So, I’m sitting in a Southern (as in USA) buffet style
restaurant, eating Mexican food with a group of Filipinos in an Arab country
laughing to myself because this kind of nonsensical situation has been the
theme of my two weeks in the Middle East.
A time of confusion, and then understanding; of sorrow and joy; of hugs
and prayers and bonding and goodbyes.
As my traveling companions and I gathered in the DC airport,
I had no idea what was to come – nor did I understand how the Lord would knit
our hearts as we journeyed to the Middle East (ME).
Les and fellow pray-er, Elizabeth Schenkel
Our first stop was to provide prayer support for a women’s retreat that
was attended by over 175 women from 10 ME cities.
Along with the director of the conference (I will call her Farrah), our
own Elizabeth Schenkel shared with the women about how they could use Rivka
(our follow-up series to Magdalena) in their own ministries as they returned
home.
Initially, our prayers were over the conference time
itself. As we rode in an old school bus
from our arrival city for four hours to the site of the conference, Farrah
received one call after another from women who were having obstacles to their attendance. These were issues ranging from not having
child-care, to death threats from relatives.
She didn't want to leave Em's lap...ever!
We began to understand that this was very unlike any retreat
we had ever attended. As the women
arrived to the conference, their excitement just to be with other believers was
immense. They laughed and hugged and
jumped up and down. Soon, they learned
that these American women were there just to hear their burdens and to pray for
any need or request that they had.
It
started as a trickle – the ladies coming and asking for prayer. But as the weekend progressed the trickle
became a steady stream of women with heavy hearts and broken lives. Yes, they have the joy of the Lord, but their
lives in this country are almost unbearably difficult.
In between our prayer sessions we were able to attend the meetings
and just sit and enjoy their enthusiastic worship and praise. Of course we didn’t understand the words, but
we did understand the language. We were
also privileged to share meals with many of the women and get to know their
stories. We realized that we all have
such similar needs and desires.
Something that was said to us over and over was that these women were touched just
by our being there. Many ladies were
able to unload things they would never want to share with someone they might
see again. I praise God for this time
and the honor to be His hands and feet. After
four days we were on that little bus again bumping along back to the airport to
fly to the next country.
Les and Em parted ways after 2 weeks (more on that later!)
Our next stop was a country in the Persian Gulf. What?? Really?? Yes, indeed,
because we are going to all nations.
There are Christian workers living tin this country; believers who are in much
need of prayer and encouragement. As it
turned out, our ministry was to a Filipino population who were members of
churches in four different cities. These
brothers and sisters had moved there for the promise of a better life. Many of them have left their families behind
in their home country and are sending their earnings home.
"Thank you for coming" was the incessant response to our prayer
Each evening we would arrive at a new church where we would
be fed a wonderful meal. Then we
participated in exuberant worship and deliver messages of encouragement. But we came to find out that they had
gathered there because they heard we came to pray.
So, most of all, they wanted prayer - prayer
for comfort, for health, for safety, for deliverance, for wisdom, and for
hope. As a team, we split up into twos
and found a room or isolated corner to meet alone with our new friends. They would come and unload their burdens….
Many saying that they had never told anyone these things before. We heard stories of abuse and infidelity and
abandonment. Things that made us weep
and just hold our brothers and sisters.
Through it all, we saw their burdens lifted and their hearts renewed
with the joy of the Lord.
These Filipino brothers and sisters live in a country of over 50 different languages. They didn’t need to go into “all the world,”
because the world was coming to them!
And they took this charge on with passion.
While we never got to do direct evangelism,
we got to be the doctors and nurses who bandaged the wounds and brought healing
to the infections in the hearts of the warriors on the front lines. What a joy it was to return the next morning
and see shining faces that reflected true healing of their hearts. God had used us and our prayers as a soothing
balm – and He was getting ready to send them out again.
The other things we got to do, I cannot put in print. But would love to share them with you in
person any time! Please call or write so we can set up a time!
Thanks so much for your partnership!
For the Fame of His Name,
Leslie
What a privilege to pray for this dear sister