Through my evolution this year I have grown to absolutely love seeing what God is doing in countries around the world through His believers there. There’s something really life-giving about meeting believers who are actively bringing God’s kingdom to their country. This month in Armenia, has been packed full of ministry opportunities! I have worked with a local college ministry, orphanage, women who sell themselves on the street, and a nursing home. God is doing a lot and here are a few pictures and stories to give you a better glimpse of His work.
This month, God has reminded me how much I love college ministry. I have spent time hanging out with students, helping with a Valentines party and game night, and teaching English club. Our class theme last week was our future hopes and dreams. Next week, we’ll be discussing the most impactful moments of our lives. These topics are so easily focused on Jesus, so please pray that the students will understand the beauty of a relationship with Him.
While visiting a nursing home in the outskirts of Yaravan, I had the opportunity to speak with, laugh with, sing with, and pray over different elderly men and women. One of the women said that she had problems with her feet so I asked if I could pray for her. I placed my hands on her feet and started praying for healing. As I was praying she started speaking in Armenian saying something like, “What is she doing to my feet? It feels hot.” She felt electricity in her foot and was sweating. She walked away for a moment and then came back saying, “I know that wasn’t electricity. I was touched by the Holy Spirit.” How cool is God?!
I never thought that I would be this girl – The girl who prays for people left and right, the girl who believes that God can make someone’s eye ball appear where there wasn’t one (my friend literally prayed for a woman with no eye at the nursing home!), the girl who knows that God personally speaks to her, the girl who is used by God to heal. I continue to marvel at how much God is teaching me! Tears, just tears because He is so kind to me. He pulls me out of darkness- not only the darkness of life and death apart from him, but also the darkness of my lies and doubt. The darkness where my skepticism and judgment of “radical” believers resided is gone and He replaced it with light and truth.
One night a week the girls on my team and I do evangelism on an Armenian street full of trafficking and prostitution. One of the missionaries here told us of her broken heart for these women and I was overjoyed to help her build new relationships with many women and start a ministry that she is excited to continue! As the women shared their stories with us there were tears, laughing, dancing, and of course prayer and the gospel. In a couple of days I will be going to one of the women’s house. Please pray that Jesus will be known in our time and in her home.
I’ve also been volunteering at a special needs orphanage where we do maintenance, laundry, feeding, and childcare. The women who work there are wonderful and we are praying for health and more adoptions for the kiddos. One of the beautiful girls is being adopted into the States. Pray that she and her new family will know Jesus.
If you’re asking the question, are we busy? The answer is yes.
Prayer:
1. Praise that my health has gotten so much better! Thank you to everyone who was praying.
2. Next month I am going back to Kazakhstan, a place full of people that mean a lot to me and where God began this journey of mine. Please pray that my very special friend would accept Jesus this year!
3. I am getting a little antsy to get home and start my next chapter, but I know there is a lot of work to be done here still and I want to do it well.
“Jesus moved in power with unimportant invisible people and met their needs and they followed Him.” – Matt, Pastor of Armenian international church
