Hello all!
This past month at the Village of Hope in Kibuna, Estonia has been my favorite month thus far. It may not sound very exciting but God really used us this month. We helped out at a Christian rehab facility for men. Most of them came from being in jail. It sounds scary but in reality these men were incredibly sweet and simply looking for hope. They had been caught in the chains of addiciton for so long that even if they wanted out they couldn’t do it on their own and didn’t know how to do so. After being here for a month I’ve heard many success stories from men who have graduated from the 10 month program. We were told that the government really sees the success and asked if they could do what VoH was doing but without the Lord. Essentially they were told no. Only the Lord can give them the freedom they are seeking and value that He has given them.
So we got to be a part of what is going on here. The VoH runs a sawmill, so we were essentially lumberjacks all month. We stacked wood…all month! Sounds boring, but it was actually a blast! We spent lots of time laughing and singing and learning Estonian and Russian. We worked with the men and they got to see the joy that the Lord gave us. After work and before meals we would all meet in the “ring” and discuss and struggles or joys during the workday. We would put our arms around each other and pray. It was cool to see the honesty of the men and get to experience that with them. On Thursday mornings they each said something they were thankful for. They took their time and you could tell they really thought about it. Every Wednesday evening there was a prayer meeting. They would walk around and pray in small groups for one another. It was so awesome to be a part of! We ate all our meals with them and really got to have some good converstations with them during these times.
We really saw how God was working in their lives and the difference that this program was making in their lives. They are teaching something so much deeper than to stop doing drugs or to live healthy physically. They are teaching them how to trust God with their weaknesses, how to live healthy spiritually, and how to see their value not in what people have told them they are but in who God says they are.
I’ve been so blessed by my time at the Village of Hope and have grown in my understanding of God and people. I will truly miss the people I have spent the last month with more than any place thus far.
However, there is a time for everything and now it is time to go to China! I will be leaving for Honk Kong tonight and will then go to our ministry site in Lanzchou in a few days. Please pray for us during our time there and for the ministry we will be working with. Also, be praying for the Village of Hope and the men who are currently in the program and those who have graduated. My squad will be on an internet fast for the next month so I will blog again in Mongolia!
P.S. I am also still needing roughly $1,500 before July 1st! Please help me stay on the Race for the second half and tell others about what God is doing here! Thank you so much to all of you who have already supported me. Please be praying that I will be fully funded by July 1st!
