Day 5: Somalia

It's another late-night post, but I think we can get it done before the day ends! Tonight we learned about two US raids: one in Libya and one in Somalia, so let's take a little time to focus on Somalia.

Somalia has endured a great amount of instability over the last 20+ years. War, violence, and lack of government structure have led to the great neglect of the Somalians' needs, especially medical needs. Somalia has the lowest health budget of any nation and the highest infant mortality rate at 12%. Lord, hear our prayers.

Somalian Quick Facts:
Population: 9.4 million
Primary Industry: Livestock Herding
Annual Income per Person: $282.00
Political System: Islamic Union of Courts, significant warlord domination
Primary Religion: Islam
All facts found in Operation World

Father, we plead on behalf of the nation of Somalia. My mind can't fathom the amount of chaos and disorder that normal life entails for the people of Somalia, but I thank you for being present with them. We pray for peace, for stability, for godly leaders to arise. We pray for aid to reach the right people, and for skills to be passed on and built upon. We pray for the families mourning loss that is all too common. Forgive us for any time we have missed opportunities to help, and open our eyes to be a part of bringing Your gospel to this part of the world. Amen.

Day 4: Italy

Today has been a full day of finishing up my work for the week and taking care of my guy recovering from his wisdom tooth extraction, so tonight will be brief. :-)

The shipwreck off the coast of Italy claimed the lives of over 100 people, including a large number of migrants from Africa. Though this happened thousands of miles away, we are called to mourn with those who mourn. Let's take some time to do just that.

Italian Quick Facts:
Population: 60.1 million
Primary Industry: Manufactured Goods
Annual Income per Person: $38,996
Political System: Democracy
Primary Religion: Christianity - Catholicism is claimed by 84% of the population, though only 15% actually practice.
All facts found in Operation World

Lord, make my heart tender toward that which You love and cherish. 
We pray for the families of those who lost their lives in this shipwreck, 
and we ask that You would be very real to them in their grief. We pray for 
the nation of Italy, that they would no longer be apathetic toward Your Church,
 but would see You are live and active today. Bring revival. Amen

Day 3: Iran

Iran has been in the news quite a bit lately, so I thought we'd take a little time to talk and pray.

Iran has one of the longest histories of civilization in the world. The first noted kingdom on this land stretches back to the 2800 BC. It has a rich, yet violent history, and that continues today.

Currently the Iranian government is an Islamic Republic, which is a result from the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Though it is easy to fear this country based on what we read and hear in the news, I ask that we instead pray for the people of Iran and trust in the sovereignty of God. We read about Iran's pursuit of nuclear power and the threat of nuclear weapons, yet we pray for the Prince of Peace to reign. And I don't mean pray this in a cliche manner, but rather in a way that declares the full power of the Lord we serve!

Iranian Quick Facts:
Population: 75.1 million
Primary Industry: Oil and Natural Gas
Annual Income per Person: $4,600
Political System: Islamic Republic
Primary Religion: Shi'a Islam
All facts found in Operation World

Lord, we do declare that you are the Prince of Peace who can immediately bring rest to Iran. We trust your plan for the people of Iran, and we plea for Your gospel to be embraced by them. We ask that you would use their religiosity to reveal to them that You are The Truth and The Life. Encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ working to build your church, affirm that though they are small in number, Your power is great. Help us to seek understanding of a culture that seems so foreign to us. Help us to love Your people like You do. Make Your name great. Amen

Day 2: Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic stole my heart last year, so it seems like a natural place to start our journey. While the country's rich beauty lends itself to a thriving tourism industry, there is a very high disparity between the rich and the poor.

Operation World states that there are 4,000 villages on the Dominican side of the island who have no exposure to the gospel. Many of these villages are unincorporated, meaning that those who live in these areas are not recognized by the Dominican government as citizens. Village residents typically are born, raised, and stay in the village throughout their lives. There is no structured industry in these areas, so work is primarily comprised of day labor or reselling purchased goods.

We traveled to one of those villages last summer and worked with Ina York, a missionary sharing the gospel through community development in Cercadillo.

Through God working through her efforts, the people of Cercadillo are being transformed by the gospel. Though the bondage of poverty and native voodoo are still highly prevalent, the freedom of Christ is growing! Please pray for that the Spirit to move in the people of the Dominican Republic, for them to understand the Truth of the gospel, as opposed to the voodoo influence, for the men to step up in faith and in their actions with their families, for encouragement for the missionaries currently serving, and for more to reach those who have yet to hear.

Dominican Quick Facts:
Population: 10.2 million
Primary Industry: Tourism
Annual Income per Person: $4,992
Political System: Democracy (prone to corruption)
Primary Religion: Christian (tends to blend of Christianity and voodoo)
All facts found in Operation World.

Lord Jesus, we lift up the people of the Dominican Republic. We see the beauty of Your creation, both in the land and in the people, and we ask that they would open their eyes to the beauty of Your salvation. We pray against the corruption of the government and for Your Name to be made great. We acknowledge that each tribe, nation, and tongue play a unique role in completing Your Glory, and we ask that the Dominicans, and all of us, would embrace our part of worshiping You. Amen 

31 Days of Praying for the Nations

My world was rocked earlier this year when I took a class called Perspectives. Through this experience, God revealed so much more of His heart that seemed so new, and yet so perfectly aligned with the God I knew and loved.

God's heart for the nations is evident throughout scripture, from the Genesis through Revelation, but Matthew 24:14 is one of the most striking passages: "And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come." 

This is what our Jesus is waiting for! He will not come until the whole word has heard the gospel of the Kingdom! And when that day comes, Revelation 7:9-10 will comes to pass: 

"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
     'Salvation belongs to our God,
          who sits on the throne,
          and to the Lamb.'"

It just gives me tingles! But as glorious as that day will be, we're not there yet. And when we look around, it's difficult to imagine that day ever coming. So what can we do? How can we be involved today, right where we are? I'm going to humbly ask you to join me in 31 days of praying for the nations. Not because I have a great understanding of it, but rather because I don't have a clue. But if God loves the nations enough to write them into His Word, then I want to love like that, too.

So why am I focusing on praying for the nations?

Because I'm not good at it.

Because it scares me.

Because my head knows prayer is powerful, but my heart needs to know it, too.

Because I'm selfish.

Because we're called to love as God loves.

Because I believe God wants to show us something.

Will you join me?

Day 2: Dominican Republic
Day 3: Iran
Day 4: Italy
Day 5: Somalia
Day 6: Libya
Day 7: Kenya
Day 8: Russia
Day 9: Brazil
Day 10: Pakistan
Day 11: Ecuador
Day 12: Guatemala
Day 13: Spain
Day 14: India
Day 15: Philippines
Day 16: United Kingdom
Day 17: Greece
Day 18: Netherlands
Day 19: Myanmar
Day 20: Refocus
Day 21: Australia
Day 22: Uganda
Day 23: Germany
Day 24: Indonesia
Day 25: Saudi Arabia
Day 26: Argentina
Day 27: Scripture
Day 28: Belgium
Day 29: Syria
Day 30: Haiti
Day 31: United States of America

Refresh and Refocus

Summer is storming past us, per usual, but I am still amazed by its hastiness. May and June were characterized by significant road trips to five different states. We embraced life on the road, found great detours along the way, but were more than ready for July.

A few favorites from our Dexter trip.

Falling in love with the Smokey Mountains

Simply stunning

July was primarily spent hosting friends and family. We loved the many opportunities to open our home and practice hospitality, but July definitely kept us on our toes!

Our smallest but most wonderful guests

Celebrating the Fourth with Aunt Nancy and Uncle Andy

Our first 5K with friends and family

And this leads us to August. I'm kind of loving August. If I may be so selfish, August is for us. Time with dear friends. Conferences to feed the soul. An empty house. Dreaming. Planning. Talking. Facing the hard things. Stretching. Growing. Starting.

I'm a terrible goal setter, mainly because I don't like the obsessive, over-achiever I become when I do. But I'm feeling the tide turn, just a bit...like the Spirit is whispering that I can trust God to change me, that there is more out there if I'll let go of maintaining the safeguards I've built and put that energy into doing the work.

So watch out, world. The Summers are setting goals.

Summer flies, months push forward, but today I can pause and reflect and refocus. Today I can say yes to commitments and goals and trying new things without fear of who I've been in the past. Today I can remember what writing does for my heart, for my soul, and not feel bad about making it a priority.

August is for advocating the person God made, is making me to be. August is going to be good.

Trusting the Process

My draft folder is full of stalled ideas. This one jarred loose. You're joining 

me in pretending I didn't take over a month off, right? You're the best!

I am not a runner. I can barely be considered a person who can run. My fight-or-flight response is stuck on fight, as my brain is aware of my inability to escape. But at some point, the desire to run a 5K grew beyond the strength of my excuses, so I'm in the midst of a feeble attempt at becoming a runner (jogger is more accurate...let's be real).

My encourager with me on a walk.
These trails are the best part of this running thing!

My problem with running is not so much the physical toll as it is the mental panic that sets in when I do feel challenged by the run. I can psych myself out before during and after run. I have talent. So when I looked ahead in my training schedule and saw a jump in the length of intervals, the anxiety started creeping in.

But here's the thing. I ran my scheduled workout, and I had the stamina to complete it. The following workout was more difficult, but again, I had gained the stamina to complete it. Can I run a full 3.1 miles yet? No. But I'm trusting the process.

And that's where I find myself in seeking my God-sized dream. Did I accomplish everything I hoped when we started this journey in January? Nope. We didn't host nearly as many people as I had planned. We still don't have many home projects completed. And I know I'm still heavily lacking in my homemaking skills.

But I also know that I'm in the process. We did choose to invite when we could have avoided. We made progress when we could have stagnated. And I'm gaining confidence where there has been great insecurity. We're sharing our home for the summer and figuring out how to turn friends into community and trusting that this step will lead forward.

I don't have to panic about the full distance. I just have to be faithful with the task He's given to me now and trust that my perseverance will grow. I am challenged to dream, to step out of my comfort zone, to invite God's leading above my own. But I'm also challenged to be present, to love fully, to seek the graces right in front of me. And my, there are many.

Linking up here today. Join us?