Early One Morning

“If we want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out.
To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it…
I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world…
In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”
Mother Theresa

This morning I told Rex, “Tony Bennett may have left his heart in San Francisco, but I left part of my heart in Amman.” God answered prayer in such amazing and wonderful ways, far beyond our hopes and requests. Thank you for being part of “the team”, I could feel your prayers and support as God worked every day.

Since the first minute we were invited to have a woman’s conference in Jordan, I was a bit concerned. While I knew in my heart that God would not fail, I was also painfully aware of my own limitations, both physical and emotional. It’s easy to fret when we get caught up looking at ourselves isn’t it? Still, each time I would begin to worry, I remembered the incredible promises of God’s Word exhorting us to “cast our cares on Him for He cares for us!” What a liberating reality! As I continued to take those truths to heart I discovered peace and power to go forward.

With that confidence–truly a peace that passes ALL understanding–I boarded the plane to meet the rest of the team in NYC and travel together to Amman.

The beginning of the first night of the conference was rough; the translator had a very difficult time finding Arabic words for our English phrases. Slowly the atmosphere changed as we forged ahead and God came to our rescue. It was soon evident that our sessions and prayer times were being blessed by God; He refreshed, renewed and encouraged the women (and with typical grace–He also refreshed, renewed and encouraged ME too). We witnessed the healing of bodies, emotions and situations. By the third session the pastors and leaders said they could see a remarkable difference in the women, they could see God at work in their lives.

In response to so many miraculous encounters with God through the ministry and fellowship we had, the leaders now want to have another women’s conference AND a marriage conference AND a men’s conference AND a children’s workers conference each year. That’s four conferences a year! This was their first conference for the women and everyone saw what great things God accomplished. All glory be to Jesus!

I wish you could have been with us. So many beautiful saints of God are there, reaching into their community with love and assistance to the poor and the refugees. Many are suffering. We met women whose unconverted husbands are deeply abusive, unfaithful and make home life unbearable. These women received strength, comfort and encouragement from the teachings of God’s Word and the fellowship of the U. S. team.

Your brothers and sisters in the Lord send their greetings. The pastors and people requested that we pray for God to provide them with:

1) Outreach in their communities, that they would able to reach others around them with God’s ‘Good News’, for God to work in them and through them for His Glory
2) A volunteer doctor for their clinic
3) A bus so they can transport people to and from the services
4) For the refugees in Amman as well as for the people in Iraq
5) For jobs for those who are able to work
6) For families to be united (many families are in different countries, some waiting ‘year’s for visas to travel to a host country)

The final day of the conference as my teammate and I prayed with various ones, Ha-nan, a beautiful woman of God, walked up to me and said in broken English, “I want to pray for you.” “Good,” I said, “I need it.” “Yes, you do.” she replied, “You have been giving and praying for others but you need our prayers.” She placed her hands on my shoulders and I placed my hands on her shoulders. Our tears mingled as she prayed heaven and earth together. God spoke through her straight to my heart. She described the Father’s heart of love toward me and relayed His message to me. What a tremendous time of refreshing, joy and enrichment we both experienced.

I am always amazed that as we reach out to others, as we become the hands and feet of Jesus–truly His Body–we find that our own wounds are healed. One Christian writer commented that we are “wounded healers.” That is certainly true for me; I feel that God longs to minister to our needs as well as the needs of others and He is so faithful to do that as we walk in obedience to Him.

What an honor and privilege to take part in this tremendous trip. Thank you again for your faithful prayers for me and the team while ministering in Jordan and for being coworkers with me in God’s Kingdom’s work.

With my love, appreciation and prayers as we journey together,

LaWanda

Financial gifts are tax deductible, should be made payable to WMI, marked ‘WMI Mission Trips’ and mailed to:

WOMEN’S MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
P O Box 535002
Indianapolis IN 46253-5002