This is what our leadership warned us about this year. They said we would experience long days on the race, but that time would also go by quickly as we moved from country to country, from month to month. And man, they were right! It’s already the middle of September and there’s less than three months to go until I return home. It’s a bittersweet thought for sure!
What’s Next?
This month my team and I will be serving with a few local churches in Turkey! This nation is predominately Muslim and there are not many professing Christians, but there is still a remnant here! I’m actually reminded of Paul in the New Testament who proclaimed the gospel here so long ago. God is still calling out to this nation, to this group of people! My team and I feel very honored to support the local believers who are sacrificing so much to make Christ known within these communities.
Overall, my desire for this month, and really for the remainder of this trip, is to finish strong. To be fully present each day. To share Jesus with my team and with these nations. And as I have been praying into these next few months, the Lord gave me a few words to help me persevere.
Three words & three prayers for the last three months:
1) Endurance
Lord, may I awake each morning with joy in my heart, determined to enjoy each day as a gift from you, fully aware of the spiritual needs around me. Let me run my race with endurance – never losing sight of my purpose in this season.
2) Adventure
Lord, push me outside of my comfort zone, physically and spiritually! Every day, every moment can be an adventure with You. Go ahead and go crazy with my life!
3) Boldness
Lord, let me boldly proclaim Your Truth – in my words and in my actions. Don’t let me fear man. Let me fear what will happen to man if they do not know the Truth!
Thank you for praying these prayers with me! And I will embrace these long days and these short months – not taking for granted all that God is teaching me.
Much love,
Melissa
P.S.
Here’s a few pictures of our time here so far:
My new team! We will be together for the next three months until we return home.
We met new friends who invited us over for “Turkish Coffee” and dinner. We had such great gospel conversations!
And we enjoyed a beautiful sunset near the sea!
