God Changes Lives in the Middle East

"Did you have a good summer?" That is the most common question asked by my family and friends. Somehow, "good" just doesn't quite describe my summer. I don't think the English language has a word that does adequately describe my experience in an Arab Muslim country. Amazing, incredible, life-changing...all of those are true, but not just one of them can stand-alone.

Before I left in mid-May, I expected that this summer would change my life, but I had no concept of what that really meant. I never dreamed that my thought process and thinking patterns would be altered. I never dreamed that God would mold and shape me so much in such a short time.

I spent eight weeks in a 100% Muslim country in the Middle East. I don't didn't really catch the 100% Muslim part until one day in the local grocery store. I looked around me to find women completely veiled in black. I was the only white girl on the aisle, and the only one without black clothing everywhere except my hands and eyes. At that point I fully realized I was no longer in the "Bible belt" of the southern United States. I was truly in the minority because I was a Christian.

Because proselytizing of Muslims is strictly forbidden in this country, I was very hesitant, especially at first, about what I could and could not say. Matthew 5:16 became even more real to me. I began to think about lighthouses and how they don't ring bells or send out shouts to call people to their light; they simply shine. In a land where I couldn't shout the name of Jesus or sing His praises out loud in public, I did my best to simply shine through my actions and attitudes. Of course I wasn't perfect and I failed a lot more than I would like to admit, but I know His grace covered my weakness and shone through me despite my own faults.

After much prayer and God's grace, we were able to make some contacts in our region, I had given out about 15 Bibles and about 6 Jesus Videos by the time the summer was over. I didn't see anyone come to Christ, but I know that God's Word does not return void, and that it will penetrate the hearts of those who read it and view the videos. "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." 1 Corinthians 3:6-7. I planted some seeds this summer, someone else will come along to water them, but it will be God, and only God, who will give salvation and hope in Jesus Christ to these people.

Because I lived in such a spiritually dry land, I am more thirsty for the God's Word than ever before. I have seen people who live without the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ and it has made me more and more aware and appreciative of that hope in my own life.

I have learned that anything is possible through prayer, and that God is Sovereign, and we are very small in view of His greatness. Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of God's work in this part of the world!

- Amy

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