The last entry in my journal on November 12th was…"strength… I don't know why; but it has been on my mind so much lately."
Teams changed on the 14th and it took a lot of strength to pull together with new people. The team change was needed but it was something that was extremely hard for everyone. My new team consists of 7 people. Emma (our team leader), Nash, Riley, Diana, Kristina, and Cassie. Our team name is Sarayu. The name means wind but in the book "The Shack" it was used to describe the Holy Spirit.
On the 17th of November my new team and I met our contact. Her name is Emily Myles, but now we all call her mom. She is 35 years old and a single parent of 2 teenagers. She started her own ministry called "Journey for Hope Ministry." She has church on the 3rd floor of her building, volleyball every Wednesday, Soccer every Sunday, Myles feeds the kids dinner every night, and jewelry making for moms of the community we work in. Just hearing about all she does by herself took me by surprise. It takes a lot of Strength to do this. As I looked around where my team andI are living I saw 3+ verses that are about Strength.
"Love the Lord your God with all your soul, mind and STRENGTH." (Matthew 22:37)
"I can do everything through Christ who gives me STRENGTH." (Philippians 4:13)
"Be STRONG and courageous. The Lord is with you." (Joshua 1:9)
It all makes sense to me now why I was getting the word strength constantly. I think that it was God sharing and showing me how this next season of my life is going to be. The ministry is tough, it takes a lot of strength, Myles needs a lot of strength just to keep going because she has so much to do, and we are going to need a lot of strength to pull together as a new team. I love that God has given me this insight on our ministry in the Philippines even when I didn't know what it was at the time until we got here 1 week ago.
It was so nice to hear about your experiences.
We serve an incredible and AWESOME God!
Here is another Scripture verse for you to ponder:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their STRENGTH; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
You are in our prayers.
Have a wonderful week!
Neighbor Dan
Thinking of you ,Beckah and praying for you~
Isaiah 40:28-30 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Love,
Gregg and Kris