MICHAEL BRYANT
We began this day with the Grace Church staff, enjoying a very yummy breakfast together followed by an opportunity to encourage our friends with selected short readings from the Scriptures and prayers inspired by the themes of the readings by each team member.
After breakfast, we helped Grace Church distribute diapers, food, and household cleaning products to about 50 Muslim women – mostly all refugees from Syria. Yvonna spoke with these women about loneliness and the Gospel (an adaption of her Women’s Conference talk). Grace Church offers these every other month.
At midday, we gathered in Jonathan’s flat (just across the street from Grace Church) for an amazing lunch catered by two of his long-time Muslim friends, Fatima and Azizzi. These sisters also joined us for lunch, sharing stories from their 6o-plus years of living down the street from Grace Church in Mahatta and challenging our mental prowess with matchstick puzzles and riddles. They are two of the most beautiful, witty, and charming ladies I have ever met.
After lunch and our visit with Fatima and Azizzi, we quickly packed and headed south for some rest and a visit to Petra and Madi Rum. We arrived in Petra just after sundown, had a quick dinner, and shuffled off to our rooms for some much needed showers and sleep. (And this report.)
I thank God for our small team: Yvonna, Melanie, Rosebud, Cindy, Jonathan, Jesse, and Sienna. Each person has significantly contributed to the success of our mission according to their gifts. And each one has exhibited the fruit of the Spirit so necessary for effective Gospel witness, team unity, and lots of laughs. I thank God for Pastor Wasim, Lilian, and their two kids. I appreciate their faithfulness and diligence in ministry to the Mahatta community of refugees. They are serving in a really, really, really, challenging environment. Please add their family and work to your daily prayer list. I thank God for Global Partners in Peace and Development and the essential support they are committed to providing for Grace Church. I thank God for Sally K, who joined us whenever she was able. And I thank God for you. Without your generous financial support and constant prayers, none of this would have been possible.
Please pray for us as we wind down, spend a little more time with Wasim and Lilian, and fly home. And put SPC’s next Mission Info-Lunch on your calendar (June 21) so we can tell your more about our project, Grace Church, and God’s faithfulness.
