I decided to share portions of a personal correspondence this morning as a blog post. It is intensely personal, and a sharing of my heart on many things. I realize many will disagree with everything I say, some vehemently so. As I live and work in Germany, I am learning so much about so many things. The people of Germany have taught me so much more than I thought possible at my age. I hope each reader finds something in this post, and anyone who would want to know and understand me and who I am, would do so in the sharing of.
Good
morning to all. I am so excited and filled with anticipation at what
God is going to do this year in Germany among the Refugees. To those of
you who do not know, we originally were scheduled to move to Kuwait.
Randy, my husband who works at the American Consulate, was to set up the
contract management office he is setting up now in Frankfurt in
Kuwait. I was so excited, because I had so long had a heart for those
who suffer from war in the Middle East. I was certain that Kuwait would
offer me the opportunity to work with these people whom God had touched
my heart for, and shown me a glimpse of His own love for. We can only
have the briefest glimpse of God's love, it is so overpowering to look
at long... How amazing and unexplained it is in its' power and glory,
but glimpses always fill me with wonder and awe before my Lord. God
loves the Refugees, and His desire is to have a personal relationship
with each one of them, and to bring them into His Forever Family, this I
have long known.
At
first I was terribly disappointed when Randy's assignment was changed
to Frankfurt, Germany. How was I going to work with the war tormented
of the Middle East any more personally from Frankfurt, Germany than I
could from Texas...? I hear the Father laughing as I type that... So
many things in moving here have been perfected in my life, and at almost
64 years old I see another of "God's works" unfolding before me that my
Lord purposed for me as He knit me in my mother's womb. How excited I
am to be alive and the child of the Living God during these days in
time! My heart beats with the desire to pour my life out as a love
offering to these people whose faces and names I do not yet know. Every
day this desire grows stronger in my life, and everyday God calls me to
carefully and quickly arrange my life and work so that I can more and
more effectively and efficiently be used in this God's plan. I believe
this unexplained movement of war Refugees at this point in time into the
personal freedom and safety of Germany and all of Europe, is an act of
God to bring them to an environment where they can without fear of
reprisal, even death, hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I
believe too that God brought Randy and I to Germany, changed the
planning of the United States Department of State, that we could be used
to bring the Good News of the Gospel of Peace to these He loves and
shed His blood for.
To
that end, today I must continue with the plans I have made for
organizing my life and its' resources toward these goals. I would love
to meet in Wiesbaden today, but must stay with the course and tasks God
has set before me. Please keep me informed of all that transpires
today. One thing that I wish to make known to the group is that we have
purchased a new vehicle, which will be in our possession, but which we
will be dedicating to the Lord God's use first and foremost. This car
is a Dodge Caravan, which will seat 7 people, and has a tremendous
covered cargo space. It is currently going through customs, and will be
delivered to the Consulate for us very soon. As we do work with God's
dear ones we want to make use of this car God has given us stewardship
over in whatever ways we can to serve them. I do not drive in Germany
yet, but Randy is already highly skilled on the road here, so when
anyone is looking for a needed vehicle with these qualities, ours can be
used. Randy gets off work somewhere between 5 and 6. Randy is
currently involved in very demanding and complex work right now, so
please hold him in prayer. We both covet your prayers as we stand grounded and rooted in
God's love, and willing to pour out our lives. We live in urgent
times! There is much work to do, we need power and strength from on
high, energy that is not our own, health, efficiency, planning, and best
use of every resource as directed by the Father. Pray for us to be
focused, and ever in complete tune to God's directions to us in every
decision, every hour of the day, and that we remain in the center of His
will.
My
greatest desire is for improved health. I have had Ankylosing
Spondylitis since I was 14 years old, and I was not diagnosed until
2009, the year Randy left for Afghanistan and service with the U.S. Army
there. That isn't an uncommon occurrence, even today, it takes about
10 years to be diagnosed, and there are now blood tests which can
identify the gene that predisposes this disease. The symptoms and body
systems affected are so numerous and varied, and appear so often
unrelated to one another, that being diagnosed is a very long process.
It is a devastating disease much like Rheumatoid Arthritis, only the
damage occurs in the connective tissues of the body first, and
inflammation is the culprit. I didn't know what was wrong with me until
2009, and being raised by parents who grew up during the Great
Depression, I had been taught just keep moving forward. God used that
to save me from devastating deformity and the damage that comes if you
nurse the pain, and become inactive because of it. My strength and
flexibility is minimally affected as compared to others, considering
that the disease process has remained active since I first developed it
at age 14. I suffered a back injury triggering the gene at that time.
(Broken bones seem to trigger the surge of destruction in this
disease.) Please pray specifically for me in this area. I am trusting
God that whatever state my health is in, I will be used exactly as He
desires, but I envision healing and a strong body full of energy as
being most effective in this work. I see too the glory of God
demonstrated in healing in this disease as being yet another thing in
which all who know of it, would understand that it was a gift of God
made for the sake of the Refugees. As I said, as often as God brings it
to your mind, please pray for this. I want God's multiplier used to
enhance my usefulness in His plans and outpouring of love for the
Refugees. Daily God is giving me information, which is always a help
and provision from the Lord. Pray specifically that I will be able to
implement all I learn to bring the benefits that may be possible, it is
hard work to focus on the information, implement of each element of
information in trial, and then evaluate the effectiveness, and build a
working self treatment plan. It takes energy, diligence, and careful
data collection in order to not just flail around in the process. This
is insight that the Lord has recently brought to me, the need to
scientifically conduct my own organized research on what brings relief,
and to keep records for comparison and evaluation. God has brought too
the knowledge that He has already made provision for the skills I need
to do this, it will take only my diligence to the task.
For
several years now, I have been writing and blogging, taking photos, and
I have developed some self taught skills in this area. I know that
these are developments directed by the Lord God. I have come to
understand very recently that one way I can truly help the Refugees is
in telling their stories. So many people lump anyone from the Middle
East in the "terrorist" category. Others just lump them as the third
world refugee drain on the system which is already taxed, and wish to
refuse entry or assistance because of many fears that are of merit
humanly speaking. There are many logical arguments that should have,
and could still close the doors to Refugees. The glory and good news
is, God alone controls those doors, and His perfect will rules them. We
don't have to worry about the threats and disadvantages, God will
handle that. We just have to love them in the name of the Lord, and
lift Him up, they WILL be drawn to HIM. Their stories told will
personalize and humanize them to the citizens of Europe. We are all
alike in our creation, God puts in every person the same drives and
needs. The need and drive most important in each of us is the need and
drive place there of God. We all are created to need others as well.
Desire for family, friends, and the basic needs of food, shelter, and
work with which to sustain ourselves and our families flows within all
of humanity. Only by God's providence are any of us legitimate persons
in Europe versus a Refugee. I feel by interviewing and recording
stories God will give, in some way God will use this to help them obtain
the help they all require to survive and hear the Gospel of Peace.
Pray too for this calling I have sanctified before the Lord.
Please
let me know how I can pray for you as well. We will need to strengthen
and encourage one another all during this work. I am filled with joy
and excitement at viewing God's power, glory, and saving grace in the
coming year among the Refugees. I have lifted everyone of them this
morning before the Lord! I have lifted each of you, and all those God
is calling to this work as well. May God move in their lives and yours
as well today, meet the present needs, move everything around us and in
us all in preparation for their hearing and coming to understand that
God's love and care brought them to Germany to save them, and to save
them eternally! I asked Him to prepare my own heart, hands, and mind,
yours as well as all those who labor in this work for the Lord God, for
the plans He has made. May God give the increase!
May God prosper each of your days today, and bless each of you as you
labor in His plans. If you know anyone associated with this work,
please pass my words on to them. We are together God's Army advancing
His coming Kingdom! We need to encourage and engage one another as the
Family of God! I love the words to this grand old hymn!
The Kingdom Is Coming
From all the dark places of earth’s heathen races,
O see how the thick shadows fly!
The voice of salvation awakes every nation,
Come over and help us, they cry.
Refrain
The kingdom is coming, O tell ye the story,
God’s banner exalted shall be!
The earth shall be full of His knowledge and glory,
As waters that cover the sea.
The sunlight is glancing o’er armies advancing
To conquer the kingdoms of sin;
Our Lord shall possess them,
His presence shall bless them,
His beauty shall enter them in.
Refrain
With shouting and singing, and jubilant ringing,
Their arms of rebellion cast down;
At last every nation the Lord of Salvation
Their King and Redeemer shall crown!
Refrain
started at the American Consulate in
Frankfurt of spouses, Consulate employees, and other interested parties
which has been formed as a grass movement among the participants in
order to support the Refugees and the German people as they tackle this
crisis of humanity. I listened as the people in attendance gave
information, brought forward ideas, and spoke of the needs of individual
Refugees with genuine compassion and concern. I tuned into the energy
in the room as plans were discussed and made to help by the individuals
setting at the table. As my dear friend who has lived and worked in
Iraq, who is German, and who is visiting us this week gave input, I sat
in awe of the privilege of friendship with this amazing woman, who was
once kidnapped for monetary ransom in Iraq. Uta Dammann is an
international business woman who loves the people of Iraq because of
knowing and sharing friendship with many, living and working among them in Iraq, and working in the ministry of Canon Andrew White, known as the "Vicar of Baghdad." She spoke of some of the
challenges, the sufferings, and the losses the people of Iraq have
endured. She knowingly spoke of many of the German laws involved in
this endeavor by Germany as well. I watched the faces of those in
attendance at the meeting. They are truly committed to doing all they
can personally concerning this event in history, which seems to me to be
one of the most significant of my own lifetime.
