Houses upon Houses
One thing that has been a constant prayer request at my team’s weekly prayer meetings is that homes would open up for Bible studies and house churches to start. It really is best when the people being taught are hosting these studies at their home. Why? you may ask. Well, for several reasons. After we are gone, if they are already having the meetings at their home they are more likely to continue to meet because they won’t be relying on another place to meet. Also if new believers are opening up their homes, their friends will be more than likely to go and hear God’s word in the house of a good friend than in the house of a stranger.
With that said, we have been praying and praying. There was a family that was a prospect, but after many failed attempts at meeting with them, members of my team decided it was best to leave them alone. If and when they were ready to start a church in their home they could. So after months and months of waiting for homes, homes were finally made available.
At Pablo and Carmen’s weekly Bible study at their home, one woman spoke to Carmen. She told Carmen that she had been thinking about having the Bible study at her home every once and awhile. After this two other people insisted that they have the study at their homes as well! The best thing about this is that Pablo and Carmen hadn’t mentioned them opening up their homes, They decided upon this themselves! Praise God for these homes and please pray that through these Latin Americans, they can tell their friends about Christ.
A House of Peace
Our friend came over again last night to spend the night. We talked a lot and laughed about life. And we talked about serious things. We were even able to get out the Bible and share some truth with this friend and explain why we believe what we believe. What a way to spend Easter evening! Sharing truth and love with a friend who needs it so badly!
After some time this friend repeated the same thing that she has said before, “This house is different. something about it is different.” Brook and I knowingly look at each other and told her it’s because we have peace. Her mind settles on this thought and she agrees like she has before, “Yes, you have peace here. It’s different.”
Praise the Father for this opportunity. If you want to hear about the first time she stayed with us you can read my blog “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to” Pray for this friend to know Christ intimately. She says she knows him, but her life does not reflect this reality. May he shake up her world for forever!
Pray for Me!
Recently I had a great talk with one of my friends. We talked about marriage and what the Bible says about it. And we talked about a tough situation that my friend is going through. After giving her some advice on what would be the best way to handle the situation, I decided to tell her that I would be praying about this situation. You just never know how people will take that comment, but she smiled at me. After a few moments she got worked up again about this situation and exclaimed, “Pray for me!” I was a little stunned to hear this from the girl who is uninterested in church or God. I couldn’t believe it!
I replied back that of course I would and said, “You know I always pray for you, right? I pray for you because you’re my friend.” She smiled and told me how sweet I was. I have these small windows of opportunities and have to take them quickly before they are gone. Pray for this friend to experience God and to know him.
I Heard Your Sound
Some of you may remember my friend that is from outside of Spain and is now living in another country. But not living in her home country. She was talking with Brook a few weeks ago via chat. She told Brook that she was having problems with her phone not working and she went to bed frustrated and not knowing what to do. She said she woke up during the night and could hear “our sound” speaking to her about God and about Christ. So she said she raised her hands in the air and asked God to help her. She said the next morning her phone worked and she contributed it to praying. Go figure huh?
Also she recently recruited us and another worker here, Amy, to pray for her friend who was trying to get a visa to join her husband outside of their home country. So we prayed for this and after her friend got the visa she needed, she wrote all over her webpage that it was because of our prayers. She sees power in our prayers! Pray she knows that it’s only through Christ that our prayers our answered!
Prayer Requests
Legs to heal-specifically my hamstring on my left leg– still discussing these things with the Dr.
For more relationships with Latino students
Praises
Continued therapy for my legs
Continued relationship building
In Him,
Taryn
Monday, April 25, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To
You know the oldies song, right? Well you may have not recently received an invite to a party I recently had or even knew that it had happened. I didn't want to invite anyone, really. It was better to bask in my misery alone. A pity party. Ever been to one? They are so easy to have because all you need is yourself to have it.
The past week or more my legs have really, really been bothering me again. Sharp pain is consistent and rolls like waves through my legs. It's finally beautiful outside and Spaniards emerged from hibernation to enjoy the outdoor cafes and enjoy time with friends or family. I have had to force myself to stay inside and rest with my legs elevated while watching the day pass by. My legs have just hurt too much, and I don't want to do anything to hurt them worse. As soon as I think I can do more, walk more, try getting into an exercise routine, they flare up. Not that they've ever completely stopped hurting; the pain has just increased recently.
So I was here in Madrid, Spain in my apartment having one big ole pity party. Since I couldn't go outside, I would do what I could for festivities inside. It mostly included alot of crying, questioning of God, and asking God what in the world he was thinking by allowing me to be in this condition to where I can't be out doing his work. Isn't that why I'm here? Isn't that why I bent over backwards coming to Spain as fast as I could? The reality is I could've stayed at home for a very long time recuperating, but instead I talked everyone, including myself, into allowing me to go on to Spain almost a year ago. What was the purpose in getting worse again? Wasn't I improving? It has felt like 100 steps backwards for me.
So I cried and cried and cried. Harder than I had in awhile. Not that crying over the past year and a half has been unfamiliar to me. I cried over my inability to serve. My lack of faith and anger towards God. How I must not be that great of a follower if I couldn't see the purpose in this situation. I cried over my doubts about whether or not the people I've shared with here will accept the truth. And then I cried some more over figuring out what my next step will be when I go home in October. Quite the party, eh? It was an explosion of any and every thought and emotion. These are things I've been thinking on and praying over for a long time and it all erupted at my pity party.
I even questioned God about what was next. I know what he's calling me to in the future. I know it will cost me and the ones I love everything. Why is he asking this of me? What in the heck in I going to do in the meantime until these things can come to pass? It's a reluctant submission on my part instead of a wholehearted desire to follow. I tell you what... it was some kind of party to be at. Where you just dig deeper and deeper into your sorrows, doubts and worries.
The only person I invited for a little while was my mom. Like what she does so many times, she listened to me. Gave me good advice and encouraged me. So many times she has told me she wishes she could take my place and take my pain. I would never allow or want someone to carry this pain. But even after talking with one of the people I love the most in this world, I couldn't snap out of it.
I'm sure many of you can relate. You can relate to feeling overwhelmed by life. You can't hear the voice of God even though you are crying out, and all you desire is just some sort of acknowledgement from him that he's there and listening. You wonder if the fire you've walked through or are walking through is really refining you or if the fire has left you faithless,embittered, or burned away to nothing. My party slowly came to an end of my asking for forgiveness and reluctantly accepting things as they were. I have to rest my body, and there is nothing more I can do about it for now. I have to continue to set strong boundaries for myself to protect my health. Man, I hate boundaries.
Brook came home later on. And then she called Brook. Our friend that I've talked about before. She called asking if she could stay the night with us. Of course she was invited to. She buzzed our door downstairs and we waited and waited until she finally came up. She apologized saying her boyfriend had called. She lied to him saying she was staying with her aunts. He keeps a pretty tight watch on where she is and who she's with. She confirmed this when I asked her why she had to lie. She then explained that he's just worried about her well being. Doesn't want her with dangerous people. Uh huh, sure. Control and possessiveness.
She initially seemed nervous then finally relaxed saying, "I'm free! It's so nice to not be at my house or at work. That's all I ever do! Home, then work. Sometimes I see my aunts." I could see the desperation. We asked her if she wanted some water and brought her some. There were bubbles on the inside of the glass, and she commented that there was bad luck in our apartment. She thought we needed the evil eye to protect us. I told her no and Brook quickly explained that God was our protector. We don't need an evil eye to ward off bad spirits. She quickly agreed, making me think she wanted to appease us.
Throughout the evening we shared truth with her. We talked about relationships and how they are work. We talked about guys and what it means to see or have love with another person on this earth. We talked about true love. The only love that lasts. God's love. The love of Christ is enough to fill us no matter what is going on in our lives. She listened, but I'm not sure how much sunk in. We watched some youtube videos of people falling at weddings and babies doing funny things. The three of us laughed and laughed because it's hard not to laugh at these absurd videos. She then told us she couldn't remember the last time she laughed like that while asking to watch some of the videos over and over again.
The next day she commented on how she slept wonderfully that night. She couldn't remember a time sleeping so peacefully. Brook told her it was because our apartment was a place of peace. She agreed with Brook. Brook and I, however, didn't sleep very well that night. I prayed alot and prayed for her to feel peace in our midst. Brook said she woke up everytime she heard our friend move around in her sleep. I think she slept well because while she slumbered, Brook and I kept waking up to wage war. A spiritual battle in prayer over our friend. A war was being fought around her and we knew it, but I'm not sure if she did. She's a prisoner to her life decisions right now. We aren't sure how serious she is about getting out of this way of life, but Brook and I pray for her soul and pray that she sees a way out. The best thing might be for her to return to South America with her family, but we don't know the reality of that. Pray for this friend. Pray that Brook and I can continue to be lights to her in the darkness of this world.
So I started and ended my pity party by myself. And later that night the Lord redeemed me by bringing me and Brook someone we could love on and minister to. I may still have pain and still be facing the difficulties of injuries from an accident that I'm not sure why happened. But despite all of that God is still allowing me to be used. Even when I can't leave my apartment he brings someone to me I can share truth with. Please pray for me to keep my chin up, but most importantly ask the Lord to reveal himself to our friend. That she may know true freedom in the blood of Christ.
Walking with a limp, but still going,
Taryn
The past week or more my legs have really, really been bothering me again. Sharp pain is consistent and rolls like waves through my legs. It's finally beautiful outside and Spaniards emerged from hibernation to enjoy the outdoor cafes and enjoy time with friends or family. I have had to force myself to stay inside and rest with my legs elevated while watching the day pass by. My legs have just hurt too much, and I don't want to do anything to hurt them worse. As soon as I think I can do more, walk more, try getting into an exercise routine, they flare up. Not that they've ever completely stopped hurting; the pain has just increased recently.
So I was here in Madrid, Spain in my apartment having one big ole pity party. Since I couldn't go outside, I would do what I could for festivities inside. It mostly included alot of crying, questioning of God, and asking God what in the world he was thinking by allowing me to be in this condition to where I can't be out doing his work. Isn't that why I'm here? Isn't that why I bent over backwards coming to Spain as fast as I could? The reality is I could've stayed at home for a very long time recuperating, but instead I talked everyone, including myself, into allowing me to go on to Spain almost a year ago. What was the purpose in getting worse again? Wasn't I improving? It has felt like 100 steps backwards for me.
So I cried and cried and cried. Harder than I had in awhile. Not that crying over the past year and a half has been unfamiliar to me. I cried over my inability to serve. My lack of faith and anger towards God. How I must not be that great of a follower if I couldn't see the purpose in this situation. I cried over my doubts about whether or not the people I've shared with here will accept the truth. And then I cried some more over figuring out what my next step will be when I go home in October. Quite the party, eh? It was an explosion of any and every thought and emotion. These are things I've been thinking on and praying over for a long time and it all erupted at my pity party.
I even questioned God about what was next. I know what he's calling me to in the future. I know it will cost me and the ones I love everything. Why is he asking this of me? What in the heck in I going to do in the meantime until these things can come to pass? It's a reluctant submission on my part instead of a wholehearted desire to follow. I tell you what... it was some kind of party to be at. Where you just dig deeper and deeper into your sorrows, doubts and worries.
The only person I invited for a little while was my mom. Like what she does so many times, she listened to me. Gave me good advice and encouraged me. So many times she has told me she wishes she could take my place and take my pain. I would never allow or want someone to carry this pain. But even after talking with one of the people I love the most in this world, I couldn't snap out of it.
I'm sure many of you can relate. You can relate to feeling overwhelmed by life. You can't hear the voice of God even though you are crying out, and all you desire is just some sort of acknowledgement from him that he's there and listening. You wonder if the fire you've walked through or are walking through is really refining you or if the fire has left you faithless,embittered, or burned away to nothing. My party slowly came to an end of my asking for forgiveness and reluctantly accepting things as they were. I have to rest my body, and there is nothing more I can do about it for now. I have to continue to set strong boundaries for myself to protect my health. Man, I hate boundaries.
Brook came home later on. And then she called Brook. Our friend that I've talked about before. She called asking if she could stay the night with us. Of course she was invited to. She buzzed our door downstairs and we waited and waited until she finally came up. She apologized saying her boyfriend had called. She lied to him saying she was staying with her aunts. He keeps a pretty tight watch on where she is and who she's with. She confirmed this when I asked her why she had to lie. She then explained that he's just worried about her well being. Doesn't want her with dangerous people. Uh huh, sure. Control and possessiveness.
She initially seemed nervous then finally relaxed saying, "I'm free! It's so nice to not be at my house or at work. That's all I ever do! Home, then work. Sometimes I see my aunts." I could see the desperation. We asked her if she wanted some water and brought her some. There were bubbles on the inside of the glass, and she commented that there was bad luck in our apartment. She thought we needed the evil eye to protect us. I told her no and Brook quickly explained that God was our protector. We don't need an evil eye to ward off bad spirits. She quickly agreed, making me think she wanted to appease us.
Throughout the evening we shared truth with her. We talked about relationships and how they are work. We talked about guys and what it means to see or have love with another person on this earth. We talked about true love. The only love that lasts. God's love. The love of Christ is enough to fill us no matter what is going on in our lives. She listened, but I'm not sure how much sunk in. We watched some youtube videos of people falling at weddings and babies doing funny things. The three of us laughed and laughed because it's hard not to laugh at these absurd videos. She then told us she couldn't remember the last time she laughed like that while asking to watch some of the videos over and over again.
The next day she commented on how she slept wonderfully that night. She couldn't remember a time sleeping so peacefully. Brook told her it was because our apartment was a place of peace. She agreed with Brook. Brook and I, however, didn't sleep very well that night. I prayed alot and prayed for her to feel peace in our midst. Brook said she woke up everytime she heard our friend move around in her sleep. I think she slept well because while she slumbered, Brook and I kept waking up to wage war. A spiritual battle in prayer over our friend. A war was being fought around her and we knew it, but I'm not sure if she did. She's a prisoner to her life decisions right now. We aren't sure how serious she is about getting out of this way of life, but Brook and I pray for her soul and pray that she sees a way out. The best thing might be for her to return to South America with her family, but we don't know the reality of that. Pray for this friend. Pray that Brook and I can continue to be lights to her in the darkness of this world.
So I started and ended my pity party by myself. And later that night the Lord redeemed me by bringing me and Brook someone we could love on and minister to. I may still have pain and still be facing the difficulties of injuries from an accident that I'm not sure why happened. But despite all of that God is still allowing me to be used. Even when I can't leave my apartment he brings someone to me I can share truth with. Please pray for me to keep my chin up, but most importantly ask the Lord to reveal himself to our friend. That she may know true freedom in the blood of Christ.
Walking with a limp, but still going,
Taryn
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