JORDAN
When I saw the new Journey 'Ancient Paths' that will be going to Jordan it stirred my heart to consider doing the Journey. About a year ago the Holy Spirit inspired me to go and help the Syrian Refugees. He said that He will make a way...and He did. I was surprised when I remembered the word and realised that He actually made it happen.
THE CHURCH
We arrived in Jordan at the beginning of April. A church in Mafraq that serves the Syrian Refugees hosted us. They give out necessary things like blankets, pillows, matrasses, gas stoves and food to the Refugees. The church also has a school for young children and is busy building a community center. By building relationship with the Refugees they show them the love of Jesus.
I admire the passion that the church and the volunteers have for the Syrian Refugees and the Jordanians. These people work at a high pace to do administration, house visits, distributions and take care of their own families. Love compels them. And their love is visible. Our team felt sad to leave because we had to leave these beautiful people to carry on with the Journey.
THE TEAM
A short term team from Global joined us as well as some old Global Challengers. We helped with anything we could. Lisa and myself gave a hand at the school, Fred helped with their administration program and we did visits and distributions with the fulltime staff. At the house-visits we sat with families, had tea with them, encouraged them, listened to their stories and sometimes even prayed for them. This is an amazing miracle: the people are open for prayer in the name of Jesus in their place of brokeness and displacement.
A man that's connected to the church but part of another organisation took us with him on visits. We grew fond of him. He has such patience with the people he disciples and we joined him as he had Bible studies with Muslim families. What a privilege! He tells them parables of Jesus that loves people and has the same power God has...he wants them to realise that Jesus is indeed the Son of God and not merely a prophet.
Our team had a bit of a tough time since the end of Isreal and God wanted to draw us together. He spoke to us clearly about loving each other and about the power of love. The power of God is showed in love. As many have said: the most growth in a year like this takes place within the team. True that :)
THE REST OF IT
After our time at the church we spent a week with a family in Mafraq. They are a family that moved to Mafraq in January. The wife is expecting a boy and their little girl is 2 years old. We helped them to do some housework like cleaning, painting, building chairs and a room divider, finishing a table, sewing etc. Our fellowship with them was so refreshing. They lead a Global Challenge team a few years ago so we learned allot from them. Their family is blessed with such love and their hospitality inspired me.
As a team we were blessed with the opportunity of travelling like real tourists for the last two days in Jordan. Nicole's dad sponsored us! What a blessing. The man that hosted us the first night of our journey in his summerhouse is a tour guide (I mentioned him in my previous letter). He took us to sleep in Wadi Rum and swim in the Dead Sea. Breathtaking experience!
I will never forget the people from Jordan. :) I met awesome people and got to know them. I can't wait to get back home at the end of the year and describe them to my friends&family. :)
PLEASE PRAY
During this time I thought so much about prayer and what it really means and the power of it. There is nothing as powerful as prayer.
-Please pray for the people we met and the people we are going to meet. From now on all the countries excluding Croatia will be pioneering so we are trusting God for divine meetings and appointments. Our first day in Turkey was amazing. Holy Spirit lead us to people in crazy ways. I can feel the impact of people's prayers back home.
-Protection.Another important point is that the enemy is not pleased with our actions. His plans cannot prevail.
-Pray for unity and love in the team. We will meet up with a team member, Ester in Turkey. Pray that the team dynamic will increase as we increase.
-Pray for the Syrian refugees. Only Jesus is the answer for peace. I will send a prayer guide to pray for children as soon as possible.
Much much love from me. :)
NB: (I will send a newsletter with detailed fun and exciting stories asap) :))