who knows? Maybe God will ask you to join Him in His plan to bring the nations back to Him.
Things to pray for:
— I have met many new people. Pray that I can be soft to the Holy Spirit and steward those relationships well.
— Pray for my family (I lived with). There is a breakthrough happening in the girl. Pray for the mom too. And for the son.
— Pray for the unreached nations. My heart is burdened only through God’s heart and I pray that you ask for His heart.
