DAY 1
We made it to Mafraq, Jordan. I am currently looking out at the Syrian border and Zaatari refugee camp. The camp alone houses some 80,000 Syrian refugees. The town of Mafraq is home to over 70,000 refugees. We are working with a really cool ministry/church, offering relief to refugee families: food, clothing, mattresses, stoves and gas tanks. They have several English classes, as well as few classes teaching refugee women how to sew. In addition, they have Bible studies. Last year, they also started an elementary school for Jordanian and Syrian students with 160 students. They provide daily home visits and food packages. One long term volunteer alone can have 45-50 different families they visit a month. There is a ton of aid and volunteers at the camp but this city is in need of all the help they can get. I admit I was pretty pumped to think I’d be working in the camp and a little bit bummed to find out that’s not actually what we were going to be doing. But that’s ok it’s pretty amazing to see what they’re doing here and it’s a privilege to get to help out in any way possible.
So our ministry for the majority of our time here will be home visits and food package deliveries. We got to go out on a visit today. We met a beautiful family of a mother and 4 kids. The dad was away so we didn’t actually get to meet him. They’ve been in Jordan for 2 years now and applying to go to the U.S. She talked about Syria and how much she loved and missed Syria. She talked about their beautiful home and her garden. She told us about her husband’s work there and the kids schooling. Not everyone that came over here was poor. You could tell they were much more privileged in Syria than in their current state of receiving assistance from the United Nations and food from the local church. This seemed to weigh pretty heavy on the mother. I can imagine going from being able to provide for your children to being forced away from your home and business to a country where it is illegal for you to make any kind of an income. She reminded us several times that they were not poor like this in their home country. All in all, they seemed content and very hospitable.
DAY 2
Today’s visits broke my heart a little more. Met with a family, the father had 2 wives and 4 kids. We only met 2 of the daughters and 1 wife. I was able to share my story and how Jesus saved me. They seemed to be encouraged and enjoyed it well enough. We watched on as their beautiful little 12-year-old daughter treated her baby sister like royalty. We drank tea together, talked about their lives and what it was like in Syria. Again, this family really loves their country but don’t have any hope of ever returning. That seems to be a pretty common thread between these families. We said our goodbyes and headed on our way.
As we were walking to find a taxi our translator stopped and told us the reason we didn’t meet the other wife: a lot of these Syrian families income is hard to come by and to make ends meet the wives will prostitute themselves out. If a Syrian is caught working in Jordan they are either thrown in prison or deported, which is a good way to never see your family again. So prostitution has become a huge problem in this town and in the camps. It hit us all pretty heavy just thinking about the kids and maybe having to see some of that first hand and the shame the entire family must feel at times. I don’t know, it was just a real wake up call to the gravity of the hopelessness these people have to experience day in and day out. Luckily enough Jesus sees this family and is in hot pursuit of their lives and I don’t believe he’s just gonna stop what he’s already started there. That’s not the kind of God I serve. He’s always faithful to follow through and that’s the hope we have to believe in. We can’t come into this town and these homes and think we’re gonna save the day. We are not anyone special. No, we have to believe that God knows what he’s doing. He’s just giving us a glimpse into a much greater plan then we can currently perceive. He’s the one in control and he’s going to follow through with or without a couple of World Racers from the United States.
DAY 3
Met an awesome older gentleman named Mr. Ghazi. It was such a joy to visit this man. He had a wife and 7 kids and a constant smile on his face. He was very kind and gentle. He held my hand a majority of the visit. Kind of weird honestly, but dudes hold hands everywhere in the world so I held his hand too and listened on to his stories. He joked a lot about how great Syria was compared to Jordan. Similar to the US and Canada. He told us if all the Syrians were to leave Jordan then Jordan would be no good again. He told us how beautiful and green it was there. He said some other crazy stuff like they had the first farms and cows which I seriously doubt, but we let him talk. As much as he loved Syria again his lack of hope was prevalent.
God is doing huge things in his life though. He comes to church every Sunday and attends their English class once a week. Even though he still believes Jesus was just a prophet he’s hungry for more, that was obvious to us all. He was such a kind soul and I pray he would continue to resist the religious stronghold Satan has put on his life. Jesus is offering life out here and he is just one of the many that are coming to that realization.
DAY 4
So God really loves these people here. It’s so obvious to see his hand at work. The church workers and volunteers are all seeing it too. In what seems to be a hopeless situational on the outside with prostitution, homelessness, poverty, hunger, crime and human trafficking God is present. When God said he will make a great nation out of Ishmael and will look after them, I truly believe this was what he meant.
People are coming from all over the world to look after and care for these people. Sure it’s a bad situation and they definitely need far more help but God is sending laborers to this massive harvest. People are giving everything they’ve absolutely got to be here and be a part of God’s master plan. Revival is coming for this nation and these people! People are dreaming dreams and having visions. Just like God meeting Ishmael where he was at in the desert, he’s meeting these people right where they are at. He is making himself known to the Muslim people. He is showing himself as a good and perfect Father and the people are responding! It’s not gonna happen over night, maybe not even in the next decade but he cares and sees these people. Not as people that deny him and his son but as the children that they are to him. Sure they are receiving free stuff and assistance and free stuff can soften anyone’s heart but how cool is it that God is blessing these people not only with earthly “stuff” but with an invitation to eternal life. And he’s persistent. He’s taking his time. He knows their needs. He’s not pushing anything on anyone.
It’s a process to say the least and if I’ve learned anything about God he really loves the process. Some are responding faster then others while some are receiving grace after grace after grace on top of love, love and more love. He isn’t just going to throw his hands up and say I quit trying. No he’s gonna continue to send more and more people until he deems fit. It’s been beautiful to be a part of. To the natural eye there’s a lot of heartbreak and misery but in the spirit it’s full of pure beauty and love.
DAY 5
We went to the school today. These little munchkins are too much fun. Recess was miserable though. It was total chaos, kids screaming everywhere. Punching and kicking and slapping each other. I don’t know man, I for sure don’t want kids anytime soon. But nonetheless I had such a blast! It’s really cool what they’re doing at this school too. It is owned and operated by the church we are working with. They take in Syrian and Jordanian students. The other public schools here in Jordan are not real accepting of the Syrian kids so a lot of times the kids will just quit going to school. So by taking in both Syrian and Jordanian students they are teaching the kids to work together because let’s face it, who knows when the war in Syria will be over. Something they are also seeing is with a lot of kids not attending school it makes the future of Syria seem pretty dim as many of the children will now never receive an education. But yeah it was just fun to have a small hand in this side of things they are doing here as well.
DAY 6
We met with 3 different families today and went on a distribution delivery. One of the families we visited have been in Jordan for 4 years. A guy and a girl who travelled here alone and ended up meeting, falling in love and getting married. They had a 6-month-old girl and a 3-year-old boy. Both were born with some sort of hip disorder. The baby girl had braces on her legs and the boy was in a full leg cast all the way up to his chest from a recent procedure. So some French doctors came to Mafraq and performed 200 surgeries on Syrian kids totally free of charge. After they did the surgeries they left and that was that. This boy just so happened to be the recipient of one of those surgeries. So that’s pretty cool. We were able to lay hands and pray for the children and the family as well.
Our last visit was actually with a family of recent believers. In the Middle East it is common for believers to continue to identify as Muslim because of the culture here. A Syrian Christian woman walking around with no hijab is a mark on her forehead. It’s basically just asking for trouble. I personally believe Jesus has no problem with this. Others may say they’re just not committed enough to Christ or afraid of persecution, whatever. A believer of Jesus is a believer of Jesus whether you’re wearing a hijab to protect yourself or not. What I do know is Jesus saved this woman and her families life. She’s a single mother of two also taking care of her stroke ridden mother. We got to hear her story and how Jesus redeemed her which was beautiful. We played with her kids and prayed for them. Her kids were making farting noises with balloons which I don’t care who and where you are farting noises are always hilarious. Then late last night they asked a couple of us to go on distribution. So I went to deliver couches and beds and stoves and blankets and pillows to two brand new Syrian families who had just moved into new flats/apartments. It was so much fun to watch the joy on their faces receiving all of their new stuff. Probably one of my favorite highlights so far.
DAY 7
So yesterday was pretty cool . Me and another girl got to go with the pastor’s brother to Al Azraq, which is a village out in the desert about 50 miles from Saudi Arabia. We are the first volunteers they’ve ever taken out there which was an honor. So in Azraq they practice a religion called Druze. I don’t know the specifics or how it works but it’s basically Islam except they have a different prophet then Mohamed. Every family we visited was great. Each house we went to had some sort of disability. One family, the dad was paralyzed from a swimming accident. Another mother had two deaf sons and another families dad was blind. We got to pray for healing and encourage the families with the Fathers love. Though we didn’t see any physical healing I have full faith the two deaf brothers are going to receive their hearing before it’s all said and done. They were all open to the gospel but like Muslims it just takes time. He’s movin in Azraq too!
DAY 8
Today I am very tired. We didn’t get home from Azraq until 2 AM and back to work at 8 for refugee registrations. Physically I think I’m ok, mentally and emotionally I’m just tired. All the little things add up to be pretty exhausting. Sounds and feels weird to say but this race has been spiritually and emotionally exhausting. Far more tiring then the physical exhaustion. Still I wouldn’t trade it for the world! I am blessed to be here and I love what I do. Every second has been totally worth it.
