battling severe discouragement

Friends,

I wrote here a little while ago (See Peace post below) about our need for peace in the camp....  a very difficult issue that we've been involved in for the past 15 months or so that climaxed with pain and sorrow this month.   I will be starting counseling very soon, very gratefully.  The burden of this is more intense than I could have ever foreseen.

And we are not alone.  Other friends serving in this field in three cities around here have told us their hardships from the past month or so....  one moldy bathroom so that a family of six has had major repair work and had to try to live out of their house for a week.  Shingles and lagging energy even weeks after recovery.  Cultural questions that feel like slaps in the face- "why would that woman not talk to me or even look at me?" The downstairs neighbors that get so fed up with kids playing upstairs that they've barged into their home, yelling... and how the complex security guards told that family they were wrong to be so loud (no fault to the violent neighbor.)  Anxiety that weighs in with clenched fists and dizzy spells.  The six floors and large sacks of flour and rice that need to be hauled up in the heat.... and water too, on the several days a month that the water is out.  The emergency surgery needed for a sudden, fast growing tumor found in her abdomen.  The lost passport for the boy who travelled alone, when the airline failed their responsibility to serve the unaccompanied minor ad now the flights across the country to get a new one.  And one precious family, shocked to give birth to a precious, dearly loved, perfectly formed baby, who never drew a breath.

We talked about how the month of Ramadan often feels like this to us.  Painful.  We are finding ourselves more and more angry at the deception of Islam....  so many people around us mindlessly believing the lies their culture tells them:  1) To be Uyghur is to be Muslim (it doesn't even have to be true, it just is, it's just what you need to be loyal to) 2) and Islam is good for me, and it's ok if some other religion is good for you (relativism is so prevalent, even among this Muslim people, where it does not sync with the Quran and Mohammad and Saudi Arabia... It doesn't make sense.... and when it doesn't make sense, go back to point #1.)  As we talked yesterday, I shared with a few friends, that I would put up with more difficulty, even much more, if only I could be sure that we are doing all we can do here.... couldn't we at least bear some fruit for the King, even as confirmation that we are doing the right thing?  (And how self-centered is that!?)  If only our struggles here were for some good being brought, being accomplished... but are they!?  We have to trust.... and move forward leaning on His promises.

There is a great thick cord of anxiety, discouragement and frustration among many of the workers that are here to bring the good news to these places and people.

And there's good reason for it here... and we know, good reason for soul-bare, humbling before the Lord for the troubles stateside as well.  SCOTUS.... and much more.  We have much to pray for and we have all the promises of God that he will hear our prayers when we humble ourselves and seek Him.    May we be found clinging to these promises and pursuing His face, His heart with all that we are....

He is working too... and we do have much to give thanks for.   That single mom mentioned below?  She has heard the good news clearer than ever now and she's coming, coming, closer to Christ.  Please do pray for her.  

May the mercy and care and protection of God be on His people, as we all seek to continue to hold up the cross and the Word and proclaim the good news of Christ.

Thank you for your prayers for us.   We are with you too, dear friends in America.

For Christ, and His Kingdom,
prayerfuel