A foreign land in the suburbs of Atlanta.

"But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."

- Jeremiah 29:7

What a testimony of the Lord's faithfulness! I never knew why the UAE was so open to Christianity I just assumed they did it in their best interest for economic development. NOPE. Back in 1960, before the UAE was the UAE and before oil made them very very wealthy they were a poor country with no modern health care in the region and with endemic diseases like tuberculosis and malaria, the population was actually declining and in desperate need of quality healthcare. That's when Christian missionaries Drs. Pat and Marian Kennedy moved to the region to bring Christ centered compassion through medical care. 57 years later and the royal family in the UAE still honors Christianity by saying,

you loved us when we were poor, now others love us because we are wealthy.

 The hospital, Oasis, they started is still open today in Al Ain, UAE. It's one of the leading hospitals in the country and still very much Christ centered. Praise the Lord! Let's pray and expect God to keep moving like this in the world, for He is faithful.

Just One week...in Dubai but it did not disappoint. From the moment I stepped out of the airport into that radiating 100 degree heat at 1:00am to the moment I stepped back into the airport I had a soothing peace about being in Dubai. The Lord started to give me a heart for this city the moment I boarded the metro and began to see how the world really is here. I stayed with some good friends, Tim and Amy Maxson, whom I know I could learn a lot from. It was good to just sit back, relax, and enjoy life with them and at the same time I was able to see and hear small glimpses of how God is bringing fruit and streams of LIVING WATER through them in this barren desert. Whether it's in the labor camps, marriage counseling, or just random encounters out in public the Spirit of the Lord is leading them to advance the kingdom. Tim told me multiple times there is so much fruit here to be harvested but the workers are few. Our time together was encouraging and full of joy for myself and their family. 

A Great Multitude Worshipping Before the Throne

"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."-LUKE 10:2

My "FOCUS"  

I was able to meet with other organizations and workers while in Dubai, some planned some unplanned. God made all the necessary connections I needed and he brought me FOCUS. Literally. Fellowship Of Christian UAE Students (FOCUS). This is a ministry taking the gospel to Universities in Dubai and all over the UAE. I was able to meet with the director of the organization, a man from India who was one of the first to come to Christ through the ministry in the early 2000's. I was so captured by the heart and vision of this guy and the ministry by the end of our time together I was thinking "When can I start?! Now?".  They are doing exceptional work reaching the nations on the college campuses in this super diverse country (

200 plus nations

). They have the vision of reaching the nations with the gospel, especially students from hard places closed to the gospel, equipping them for when they return to their homes to be disciples that make disciples. These students will be future leaders in their countries which makes for endless possibilities of the impact for the kingdom in their home countries. Dubai is one of the most strategic cities in the world to do this, especially since most people return to their home countries within 5 years. I share the heart and vision of FOCUS to reach college students from unreached people groups! With much excitement I am taking necessary steps to work along side this organization while remaining with my current organization, PI. This has been confirmed through much prayer, speaking with seasoned cross-cultural workers, and close brothers and sisters in Christ. (Picture of leaders of FOCUS).

Answered Prayers

Last month I was informed about my friend, Mohamed, who was dying of cancer and asked all of you to join me in praying for his healing both spiritually and physically. Well... Praise the Lord, he is still alive!!! The Lord has allowed for us to spend many afternoons and late nights with him at the hospital trying to give as much comfort and love as possible. We have found out he has reoccurring hodgkin's lymphoma that is resistant to chemo. Seeing my friend suffer through constant procedures and treatments was heart wrenching, feeling so helpless and weak it was perfect for God to display His strength. Out of His joy with prayer and sharing the stories of the scriptures He kept me strong and gave me the gift of a few ministry partners to come along side this family with me. 

In God's perfect design he brought my friend, Melissa (pictured above), into this relationship with the family. I am so grateful He did. She added a sweet dynamic to our times with Mohamed and his family by way of joy, laughter, fun, and loving compassion. She found that Mohamed really enjoyed games and is exceptionally good at them. Seriously though he brought his "A" game and dominated. During a game of Uno Mohamed laid down his second to last card bringing him to Uno while Melissa, on the struggle bus, had half the deck in her hand. But that second to last card he laid down gave him the ability to switch hands with one other player and choose the next color. Mohamed switched hands with Melissa, taking her half deck and giving her his Uno at the same time changing the color to that one card giving her the victory. Who knew such a beautiful picture of grace could come during a game of UNO?! God, that's who. Immediately the Holy Spirit lead me to share how this relates to the grace Jesus gave to us.  Mohamed has been in out of the hospital multiple times over the past month but is currently back at home with his family in Atlanta (pictured below). In just one month Mohamed's family has come to love Melissa like she is a daughter and a sister of their own.  

 THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO FILL IN! I wish I could fit it all in however I would enjoy talking with you all in person, over the phone, or skype/facetime. Please reach out to me  for any questions or just want to hear more. I appreciate all of you and your continued support, it is a necessary part in building God's kingdom. I cannot do this alone. 

Pray and Praise

• Pray as I begin my journey towards Dubai. That I would remember that we are called to Someone not something. That I would be flexible to God's leading.

• Pray for the Maxson family that the peace and strength of our Lord would uphold them.

• Pray for Mohamed to be healed so that His glory would be seen and our merciful Father would bring joy through His salvation to his entire family.

• Pray that Melissa and others ministering to Mohamed's family would have favor and strength from the Lord. That opprotunties to share the gospel boldly in love would abound and they would joyfully step into those opprotunties.

• Pray and praise for the believers of Clarkston, specifically:

  • GFM, the training organization.

  • Gospel Hope Church, the body of believers I committed to.

  • That God would raise up faithful gospel centered leaders from within these two groups, bringing transformation to the Clarkston community and across the world.

• The body in Clarkston would be known by their love for one another and pray Ephesians 6 over them, the full armor of God.

• Pray earnestly for laborers to go into the harvest! To our neighbors, communities, and the world. Try this at 10:02 everyday. (Luke 10:2)

• Pray to and Praise God for my friend A from Saudi! He is showing growth in his desire to know Christ intimately.

“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