Syria: Day 4

Tue, Apr 28, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Subject - Syria: Day 4

Hey y'all!

Today was quite the day as well. We had a fun morning assembling bags of food for the church to deliver to the families in need. It was fun working as a team, and doing God's work. :-) We then had some free time, half of us went shopping and half of us spent some time at a cafe just sharing God's word with each other.

Joun, Marcos, Russell, Kristen and I then went to Anania's house again, where we prayed in the same spot where Paul prayed. It was amazing, just lifting up people back home in prayer and also dynamics on the team. Russell wanted me to be sure and ask you, is there anything that we - our team here in Syria - can pray for you about? How can we pray for you?

After praying at Anania's house, we came back to the church to prepare for lunch. There was a man who had just arrived sitting in a chair with a crutch and his son, who appeared to be about 18 years old. I walked over and the man had started explaining to Fadi what had happened. The man, Granam, officially renounced his Muslim faith today (evidently). He has been living as a Christian, former Muslim (or MBB - muslim background believer), so the official renouncing and p-ing the p-er is a huge deal. He just arrived from Baghdad apparently days ago with his family. In Baghdad, he was going to an Asyrian church. Some insurgents (terrorists) stormed the church, shot the preist, and his wife fled with the priest’s children and their own children. Granam was captured and tortured unbelievably. They cut off his fingers with scissors - but he still is adamant on wearing his wedding band (which is placed on just a mere nub of what used to be his finger). They cut open his leg and pulled his ligaments and tissue apart, so he walks with a crutch and a brace on his leg. They took a tool drill (close to what you would drill into a wall with he said) and drilled a whole into the side of his head through his temple, on the right side. Then they took the drill and drilled into his chest. The terrorists told him that if he wants to live like Jesus, they will treat him like Jesus by putting holes into his body. At that point, I lost it. Couldn't stop crying, Fida even burst into tears, as did Joun's mother (the Pastor's wife). It made me think.....we are so selfish, and I am so unworthy to even p for this man. I felt soooooo sick to my stomach just hearing what such evil has been done to him, simply because he professed love for Jesus Christ, our Savior.....and without even officially p-ing THE p! Russell told him we would p for him, and the man responded with: "You do not have to p for me, p for everyone. Christ did not p for himself, and I want to be like Christ. P for the world, bc that is what Christ did." What do you even say to that??? I couldn't sit at lunch, so I walked into Pastor Samara's office. I couldn't stop crying so Joun p-ed for the man who we had just met. This man is our brother in Christ, and we are all one body - so whatever affects him, impacts us as well. It was very powerful, this man's story had a huge impact on all of our lives.

We taught the kids today, which seemed to go really well. Yesterday went well also! We are working at building relationships with the kids so they will open up about their situation, just to release the hurt and grief they hold. Many of them are hopeful and joyful, and some are not so hopeful. Two muslim boys were in the 13-16 year old age group. John Card and Adam p-ed the salvation p-er with the whole class today, so hopefully it is doing a work in their hearts! I believe those two boys have resistance from their parents, as their family is Muslim. Send up some p's for them please! :-) Tomorrow is field day, so that should be a fun day with them as well. Your p-ers are doing so much work here, words cannot describe. Thank you so much!!!! You all are such a blessing to us!

We had a lovely dinner back at the church after doing some more shopping. We are very well fed here!! We have also started sharing testimonies during our debrief time each night. Last night Kristen and Graham shared theirs. It was so awesome to hear how God has been moving in their lives and to hear their hearts for the Lord. It is an honor to serve with them, and I cannot wait till more of us begin sharing our stories as well! Please p that we serve as a witness to each other, and not just the people here in the field. It is just as important! :-)

The boys love the sports updates, they would like to know first round draft picks, and who the Texans now have. :-)

Thank you so much for your encouragement, again, words cannot express the thankfulness of each heart on our team. The team loves reading the messages from home! :-) Thanks for sending them!

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Kristina