We made it to Limassol and now time is already flying by. We are nearly done with our time in Cyprus. All I remember is after going to church and seeing a community of believers who spoke English from over 35 nations including Iran, Egypt, Yemen, Syria, Romania, UK, Russia and many others.
I remember saying to myself, “Wow I could live here!” God opened my eyes to the beauty of the nations over just over 3 years ago. I stand here in this small little island country that is currently being used as a safe house for the NATIONS!
I’m so blessed to be here and I have seen God provide tremendously for us and our team. We came in to Cyprus not knowing where we were going to stay and God orchestrated amazing events to take place for us to see His goodness.
When I was at ICF (International Christian Fellowship) Church the first Sunday we arrived here, I met a friend named Jay (Jay is a name to protect the identity of the individual). Jay is a 14 year old that has a passion for sports and shoes. I tell you what, we connected super fast!
I started to ask questions about Jay about how he got here and how he and his family came to know Jesus. Within seconds of asking the question, his father comes around the corner. Barnabas is his name (actually not his real name either).
Barnabus, immediately took in interest in me and my team and what we were doing in Cyprus. He asked where we were staying. And I was as honest as I could be, “well, we don’t actually know. We booked a place that is over budget for a short period of time but we have to relocate to find a place cheaper.” Immediately, he asked how many people there were on our team and responded with, “I have a place for you.”
That night he took a couple of us that night to see the house. When we pull up to this house in the mountains our jaws dropped. This house reminds me of a mansion especially for Cyprus. It has two floors with 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a big kitchen, and two big open spaces for living. This house is also run off of solar power so it is a house off the grid.
We came back that night so excited like kids in a candy store who had so much to say. We decided to move in two days later. On top of all this, he gives us a van to use for the time we are here. It is a 7 passenger van and our team is 7 people. God definitely knows what he is doing!
The one crazy thing with the car is that it is backwards, meaning we drive on the passenger side and on the left side of the road. Not to mention it is stick shift. Let’s just say I am the only driver who can drive stick so I am blessed to have the responsibility of taxi driver! Pray for me!
Learning more about Barnabas and his family and what he is doing is incredible. Unfortunately, for security purposes I can’t say much other than that he is running a media ministry out of this house to bring the Gospel to the unreached. Many are coming to know Jesus all over and I want to encourage you to pray for his outreach L4Y.
We have been established here for a little while now and have a full schedule helping in various ministries such as, victory football (soccer), YCF- youth for Christ, Wellspring- sex trafficking ministry, glory house- house of worship and prayer, ICF Church, and various others. It has been an incredible experience to see many worshipping the Lord from all different nations.
Thanks for your prayers and here is how you can continue to pray for me as I go forward.
1. I just sent in a proposal to go to Egypt. I am praying this goes through as God has been opening doors to continue to coach soccer and potentially build a soccer field in one of the poorest areas of Egypt. Pray that the doors continue to open, that it would be a green light to go, and that all the details would work out.
2. Team changes are coming up. We have been with the same team for 4 months now and I have gotten to know these people very well. Now we will be switching teams in order to go to Lebanon and Jordan. I currently do not know my team yet.
3. Leadership changes. Our alumni squad leaders and team leaders are headed home next month, so this month is a time to train the new leaders. I do not know If I will be chosen even though I would love the opportunity. However, pray that God would raise up the right people and that our squad would respond with love and unity.
4. Pray with me for the country of Cyprus. This country is acting as a doorway to the unreached. It is pretty much the smallest country, yet it may have one of the biggest impacts for the Kingdom and the unreached peoples of the world. Pray that God would use this island for his glory and that the many more could come to know him here.
Answers to prayers:
Prayer request #1:
My team and full health. Lauren has been the most sick. Melanie’s foot has been hurting the last couple of days even though it has been better over the last week before. My stomach is still fighting and so are the others. Physical health for the team would be great!
Answer #1:
My team is fully healthy! We have been for just over a month now! It is incredibly to not be sick. Melanie’s foot has been a lot better. She can’t walk a super long distance, but she can get around really well. My stomach is doing so much better. I feel normal and everything is coming out right. My team is blessed to have a month of health.
2. People to love and serve here. How to show honor to a country who really values honor. People to ask questions and be curious about our faith. And for the Lord to move in miraculous ways here in Fes and the rest of Morocco.
Answer #2:
We had the opportunity to love and serve a couple of people including Abdul, Yassine, Imad, and Marouane and even their families. By the end they were pretty much a part of our family. We definitely had some really encouraging talks on faith and the Lord moved in a miraculous way through giving a dream to Yassine. Please continent to keep these men in prayer God has them on their journey.
3. Miraculous gift of speaking and understanding Arabic for our team. Or even to find people who can understand us and want to know more. Some team members have a desire to learn the language and maybe this can be a start of something big.
We definitely found people who could speak good English. We made friends quickly and got to spend the majority of the month with them. My teammates grasped quite a bit of Arabic, yet its an incredible language and very difficult. God definitely orchestrated some awesome people to connect with.
4. For me and hearing the voice of the Lord more clearly. I want to be able to grasp more of what He is doing here and how to partner with Him in this country.
I have been so refreshed and have been able to pray and speak with God more and more daily. Coming to Cyprus I feel fresh and clear and able to connect with the LORD in awesome ways. Being able to pray through feelings, emotions and feedback and seeing how the LORD is clearly at work in it has be amazing. I want to continue this so please pray for an even clearer voice of the LORD.
5. Team would continue this lifestyle of being a family with open and honest conversation and genuine love for each other.
My team has been able to work through a lot of crazy situations this month with housing and schedules. We have written out a schedule with everyone on it so we can come together and still be effective in the ministries God has called us to. I love my team so much and I am sad we will be splitting up probably for the remainder of the trip.
Know that the Lord is using Cyprus as a light house for the nations. The Good News is going throughout the earth and many are coming to know Jesus Christ as savior and Lord!
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”
Mark 16:15
