We’re not in Carolina anymore, Toto…

Rush Hour Traffic in Lahore, Pakistan

Hello everyone, I hope you are having an eventful and Christ-filled month!

I am writing after a week of training in Turkey and two weeks in Pakistan.

Some societal differences are benign – like the shocking number of people who want to touch my blonde hair! – but others are less so. No matter how adventurous one feels, it is hard to encounter the profound poverty that affects so many lives.

Ramadan, the Muslim tradition of fasting during the day for thirty days, started on February 17. It is generally advised to avoid eating or drinking in public during daylight hours out of respect, and in addition, all the restaurants are closed until sundown. Since that means we are also effectively fasting, pray that God will put it to good use!

We are traveling to three or four cities to provide our workshops at several churches. The work has been exceptional and we are so grateful to see God move and to build relationships. That said, local workers have requested that we limit details and pictures, since discussing the faith with non-Christians is frowned on. Now that we have been here for a little while, I feel both like we had nothing to worry about, and like anything could go wrong.

So, as the God brings our team to your thoughts, please pray for us. Pray that those we share with will have courage, wisdom, and divine protection. And above all, please pray for the people who are choosing to give up prosperity, opportunities, and safety on a daily basis, to bring eternal life to the people of Pakistan.

I am so honored to have the opportunity to meet so many lovely brothers and sisters in Christ from such different places of the world. We’ll be arriving in India (visas have been approved!) during the first week of March, so the next newsletter will come from there.

Blessings!