A foreign land in the suburbs of Atlanta.

From There to Here

Hello everyone!!! Todd Born, here!! You are receiving this email because you are a partner with me in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus of Christ. Thank you so much for all you all you do! I give praise and thanks to our God and Father for you.

Three weeks ago, I began my journey in Indiana to Georgia up to Philadelphia and then back to Georgia. Go, go, go was all I knew for the past month and the weight that came with it. I was on edge and withering away from spiritual and mental exhaustion when I finally crashed. Our wonderful Father, our refuge, brought me to a halt into His loving arms. 

My first week was spent attending training with Pioneers in Philadelphia. This week was exhausting but a great way to kick-off my journey into Missions, focusing on Disciples Making Movements. While in Philadelphia I met a family who were missionaries in a country I am considering! This was a wonderful surprise from the Lord allowing me to obtain words of wisdom and enjoy stories of their time on the field. As much as I enjoyed the time with these brothers and sisters it was time to go back to Georgia. (Picture below is training in Philadelphia)

My first two weeks here in Georgia have been enjoyable, it didn't take long for me to jump right into establishing relationships with my neighbors. Almost everyone in this apartment complex are refugees. However, at times I felt overwhelmed. They gave us so much information on different organizations we can serve with in the community that it caused me a bit of anxiety trying to figure out where to plug in. After spending much time in prayer and a conversation with a new friend to help me process I knew where I need to narrow in my focus. 

They took us around door knocking to ask people how we can pray for them, a lot of the time the refugees will inivte you in for tea/snacks and sometimes the chance arises to share stories with them from the scriptures and maybe lead a bible study...BUT none of that happened for me. 4 days of door knocking and I was only invited into one home by a Pastor from Burmah. Door knocking isn't my thing. Meeting people naturally; grocery store, coffee, restaurant, or in my neighborhood is how I work best.  

This next week we are heading into freedom week, a time of fasting praying and abiding with the Lord. We will be staying a remote cabin on a lake in Alabama. After we get back on Thursday I will be flying back to Evansville for the weekend. Hope to see some of you there!

Maz

, a 28 year old Syrian Muslim, is one of my neighbors. He invited me to play soccer at Georgia Tech with him and other refugees. He has heard the gospel before.

Pray

 that God would use me to water in deed and truth. Maz would see Jesus as the one true God. 

A boy, muslim, from the Kongo who lives in our nieghborhood was talking with me as we watched a storm roll through outside my apartment. 

Connections

I have developed a few relationships with Syrian Muslim men in my apartment complex.

Omar, Samir, and Ali

I stumbled across as I was prayer walking. They were enjoying a time of tea and hookah under a tree. They invited me to join them and have invited me to come back each time I have joined them.

Ahmed

, a 28 year old Egyptian Muslim, I met with another family doing ministry here in Clarkston. He invited me over for American coffee (this was a blessing, Arabic coffee is not my favorite) and a whole lot of pastries! We have a lot of interests in common and he told me before I left his home that he wants to hang out again soon.

Pray

• God would keep revealing corners of my heart that needs to be renewed and transformed by the power of His Spirit. 

• For the new relationships that I would be salt and light, being bold with the Gospel. I find myself at times struggling to share or how to share and relying on my own strength/ability. 

• This week is prayer and fasting, pray for this to be time of feasting on God and abiding in Him.

• Clarity on what country God would have me go to.

"Missions exist because WORSHIP doesn't

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Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ - Matthew 22:37-40