The Journey

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

Leah 9 Dec 2009, 9:47 am

Leah* came to the Home of Hope two weeks ago. She is depressed and struggling with the upcoming Christmas holiday. She says that everything bad that happened in her life, happened at the Christmas season.

Please keep her in prayer this month. Every girl that comes into the home struggles with the lack of freedom, the rules, the structure, and wants to leave. They cannot see that life can be better and want to run. Leah is in this place at this time.

This past weekend she spent a lot of time saying she wanted to leave. Tuesday is our prayer and fasting day, and we prayed specifically that she would see God in her life and make the choice to stay. In the afternoon she went to visit a foundation that takes in pregnant women and mothers. They told her that they would not take her because she is not from the city. We see this as a miracle because we know they take any needy woman, no matter where she is from.

And while she was there, Leah noted how sad everyone looked. She saw the difference from those at the Home of Hope. So she has come back and said she will stay until after her baby is born. Please pray specifically for her this week and this month. Pray that she would settle and see what God will do in her life. There is a great battle for her life at this time. Pray that she will see God showing himself to her this Christmas season.

Source: The Journey | NancyR

Additions 23 Nov 2009, 7:24 pm

Today I met Leah*, a 21 year old victim of sex-trafficking. She's four months pregnant and has no where to go. A short-term shelter that we partner with called us, asking us to take her.

Leah's nervousness showed clearly. No smile showed on her face. She reminded me of Ala* when I first met her a year ago. Hopelessness filled her whole being.

"Would you like to come to our home?" asked Elena, our director.

A positive answer told me that she really didn't know what other option existed. She's spent her life shifted from one family member to another, in an out of orphanages, trafficked to one country and moved to another.

Please pray for Leah this week. Deciding to step into a new way of life is never easy. She will come to visit with her Social Worker on Wednesday. Most likely she'll bring the few possessions she owns with her and stay that night. We are asking Ala to be a helper to her as she settles into life in the home, as we see the incredible change in Ala's life.

It won't be easy. The first weeks never are. But we know that God has brought her to us, and we know that she can find newness of life in Christ and healing from the pain in the coming months.

Thanks for your prayers.

Source: The Journey | NancyR