Pray for our local brother who so often feels alone. He knows no other local believers in our city. When there are threats or danger, he tends towards isolation which increases fear. Ask for wisdom for him to know when to meet with foreign believers; he is so welcome, and invited, but concerned. Pray that he will know when and who to share with, and that God would gather local believers here to encourage one another.

Zahara, a woman who had read the gospel online and had asked for an Arabic NT, missed our meeting to receive it because of sickness. As Fatima and I walked at the park a few days later, Zahara called to say that she had just seen us walk by. Only her eyes were showing and I would have walked right on by without her call. As we continued on walking together, she explained that it must have been God’s favor that we meet. Praise Jesus for his arrangements! Then she and Fatima got into a conversation about the troubles in the country and comparing Christians and Muslims. Zahara said, “It is easier to enter Islam if you have not yet met a Muslim.” She turned in apology to her fellow Muslim, but Fatima was nodding. Hypocrisy is always horrible. Pray for these women who are drawn to what they see in followers of Jesus, but who are still trying to hold onto Islam if only it is “done right.” Pray that they will find the yoke of Islam too heavy to bear, and that they will see the open arms of Jesus on the cross, holding out forgiveness and grace.

One young Arab simply came to ask if he could park his car within the church yard for a few days. He lives near the old church that is for foreigners only, but knows the guard. The other man wanted to ask a few questions, “Do you worship three gods?” “What do you think of Deedat?” We spoke of the mystery and wonder of the Trinity and of Deedat’s tendency to take bits of truth out of context and twist them and challenged him to read the Word for himself. We offered one in Arabic, but he refused. Pray for this young man and others like him who are uncertain enough in their religion to be searching for confirmation on the web. Pray that they will not accept false affirmation or hope but would continue to search until they are satisfied in Jesus.

Two local college-age ladies came into the Anglican church and took pictures of each other kneeling and bowing before the cross. At this point, there are no local people who come to the church; it is for foreigners only. It wasn’t a Sunday or a Friday; they weren’t there for a service, but they did have questions. My husband was there meeting an artist, and gave the young ladies my number. When we met the next day, they were friendly and kind, but hesitant to speak. I wonder if it was the young man that came along with them. One of them did ask some questions about when the believers meet, and said that she wanted to come for the Christmas service. Both said that they would love to come to our home. Pray especially for “Ruth”, who seems sincerely interested, that the opinions of others would not keep her from responding to the stirring of Jesus.

Her first question was, “Why do you call yourselves children of God?” As she heard of the sweet closeness of that relationship that God longs to draw her to, the conversation went on to the prophets and she asked, “Who came first, Abraham or Jesus?” She had no idea that this same question was asked of Jesus himself centuries ago! She listened carefully to the testimony of Jesus as the Word that was before all time, but that came to earth as Jesus through the miracle of a virgin giving birth. She was taken aback by the thought that Jesus is God, but continued to ask questions of his death and was enthralled by the details of his resurrection. She said, “We can find all the prophet’s graves, but not the grave of Jesus.” It’s true; there are places people think may be his grave, but because it is empty, it is tricky to know. =) Pray for “Kathy” that she would receive the faith of a child that believes the incredibly mystery of Jesus as Living God and Savior.