The Journey

a Prodigal's Return 8 Mar 2010, 3:21 pm

Today is International Women's Day, which I'm sure is celebrated in every country in the world except America! We had a great celebration, taking all the women out for pizza and salad. After pizza we went back to the home for ice cream and M&M cookies, which my daughter and I made last evening. (The cookies, not the ice cream).

I received tons of homemade presents. That's what is done on International Women's Day...you give presents to all the women you love. All the women worked to do something and give of themselves.

Andy is in the states. We put him on Skype, and he was able to wish everyone a happy celebration.

What a day! But the best of the day was holding our small one, Anika*, in my arms and crying with her. Last summer she chose to leave the home. She decided to walk away from all of it. The past Friday our Social Worker (bless Oxana!) took one of the other girls and they went to visit Anika in her village. They asked her if she'd want to come for the party today. Today they went to get her.

I'm not sure she said a word all day, but she took in the love. When I first saw her at the restaurant, I hugged her, but there was no response in the hug. It wasn't rejection, just inability to feel. Later at the home I again took her in my arms and told her how much I love her, how I've never stopped loving her. She hugged me back and together we cried.

We all sat for a bit and talked. The girls told Anika that every day, morning and night they have prayed for her return. They loved on her and welcomed her.

I love what God is doing there in all the hearts. It is so amazing to see.

Please continue to pray for Anika. She is the youngest girl we've had in the home. She so wants love. Pray that God really works in her life at this time. She hasn't said she will stay, but I'd be surprised if she doesn't.

Even when we chose to walk away, God never does. He has never left Anika.

In all the celebration and gifts today, seeing her again was by far the best thing.

Source: The Journey | NancyR

The rewards 7 Mar 2010, 3:02 pm

This morning I was in church, struggling to be there. Some days are like that. Some visitors (brothers) where there sharing. All of it was in Russian. I wondered why I continued to sit there. And then as church was ending....

Ali* got up and gave a testimony, complete with tears (she is always telling me not to cry!) She just shared how her life has been so changed. She said how she'd lived so many years in the unfinished basement of local block apartments. She shared about how God had just changed her. She thanked the pastor, the church and me. After the service finally ended I went to her and hugged her and said, "I love you so much". I do. I knew it was huge for her to get up in front of the church today and cry in front of them. She had lived so many years without showing anyone any weakness. She would see tears as weakness.

And then Nelly hugged me. She is a new girl that came to us 2 weeks ago. She had sat in a prison in Dubai for 2 years! She said, "Nancy, I don't know where I'd be without you. I don't know where I'd be." And then she went on to say how thankful she was and how she can see that her life will be different, her life will be changed. And we cried together.

I had sat in church and said, "Lord, what am I doing here? Why am I in this church this morning? I'm only here because I feel I have to be." And then the Lord gave me His kiss through these beautiful girls.

My life is incredibly blessed by loving these girls who the world threw away and gave up on.

Thanks to all of you who pray for them and for this ministry. Thank you for giving and caring.

To us, this ministry isn't about statistics. It isn't about the sad stories you see in movies or read in a magazine. It is about real women who are needy. It is about women who need their life changed.

Please continue to pray for Ginny*. A week ago she went to court to face her traffickers. They did not show up. New court dates have been set for this month. Please keep her in prayer. It is incredibly frightening for her to do this, but she is willing to testify.

Pray also for workers. Our cook quit and we need to find another.

Thanks for your prayers and for your part in this work. It is so important.

Source: The Journey | NancyR

Change 26 Jan 2010, 11:29 am

At the New Year we always talk about the need for change. We make resolutions, try to lose weight and begin exercise programs. Often the change we need must be deeper. It must be a change of the heart, a change of ways and actions.

This type of change is difficult. It is scary. We see this so clearly for the women at the Home of Hope. They come and want a place of safety, but a changed life is foreign. They don't want to go to that place of change. The first months are especially difficult.

Please continue to pray for *Leah and *Ginny. There is so much that holds them in bondage. They want to leave or run from the home. They see freedom as life on their own, life in the bars, life in another country. After being held in captivity, they see freedom only as a place. As believers we know that true liberty is only in Christ. "He who the Son sets free is free indeed!"

Pray that God would set them free from the captivity of their own souls. Pray that they would submit their lives to Christ and grow in Him.

Pray for peace for Ginny. Her mother died shortly before she was trafficked. She still feels this loss and misses her mother greatly.

Pray also for one of our children. In the next few weeks she needs to get her tonsils out. Pray for safety in the operation and a quick healing for her body.

Pray also for our staff. The work is draining, and they need to see God as victorious in their lives too.

Source: The Journey | NancyR

A New Year 11 Jan 2010, 9:31 am

I'm sitting this morning at the Home of Hope. We've passed through the holiday season. Last Thursday was Eastern Christmas so there were still services and celebrations throughout the weekend.

Thanks for your prayers over the holiday season. For some of the girls it was a great time. All celebrated in a new style--without alcohol and abuse. But for most of the girls, it still proved a difficult season. It brings to the surface so many tough emotions.

Today I'd like you to pray for the year ahead. Pray for the ministry here. It is still in such an infancy stage. Pray that God would put roots down deep in the hearts of the women. Pray that He would heal their deep inner hurts. Pray that He would become their Father and their comfort. Pray for those that have already committed their lives to the Lord--that they will grow in this new relationship. Pray for those that have not committed their lives to Him. That they would understand the full meaning of what Christ has done for them.

Pray for the other work we do in Moldova. There are churches to be built, pastors to be trained, help to be given. Early in February the annual pastor's conference will be held. Pray that a mighty move of God will fall upon the pastors, giving them new direction so that many will come to Him. Starting in the Spring we will have several teams coming to Moldova to help construct church buildings or help the ministry of a local church. Pray for God's blessings on these teams as they prepare.

Pray also for our family. The girls are doing well, but each is growing up in a very different cultural context than we understand. There are always challenges to home schooling, as there are challenges to public schooling. Pray for God's hand on their lives. Pray also for Andy and I. This Spring we'll celebrate 20 years of marriage. It is hard to believe that we've walked this road together now for nearly 20 years. What a great time we are having. Pray for continued vision and guidance for us also.

Blessings on your day! Thanks for your prayer.

Source: The Journey | NancyR

Reflections 23 Dec 2009, 9:23 pm

As I look back on the past year, I am amazed at what God has done in our first year of ministry at the Home of Hope in Moldova. And I realize that none of it could be possible without the prayers of so many. There is no doubt that finances are needed to run a work, but many people have finances and don't see lives changed. Without faithful prayer for the ministry and for the lives of the women, we would not see the great things we saw this past year.

Thanks for believing with us in prayer for a director. Elena is doing an amazing job. I often sit and listen to her lead and feel incredibly blessed to have her there.

Thanks for praying for Ali*--a month ago she learned from a few of the staff about baby dedication and this Sunday we will dedicate both her newborn son and her 3 year old daughter at our local church. She's made the complete break in an awful relationship and is moving forward. But best of all I see joy and peace in her life. Everything is not perfect, but she is a living miracle.

Thanks for praying for God's work and God's timing. This month we've taken in two new women. One is pregnant. The other is young. Both are so hurting and broken. Continue to pray for Leah* and Ginny*. They need God's touch. We see smiles on their faces some days. We want them to come to truly understand Christ in their lives. We now have five women and four children in the home and that is exciting.

Thanks for praying for work for the women. We've partnered with Salvation Army to give fair trade work to the women. Some are sewing. Another is crocheting. It is allowing them to earn money and hope for a better future. Two of the women are ready to begin a local cooking school.

Thanks for praying for our staff. I'm amazed at what God is doing in their lives. They are wonderful women who truly love what they are doing, how God is using them and how they can be involved in lives being changed.

Current prayer needs--

Ginny* needs complete physical healing in her body--the effects of her trauma.

Ali's baby is doing well, but the doctors were a bit concerned about his growth this past time. Pray for this little baby to grow.

Pray for a special blessing this Sunday. Ali is such a leader and she has lead the way in baby dedication. The others are following and all our children are being dedicated to the Lord this Sunday. How exciting that their lives are being changed! How exciting that they do not need to know the pain that their mothers's lives held. God is so good. So please pray with us for this Sunday.

Have a Blessed Christmas!

Source: The Journey | NancyR