days 3-6 in germany, three holidays and one horrific testimony

Dearfamily,friendsofrefugees,andotherprayerpartners, DatelineGermany,July30-August2,2017Weareofficiallyin“NoMan’sLand”—sometwohours’driveoutsideofBerlin,travelingbycharterbustosomeremoteruralrefugeecamp.With“nowi-fi”inthecampwearegoing,thiswillbethelastyouwillhearfrommeforfourdays.Andwithnopicturesyettakenfromonsite,thistext-heavyblogwillhavetodo.ButIwillkeepitbriefwithenoughpointstohelpyoupictureusdoingallthis.

Ø Onceincamp,20ofusembedor“campin”withacoupledozenrefugeekids.Ø Wewillbeservingmealsforfifty,morning,noon&night.Ø Wewillplayvarioussports,arts&craftsandotherfun&gamesaroundacampschedulebuiltforteens.Ø WewillengageinEnglishconversationsthroughouttheday,conductcommunityworshipservicesatnight,and

otherwisedolifewiththem24/7.Sueleadsthedecorationssub-team.Meaning,sheisdoingmostofthisworkherself,puttingupandtakingdowneachdaythedecorationsthattheteam—andmanyofyouwomenatHPC,thanks!—contributed.ThisdécorwillhighlightkeyaspectsofthreetraditionalAmericanholidaysandseasonsaroundwhichthisintense3-daysummercampisorganized--Thanksgiving,Christmas,andEaster.SopictureSueonhertippytoes,hangingharvestandpilgrimthemepicturesoneday,garlandsandChristmasstockingsthenext,andEasterparaphernalia(candy,eggs,bunnies)onthethirdday.Ofcourse,weknowwhatreallyhappens“onthethirdday.”Thepreachingisappropriatelythemedandservedup,preferablyashotasourseasonalfoodwillbe—broughtbyourspecializedcookingteam.

Ø onemealandmessageonThanksgiving&gratitude,emphasizingthatallgoodgiftscomefromtheLord;

Ø onemealandmessageonEaster,comparingAbraham’ssacrifice,whomourcousinsinthefaithrevere,tothatofChrist—whoistheonelastandonlylastingsacrificialLambthattakesawaythesinsoftheworld.

Ø Andsandwichedinbetween,there’samealandmessageonChristmas.

Onasnowless,hot&sweatyTuesdaynightinAugustthatwouldbeyourstrulybringingthetimelessmessageofChristmas.

Ø PraythatIwillkeepthemessagedeliberatelyandmercifullyshort(forme),asIspeakthroughatranslator.

Ø PraytheWordwhobecameoneofus(John1:1-14)comesalivethroughmeanddwellsagaininourmidst,eventhroughanArabictranslation(whichrequiresasentenceortwotoexplainsomeEnglishwords)..

Ø Pleasepraywithmethateachoftheeveningserversandspeakerswill“bringit,”meaningtheir“Agame,”and“IamSecond”andtheLordisfirst,andthekidsbenefit,eachastheLordintends.

Themostinterestingpiecetosharewithyoujustnow,asIcloseandcatchbreakfast,theteammeetingandteambus,isnotwhatIhavetosay,butwhatmytranslatorhastosay,evenbeforeIspeak.LastnightIhadaverylivelydinnerwithmyyoungtranslator.Hishorrificconversionstoryisveryhardtopictureandstomach,soputdownwhateveryouareeatingordrinking,asyoutrytopicturethis.Imustleavehisnameandfaceoutofit,forobviousreasons:

Egyptianbornandbred,hegraduatesfromcollegeasanarchitect,goestoworkinSaudiArabiawherehegetsindoctrinatedintotrueIslam,thatis,radicalWahhabismunderSharialaw.Therehehastowitnesshandsbeingcutoffforstealing,honorkillingsfordisloyalty,evenanannygetbeheadedforanaccidentaldeathtoaSaudichildleftinhercharge.

Witnessingthosehorrificactshastheneteffectofcausinghimtolosehisfaith,andalmosthislife.HisSaudibrothersentertainhisdoubtsandquestionstoadegree,buttellhimthatifheeverleftthefaith,they’dhavetokillhim.HeescapestoQatarwherehefinallygivesupthefaithhewasraisedin.Butwithoutthatidentity,hebecomessodepressedhetriessuicide,twice.

AChristiancounselorrestoreshimtomentalstability.Bythistime,afterayear,hisfriendsaremostlyChristiananddemonstratetheirloveandsharingtheirinnerpeacewithhim.Some18monthsago,atage26,hedecidestofollowJesus,buthasnotcomeouttohisfamilyinEgypt.Theywoulddisownhimiftheyknew,andtheirneighborswouldseekhimoutandkillhim.

Heshallremainanonymoustoyou,butknowntotheLord.Iamblessedtoknowhimanddisciplehimthisweek.Lastnight’sintegrationintotheteamwithothere3Partnerswasremarkabletome,eventhoughIwasonsuchatriplastyear,thisisSue’sfirstsuchmission.TheteamGodhasassembledfromalloverNorthAmericaissomuchmoretalentedandmission-mindedthanwhatIrememberfrompreviousmissiontrips,hereandelsewhere.Continuetopraythatwedointegratewell,thataswebecometrueservantleadersandcampcounselorsforthenextthreedays.God’slove&truepeacetoyouall,Diet&Sue