Pictured is our son playing with a little boy at a playground this week. Currently we are actively praying that we would cross paths with this little boy and his family again. In fact, we have begun to pray very specifically that we will meet and befriend locals at playgrounds, stores, and parks in the area and that those connections develop into deep friendships that may even eventually lead to partnerships with us. Will you join us in prayer as we ask that the Lord would lead us in this, asking that He would direct us and give us courage to reach out?

Our neighbors recently gifted this small harvest of grapes over the back wall of our yard. We were blessed by their generosity!!

Last Friday was the kickoff of a weekly ministry for children that likeminded friends of ours are hosting at our center. We plan to partner with them in this ministry each Friday evening through the month of December. Please pray for this ministry, that it will grow as the Lord sees fit.

Like any big city, stray dogs are common here. Here though, the city tags dogs in their ears and then neighborhoods as a whole take care of them. We came across this little puppy in our neighborhood a couple weeks ago. We have seen it since then and it looks much less pitiful and well loved!

Snapshots from the conference including a worship night, crafts and games with the kids, and a peek into a speaking session. 

Not pictured: the time a water fight broke out and turned into a quest to throw as many of us into the little pool as possible. Our family managed to stay out of the splash zone (mostly… one of us got a soaking wet hug…) but it was fun to watch!!

We are thankful for this opportunity to be involved with this conference and grateful for your prayers!

Starting today we are spending time out of the city with some local friends who are hosting a small conference as a way to disciple new believers and introduce non-believers to Truth. This conference will run from Wednesday through Saturday and has been planned and put together by a long time local friend of our team. Pray that the Holy Spirit will help to illuminate the Word this week and that hearts and minds will be open to Him.

This photo shows a group of musicians playing some cutlural music in a park while children moved their feet in traditional dance steps and those in the crowd who knew these songs sang along. Moments like these are fun to observe but also serve as reminders that though this culture is different from ours, it’s rich and beautiful. What a gift to be able to watch summertime moments like this and learn more about the people we live amongst.

One of the things I like best about this culture is the make-it-work attitude. This picture is an example of that mindset. See the guy atop the cab of the truck? His job is to push branches out of the way as the truck drives down the street. Making it work!

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. — John 15:5

So often we look at the task in front of us and wonder, how are we going to do this? and where do we start? I don’t have the most concrete answers to those questions, but there is so much peace in remembering these verses and committing to the part we can control: remaining in the Vine.

Pray for the people here, from the wealthiest to those who have so little. Pray for the children. Pray for the elderly. Pray for those with jobs and without. Pray for the broken-hearted. Pray for the searching. Pray for a hunger to know Christ. Pray for revival in the local church. Pray that the Lord will open the eyes of the priests to His truth. Pray for boldness of local believers to share Christ with those around them.

God is not done here; pray for this city.