May Jesus' love overwhelm you!
Greetings from Palestine. For those of you who do not know, we are currently in the midst of the Muslim month of Ramadan, a month that is set aside in the Qur'an for faithful Muslims to fast from food and water during the daylight hours of the month. In Palestine, this means the general pace of life slows down, as many people elect to sleep later and leave work earlier in order to handle the fast. For many people, it is also a time of spiritual searching and an awareness of the human need for God, as a great part of the reason for fasting is the atonement for sins.
A few nights ago, we had the chance to have the iftar meal (when the fast is broken) with the same family we are friends with. We will be visiting another family next week for the same meal. These can be very pleasant times of eating, drinking, and making merry after a difficult day of fasting. Please pray for these encounters, that the people we come into contact will be open to spiritual conversations and that we will have the discernment to know it.
Light of the World ministries, which Sarah is helping to head up, will be delivering Ramadan food baskets during this time. Many families eat more food (and more expensive food) during Ramadan than any other month, because of the hunger that accompanies the breaking of the fast each evening. This puts a strain on poorer families, and it can be very depressing to miss the iftar feast during the evening because of a lack of money. The food baskets will be an excellent opportunity to begin and/or continue relationships with Muslims and with Muslim background believers who still choose to fast with their Muslim brothers and sisters.
In other news, here is the official announcement... In early April 2008, inshalla, we will have a new baby. Sarah has been to the doctor twice now and she and the baby are doing well. We praise God for the gift of life!
Please continue to pray for the following needs:
- That we will be diligent and successful in our Arabic lessons (We have learned the alphabet now and are practicing reading and writing!)
- That Sarah and the new baby will continue to stay healthy.
- That God will provide us with opportunities to love and serve our neighbors during this month
- That Jesus will reveal Himself in a mighty way during this time of heightened spiritual awareness.
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Jason and Sarah
