Day 9 Prayer

Ask that entire Urdu-speaking communities in S. Asia will decide to follow JC.

Day 8 Prayer

Ask that M.sl.ms would have dreams and visions that would lead to JC.

Day 7 Prayer

Ask that M.sl.m's eyes would be open to the peace they are searching for found only in JC.

29, 30 & 31st PR

29th - Lift up my fellow Sisters & workers, Kibba & Avi, as they seek God's will for their lives. Pray that they God would provide jobs for them.

30th - Pray for unity among our organization's workers.

31st - Pray that I would have good times with the Father every morning.

Day 6 Prayer

Ask for boldness and courage on behalf of Believers in Kashmir.

Day 5 Prayer

Pr. for secret Believers who are even now facing the possibility of death. May God protect them.

Day 4 Prayer

Ask that the Holy Sp. will raise up Believers to go to M.sl.m villages with the Good News.

Scripture to proclaim in prayer: 2 Peter 1:16-18, 2 Samuel 7:12-14

Day 3 Prayer

Ask that obstacles that have kept M.sl.ms from knowing JC will soon be removed.

Scriptures to proclaim in prayer: Leviticus 19:2, Matthew 5:48, Romans 12:2

Day 2 Prayer

Ask that Believers in S. Asia would have a boldness to share with their M.sl.m neighbors this month.

Scripture to proclaim in prayer: Matthew 19:26, Jeremiah 32:27, Romans 12:1-2

24-28 August PR

24th - Ask that Christ-followers in America would be filled with a spirit of intercession and willingness to stand in the gap.

25th - Pray that God would be stirring the hearts of Believers around the world to come to S. Asia to share.

26th - Pray for good health and plenty of rest everynight.

27th - Pray that God would open doors to share about Him with my neighbors.

28th - Ask for special blessings on my friend, Asha today. Ask for improved family relationships.

Ramadan Begins

Well, this seems to be the week of festivals. Both the Ganesh Festival and Ramadan begin today. Even now as I type this there are lots of fireworks going off all around my house in celebration of these holidays.

Here's some quick info on Ramadan, also know as Ramzan around these parts:

"Ramzan/Ramadan is the 30 days of prayer and fasting observed by M.sl.ms throughout the world. This is when M.sl.ms believe the Qu'r@n was revealed to their holy prophet Mohammad. During Ramadan the people who fast are not allowed to eat or drink anything (including water) from dawn to after sunset. Also, one has to restrain other body parts, which may render the fast worthless despite the main factor of hunger and thirst; so the tongue, for instance, must avoid backbiting, slander, and lies; the eyes should avoid looking into things considered by the Lawgiver as unlawful; the ears must stop from listening to conversation, words, songs and lyrics that spoil the spirit of fasting; and finally restraining of the heart, and mind from indulging, themselves in other things besides the remembrance of All@h. If a person is sick or has some medical reason or if a woman is pregnant then they are exempt from fasting."

Join me in asking...
Lord we ask that those who are fasting this month will have powerful dreams and visions of Isa Masih (JC). Father, help them to know that no matter how much fasting and good deeds they do they can never earn their way to heaven. Help followers of the Truth to live their lives in such a way that their M.sl.m neighbors would see a difference. May they come to know the followers of JC as those who love one another, who don't tell lies or "stab" one another with their tongues, but those who truly seek after justice and righteousness for all. Give us the love and boldness to share the Truth during this time of fasting and prayer when many of our M.sl.m friend are seeking for You.

Learn more at http://www.30-days.net/

Exchanging Truth for Lies

The Ganesh Festival begins Sunday in my city. Here's a short description of this festival taken from the internet:

"Ganesha, known as the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, is widely worshipped as the supreme god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune by Hindus world-wide.

Traditionally, the Ganesh icon was sculpted out of earth taken from nearby one's home and after worshipping the idol it was returned back to the Earth by immersing it in a nearby body of water (representing the cycle of creation and dissolution in Nature.) Today, the Ganesh is often created out of plater of partis and is then immersed into the lakes, rivers and sea causing many environmental problems."

Here are some photos I took in the "craftsman" part of town. The road sides were filled with Ganesh idols for purchase both large and small. There were more Ganesh idols than I had ever seen before, all shapes and sizes and in all kinds of different outfits.

Ask the Father to open the eyes of these idol-makers and those who are buying these idols this week. Ask that they would no longer serve something that has eyes that cannot see, ears that cannot hear and mouths that do not speak. Ask that they would know the one true and living God.

Weekend PR

22nd - Ask that my joy wouldn't be stolen by people or circumstances.

23rd - Ask that I would be able to worship even in times of trial.

S-B-1

S-B-1
Uploaded by tnhutch. - Exotic and entertaining travel videos.

17-21 August PR

17th - Ask that God would fill me with a supernatural joy that is full of glory.

18th - Ask that He would fill me with peace that surpasses all understanding today.

19th - Pray that He would fill me with a kind & gracious attitude toward others.

20th - Ask that God would raise up nationals to reach their own people

21st - Pray for a national or another worker to take over my job in September

Weekend PR

15th - Ask that I would catch up on my rest today and be able to have a true sabbath!

16th - Ask that He would fill me with humiity, brokenness & a repentent, obedient spirit.

More Touchdowns and parties Upstairs

Today, the women on the volunteer team visited a rehabilitation center for victims of sex trade and abuse. The center teaches the women valuable skills, like sewing and English, so that they can make a living on their own. Today, the volunteers shared how to raise children, taught them how to do embroidery and one volunteer who is a certified masseuse gave hand massages to all the women :)

The stories these women share are heart wrenching and sometimes it's hard for me to imagine the pain and suffering that they have endured. One woman, "L", was only 16 when her aunt sold her into prostitution. Her aunt still tells her to this day that she should come back and be a prostitute so she could make more money. This girl has to keep the center a secret from her aunt. Some girls would be killed if their families knew they were going to this rehabilitation center during the day. Another girl escaped from a situation that was essentially slavery in which she could never repay a debt in her lifetime and so she was forced into prostitution. When she finally escaped, she left her sister behind. This girl actually went back into prostitution in the village she escaped from so she could save her sister and so they could escape together.

Today "L" along with three other ladies made decisions and "joined the family".

If you want to know more about this center, please visit their website below. You can purchase purses, cards, jewelry and more made by the ladies at this center through their online catalog or in-person at their store in Gainsville.

http://www.rahabsrope.com/about_us.html

Team Update

Just wanted to give a quick update and let you know that a lady "joined the family" this week. It was incredible! I wish could replay it on video for you somehow. Really cool!

Showing the team around at a local market

Also, we've just finished our second day of our breast cancer awareness training. We were able to share with several ladies over the last two days. Here's a picture of some of the team with our interpreters.

This little girl is the daughter of one of the women on the team. She came with us to the hospital to do the breast cancer awareness program and was quite the attraction! All the nationals wanted to touch her hair and have their picture taken with her. She was so good and never complained once! She even asked me to teach her some phrases in the local language so she could talk to the ladies. What a sweet girl!

10-14 August PR

10th - Volunteers: pray against sickness & that God would keep them safe as they are in the city

11th - Volunteers: pray for the ladies as they lead Breast Cancer Awareness camps in local hospitals

12th - Volunteers: ask that God would give the male volunteers discernment & boldness as they share today

13th - Volunteers: ask that the Spirit would give each volunteer boldness to share with many people today

14th - Volunteers: pray for wisdom & discernment for the team leaders as they determine the next step in their church partnership

Weekend PR

8th - Volunteers: ask that the Father would be preparing the way for the volunteers even now

9th - Volunteers: ask that everyone would make their flights on time and arrive safely

Request for next week's volunteer team

Hi Friends,
Please be lifting up a 14-person volunteer team coming in this Saturday. They'll be here one week to do breast cancer awareness camps, build relationships and share their stories throughout the city. We have 5 returnees on this trip which I think is pretty awesome. I've loved partnering with this group in the past and their investment and love for the people here.

Please ask that...
-they make all their flights
-their luggage makes all the flights, too
-good health during their stay
-restful sleep and extra energy as they battle jet lag
-open doors to pray and love on the ladies we'll be teaching at the women's health seminar
-that He would guide our steps as we prayer walk around the city on Monday
-for me to be a good hostess to the team, provide a great orientation, and to take a step back to let this team do their thing
-that I would have extra energy to keep me going next week (this introvert will be in extrovert land overload next week!)
-for our translators who don't know Him
-that He would humble us and use us for His glory
-that we would trust His plans fully next week even when they change
-good attitudes and servant's hearts
-bold words
-His mercy

Thanks for thinking of the team and me next week!

3-7 August PR

3rd - City Revival: that God will give His people a passion for missions & planting churches.

4th - City Revival: that God will call thousands to ministry, missions & Christian service.

5th - City Revival: that God will pour out His Spirit like a mighty purifying fire

6th - City Revival: for a move of conviction & salvation to engulf major communities of cultural influence (gov't officials).

7th - Volunteers: lift up the volunteer team as they make last minute preps. to leave

Weekend PR

1st - City Revival: that God will bring unity among local churches in this city.

2nd - City Revival: that God would fill His people with a passion to see people saved.