Dear friends,
Thank you so much for the notes, letters and encouragement I received after my last posting. Your love and support have meant so much! God has really been doing a work of healing and I’m much better – after three weeks of a liquid diet I can now eat many different solids. I still don’t know what happened but I really appreciate your prayers! It has been a difficult time. Two of my team mates were killed in a car accident ten days ago – Lizyanet survived but she lost her husband and only child, 11 year old Rachel. Another one of my team mates has been under significant attack that has caused her to start ‘cutting’ – slashing her arms and abdomen. I could list dozens of situations that have happened to close friends recently – there does indeed seem to be an intentional attack against workers lately.
I’m in the ‘third stage’ of the three ministry commitments that I had back to back. The field orientation went very well and we were able to find a simple bed and breakfast near Ephesus where we could meet on the terrace. I enjoyed getting to know all our new recruits - it is encouraging to have new people in three new cities with more on the way!
Your prayers were answered for the Kanat camp! It was an opportunity to see God work in amazing ways. We had over 45 participants and were grateful that of the 15 teachers, most were Turks. We found that some of our brand new participants from two years ago were now the worship leaders in their church. We initiated a mentoring system this time that really increased the learning and change. Our last session of worship and communion included much weeping and repentance. Of those that stood up to give testimonies, not one person mentioned music lessons, worship seminars or creative workshops – they all testified to the new work of God in their lives. We are very grateful.
I’m currently in Azerbaijan where we have 14 participants who work in Kazakhstan, Kygyzstan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and Oman. It’s a privilege to serve them. It seems to me that we are teaching pretty basic stuff but it’s the first time many of them have heard these things. The couple from Yemen – who have been there 7 years – said, “Why is this the first time we are being taught this – we needed to know this years ago!” So we are encouraged that the teaching is hitting its mark. Each participant will present their action plans on Friday – please pray that the Lord will help them to implement everything that He wants them to.
I return to Istanbul on Saturday the 29th and then on Monday I will go back to the chaos that is the foreign police to find out what Ankara has had to say about my residence permit. One of three things will happen – 1) I may be told that I can apply and will need to go back outside and fight the crowds again to get a number and restart the application process; 2) I may be told that I have been denied a residence permit and will need to go in and out of the country every 90 days or; 3) I may be deported then. I will go with money, toothbrush and plenty of reading material but I would love you to pray that God would give a breakthrough and that I will be granted the 5 year residence that Dave has. (though he keeps telling me that if I want to get a little house in Greece, he’ll come out and visit me :-))
Grateful for your prayers,
Pam
Thank you so much for the notes, letters and encouragement I received after my last posting. Your love and support have meant so much! God has really been doing a work of healing and I’m much better – after three weeks of a liquid diet I can now eat many different solids. I still don’t know what happened but I really appreciate your prayers! It has been a difficult time. Two of my team mates were killed in a car accident ten days ago – Lizyanet survived but she lost her husband and only child, 11 year old Rachel. Another one of my team mates has been under significant attack that has caused her to start ‘cutting’ – slashing her arms and abdomen. I could list dozens of situations that have happened to close friends recently – there does indeed seem to be an intentional attack against workers lately.
I’m in the ‘third stage’ of the three ministry commitments that I had back to back. The field orientation went very well and we were able to find a simple bed and breakfast near Ephesus where we could meet on the terrace. I enjoyed getting to know all our new recruits - it is encouraging to have new people in three new cities with more on the way!
Your prayers were answered for the Kanat camp! It was an opportunity to see God work in amazing ways. We had over 45 participants and were grateful that of the 15 teachers, most were Turks. We found that some of our brand new participants from two years ago were now the worship leaders in their church. We initiated a mentoring system this time that really increased the learning and change. Our last session of worship and communion included much weeping and repentance. Of those that stood up to give testimonies, not one person mentioned music lessons, worship seminars or creative workshops – they all testified to the new work of God in their lives. We are very grateful.
I’m currently in Azerbaijan where we have 14 participants who work in Kazakhstan, Kygyzstan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and Oman. It’s a privilege to serve them. It seems to me that we are teaching pretty basic stuff but it’s the first time many of them have heard these things. The couple from Yemen – who have been there 7 years – said, “Why is this the first time we are being taught this – we needed to know this years ago!” So we are encouraged that the teaching is hitting its mark. Each participant will present their action plans on Friday – please pray that the Lord will help them to implement everything that He wants them to.
I return to Istanbul on Saturday the 29th and then on Monday I will go back to the chaos that is the foreign police to find out what Ankara has had to say about my residence permit. One of three things will happen – 1) I may be told that I can apply and will need to go back outside and fight the crowds again to get a number and restart the application process; 2) I may be told that I have been denied a residence permit and will need to go in and out of the country every 90 days or; 3) I may be deported then. I will go with money, toothbrush and plenty of reading material but I would love you to pray that God would give a breakthrough and that I will be granted the 5 year residence that Dave has. (though he keeps telling me that if I want to get a little house in Greece, he’ll come out and visit me :-))
Grateful for your prayers,
Pam
