TL;DR
A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. I've been asking that God according to the riches of His glory may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith-that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. [Ephesians 3:16-19]
- The community center continues to move forward and my friends are moving forward as well
- A time of blessing in my life
- Answered prayer and more things to mention to God
Overview
These past few months have been rough at the center as the team has had to reorganize and cover for being short three team members. Even so it's been a blessed time that is more easily appreciated in retrospect and being on break. As of a couple of days ago, the center is on break for a week before registration for new students and the start of a new semester in January. Along with our usual offering of english classes I plan on teaching a spanish class and locals have come forward to teach classes in art and math.
I'm always encouraged by how locals are taking a greater role in leadership of the center. After a wonderful cultural day that saw many local leaders take charge, both expected and new individuals, we have a specific group with whom we are meeting to develop leadership skills. The group is made up of M (yup the one and only), N and Hs. We hope to see each take greater roles in the center and the neighborhood as they develop their God given talents. Hs has already taken charge of leading english conversation groups once a week and M continues to be a vital player in planing and having one off info sessions in which locals with specific knowledge (such as first aid, nutrition, and raising kids) can share with the community.
Outside of the center, M continues to seek God and seeing how God is working in his life, showing him truth, has to be the the most life giving experience I've had. As of two days ago we are now living together and I look forward to being able to read the Bible and pray with him daily.
Moving had been on my mind for a while as I was not in a healthy living situation with H. Hopefully now that I'm not living with H our relationship will be healthier and we'll be able to continue moving forward as friends. H is still waiting for his high school transcript to come through so that he can apply for college and as he waits his ankle has been healing well.
K is still living with some expat friends near the college and is doing well. My friends tell me that they've had opportunities to read the Bible with him as well as go through some trauma healing material that uses stories from other refugees and stories from the Bible to help individuals process what they've gone through. Please continue to keep these guys in your prayers.
A Time of Blessing
For all these things I give thanks to God. He has not let me down and he continues to support and guide me each day. Things have been looking up as God has surrounded me with his love and truth, especially in the form of community. Starting a Bible study group with some expat friends has been extremely life giving. We are all in similar life stages, experiencing the same culture shock and looking to know God more. I've also started Arabic classes at a school and have the company of two other expats that are sharing the same experiences. I've also slowly and intentionally started opening up more to my team and that's been a blessing as well.
I've had encouraging interactions this month with friends from my past in different parts of the world. And it's been a blessing to see that those I have met, those I care about still remember and care for me. Not only this but God has also blessed me with seeing old friends come to know Him more and more. After living in the lie that I did not care for those I have met (because if I did I'd stay with them and not travel) It's been an incredible blessing to have God remind me of the truth that not only do I care for my old friends but that He cares as well. And not only do we both care but He Who Cares is also in a position to care for them, watch over them and lead them to Him.
I thank God for his truth and the added blessing of having my parents arriving this night to spend the next two weeks together. Praise God my friend and may He continue to show both of us the fullness of his love.