This country is a dry place. The ground is rocky and dusty. There is little rain, and the brief green of the spring is ushered out by the summer sun. It’s hard not to draw spiritual parallels between the physical land and the hearts of people. For our team, reaching and connecting with women has been especially challenging and discouraging. Although Arab women are highly relational, they often have a small inner circle and high walls. I’ve been told by girls that “the honor of the family rests on the women.” Their reputations are everything. Who they hang out with, where they go, how late they’re out, and what they discuss are all important. Shame is an ever-present threat.
My soul hurts here, sometimes unbearably. The injustice of war, the hopelessness of young people, the violence against women and the burden of shame they bear all carry immense weight. Myself and the women on my team have faced discouragement as our spiritual questions are avoided, meetings limited (if not cancelled), and conversations kept surface level. But we’ve also seen glimmers of trust, receptivity, and curiosity. The whole team is praying strongly right now for opportunities for team ladies to connect with local women. Please pray that God would lead us to ladies with soft hearts and give us wisdom to earn trust and ask good questions.