HUMP DAY Closed with a Bang

HUMP DAY Closed With A Bang (or a swallow)

The Schedule Gets Busy From Here

    Good Morning from the Arabian Peninsula.  I woke up rather early this morning even for me, somewhere around 4 am.  Five times a day in this region there is a "Call To Prayer,"  this morning it seemed exceedingly loud to me and woke me up.  Usually I can sleep right through it, no problems at all.  This week the team visited a Mosque where we prayed to One Living, True, and Active God that there would soon be a Great Revival in this land and call back to Him.  During this visit, we were talking and a comment was made what would happen if the Believers in America would seriously pray 5-7 times a day to God for Revival;  It makes you think, what would happen?

    Yesterday, Hump Day: was a day filled with tears, homesickness, fatigue, heat and humidity exhaustion and ended with much laughter, bonding, smiles, and prayer.  The middle of the week is ALWAYS the toughest day of the week on these adventures and yesterday was no different.  It is the day where the enemy feels it is time to attack with abandon and thus I usually try to keep this day low key.  So yesterday, we started our day as we do everyday with a time of devotion and prayer, then we headed to a place where many in this region come to pray to (supposedly) the tomb of the prophet Job.  Here we spent our own time in prayer for God to speak to each of the thousands upon thousands that will come to this place.  We especially prayed that God would speak through visions and dreams as the season of fasting and prayer, called Ramadan will begin shortly after we leave.  This region so needs to have the Almighty God speak to them.

    Then we arrived back where are staying to have a time of rest because we knew it was going to be a very late evening (usually we are in by 8:30/9:00pm) but last night we were eating dinner at 8:30 and back around 10:00 or later (but we had to stop for ice cream before arriving home because, led by Becca; the team wanted ice cream). 

    We went to visit the man (a seeker, but I think is already a Believer) that we visited on our first day.  He is a leader of his people, and at my request; wanted to show us his families herd of camels and allow us to milk camels, drink the fresh milk (see the pictures on FB) and it came to be known, introduce us to his cousin; who will soon be sharing in the Good News.  

     I forgot that in the middle of our day, Dona Beth was invited to be part of a meeting and ESL class with a young lady, who is a Believer. 

     Before I tell you what we will be doing today, I thought I would share with you some of heartbreaking statistics of this region and country.  In this country, there are less then a 1000 Believers in the whole country, this country has one of the fewest amount of workers in the world (less then 20) and the closest ones next to where we are and who we are working with is 850 kilometers away.  Scaring a frightening facts for a country that is primed and ready for a revival.

     Today begins 2 days of hectic schedule.  Beginning around 4, we will begin to have at least 5 meetings, with the potential to 7 or more meetings, which has the potential to be around 300 people we will talk to in these days. Skip, Steve and Gavin will be speaking, performing music and the other 4 of us will be speaking to each one of the people about Kingdom things.  Please pray for all of us on this.

     Here are the verses that we will be part of our daily devotion:



Philippians 4:13

¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

2 Timothy 4:17

 ⁷ But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.

We definitely can feel your prayers and love here.  Thank you.

Day 3 Ended, Day 4 Begins and Our Middle of the Trip Begins

Day 3 Ended

Day 4 Has Begun

Our Middle or Halfway Point

    Yesterday was a very long and busy day for us, not because of the multitude of visits but because we spent quite along time coming and going to our destination.  There were many winding roads and many ups and downs as we headed to our destination.   Our journey took us southwest of our location to a closed place and a place of much danger for believers.  This was our most intense day of the trip because of the location.  However along the way we were met by 2 seekers and were able as the day went to share and become friends.  We were also able to shout to heavens from the cliffs about how Great our God is.  Pretty cool experience.  When we arrived our location, we were able to spend much time in prayer and sharing with our new friends.

     As we met last night, it is amazing that the group is beginning to see the weight of being a Believer in this land.  For them to turn to Our God means there is a great cost.  There have been several conversations that have gotten all the way to the point and then they stop or in case of a recent conversation, the person  said that I lean towards Jesus, but my family and the government it would not be good.  There is a GREAT cost in this region, something we in America never will understand due to our freedoms.  Please hold up the group in prayers that we would have wisdom but more importantly, that these people would understand that the cost here might be hard, but the eternal rewards are fantastic.

     I have been blessed with another great team.  From our youngest is Becca (not my daughter, Becca; but because of the name she immediately is a favorite) to our oldest Steve (Gavin, Skip, Bernie and Dona Beth make up the rest) this is a fantastic team.  They have bonded and at every turn in the road or up the hill, you see the Light of our Lord shining in their faces and in their actions.  Truly a wonderful thing to be with them.

     Today we will head out of the city again for a time of prayer, then to have more conversations with the ESL and finally to head back out to the Sheik's home to spend time with him (yes, he is a Seeker), to learn culturally about camels.  We will get to milk them and the group is hoping to ride them.  And through the whole time, we are praying to add to the Kingdom one more Eternal Brother.

    Today is our halfway point on this adventure.  We are all getting physically tired, emotionally drained and yet expectant about what God has yet planned for us.  This is today's devotion:

Romans 8:26

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

    Please pray for us that today, our HUMP DAY; that we would first be able to share and add to the Kingdom.  Secondly for our physical and emotional fatigue.  And finally, Please join us in praising the Lord for allowing us to join Him in this, His Work.



Day 3 Ended and Now we start Day 4

DAY 3 ENDED, NOW DAY 4 STARTS

    It always amazes me what God does and how His plans are not our plans.  Yesterday we went to visit a friend up about an hour outside of the city, where we broke bread, shared in music (Gavin did a fantastic job, so Spirit filled) and some great conversation.  This person is so close.  We asked if we could pray for him and his response was I want to pray for you because you have come a long way to see me.  Truly a wonderful time.  Then a friend entered his home right before, and in most cases the conversation would stop, but when asked if we should continue he replied, "Yes, please continue."  The friend was a government official and it was so wonderful to see his willingness to continue and not be ashamed.  So great.

     Then on the way back we stopped at the highest point of the area and prayed over the area.  God tells us to take everything to Him in prayer, He listens and will answer.  And we were able to see a herd of camel running alongside of us on the drive home...TOO COOL.

      The evening was filled with another ESL and more open sharing of the Spirit, the lives here and many conversations.  Last night's conversation was on forgiveness and bitterness.  Pretty deep conversations.

      Today we are headed to different places.  One is for prayer, one is to visit the burial tomb of the prophet Job and the last is to partake in a meal and another time of sharing in the home of a seeker.  Right now it seems that we will be partaking of a traditional meal also at the home.  And yes he owns many camels.  It seems that I am not the only one on the team who loves CAMELS.

       Here is today's verse for us on strength:



Habakkuk 3:19

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights

Thank you again for your prayers.

Day 2 Ended and Day 3 Begins

DAY 2 ENDED WITH A BANG

DAY 3 WILL BE ABOUT CAMELS

    Good Morning from the Arabian Peninsula where we have been enjoying the weather, about 90 degrees and 75% humidity, to the wonderful people of this region.  Yesterday was a pretty good day, as they should be when you are walking with the Lord.

    Yesterday 3 of our group (Dona Beth, Becca, and Gavin) began the day by going to a home of a wonderful person where they were welcome in and we able to share, talk and enjoy the beginning steps of this lady.  The other 4 of us headed to the Souk (market) and did intercession and interaction with the local people.  Then we all came back and begin our time open conversation in the English classes that were happening.  Dona Beth, Steve and Becca were able to be with the children and enjoy their openness, friendliness and just fun.  Then later the group met with a group of adults learning English and were able to speak about families, hobbies, interest and pretty much anything else that arose.  They all said that they enjoyed this because of the sharing that was happening.  Then in the evening we participated in our first Church service.  What started as 20 people ended with over 60 (yes I counted),  listening to Skip speak God's Word and challenging the people to become light and remember that Jesus came to save the world.  And Gavin joined in with their worship group to celebrate worshipping our Lord.  It was a good day!

     Today we are headed to visit the local Mosque and pray to OUR LORD.  Then we head outside where we are to meet a "friend" and soon a "brother."  We will be with him and his family and his many, many  camels (I will be in Heaven, love those animals) and share a wonderful meal with eternal results.  

     Today during our time together, we will be looking at the following Words:

Psalm 68:35

You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!

     Thank you again for walking this road with us...



DAY 1 ENDED AND DAY 2 BEGINS

DAY 1 ENDED AND DAY 2 BEGINS

    I started to write the blog last night about Day 1 ending but crashed and slept until about 2 hours ago so forgive me for not writing.  I have tried to upload pictures onto the blog and right now it doesn't seem to be working, so please check out the Facebook album. 

     Yesterday was a good day, although the team was exhausted.  We spent time sharing a Lebanese meal together and then came back where we are staying for some orientation and a meeting with one of the Pastor's of the churches where both Skip and Steve will be preaching at towards the end of the week.  Then we changed plans and the team went up to a high point to overlook the valley and pray for the people of this region, the contacts for this week and the Work that is happening.  During our time together when we returned, the team shared how the hearts of the workers here and then praying together and for the area were the highlight of the day.  It is always great when God's people come together with one heart, one direction, and one goal to pray unto the Lord.  Pretty good day.

      Today, or right now the team is still asleep, they needed their sleep.  We will begin here in about 3 hours.  The day will be a busy day, with meetings, ESL, a couple of home visits, a time of interaction in the city and then tonight Skip will be speaking at the English Speaking Church and Gavin will be playing music.  It is a very exciting time. 

      God has led me to share each morning during our devotion about strength.  This is how we start our day in devotion and prayer.  So I thought I would share with you our verse so that as you could pray for us as we begin our day and you end your day. 

Colossians 1:10-12

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you^[a] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.


Please continue to hold the group up in prayers and thank you for standing beside us on this WONDERFUL ADVENTURE.

OVER 30 HOURS AGO

OVER 30 HOURS AGO

    Over a year ago a group of 7 of us started a journey that has brought us to the Arabia Peninsula last night  or should I say early this morning.  It took us over 30 hours to travel from California and Oklahoma to make it here and it all begins in just a few short hours.  The team is all sleeping right now or at least I hope they are. 

    The journey over here although long was filled with lots of laughter and fun.  It was amazing to watch the team jell together over the flight.  We had one person (Steve) who after putting his luggage through the scanners instead of walking though the body scanners, ducked up the luggage cart rack and had the airport security laughing so hard along with us laughing.  Of course they did send him back through but it was fun to watch.

    There were conversation throughout the plane as everyone got to know each and of course there were the hilarious ways that we all looked while sleeping on the plane.  The best look I saw was of one of us (Gavin) who slept, mouth open and one open.  But you will see no pictures of any of this.  Way, way to embarrassing.

     I will start posting pictures tonight of what is happening.  It is great to be here, with luggage, with our bodies tired but here and to be able to begin the journey that started a year ago.  We could not have come this far with each of you. Thank you for coming along side of us, with your support and prayers. 

    This is the passage that we ended our night with last night:



1 Peter 4:11

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen



The Arabian Peninsula: Soon Begins

THE ARABIAN PENINSULA

 

 



    I just couldn't resist myself but to add this picture.  Jeannine sent it to me last week and I find it so right since in just about 4 hours I will be starting the trip to the Arabian Peninsula.  Here are the basics for the trip:

 

1.  There is a team of  seven of us (from California and Oklahoma) headed to the southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula.

2.  We will arrive there after 30 plus hours in transit.

3.  We are doing a multitude of different things from working at the beach, doing ESL, working with local churches and other various things.

4.  We are 9-11 hours ahead of your time (11 hours from California, 9 hours from Oklahoma).

5.  We will be in-country for 9 days, and then another approximately 30 hours home.

 

    This only covers a few of different things we will be doing.  The team is very excited about what is going to happen.  We have already begun to see many works.  There is a great harvest beginning and we just the beginning of the things that will happen. 

    Please lift up the team daily, the people we will come in contact with and our families here in the States.  Please check back often or even daily to this blog to see what God is doing on this trip.  Also please leave your comments, I would love to share then with the team.

 

God Bless,

Ron