Persecution

"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted". Last week Jason had to make trips a few times to both the hospital and the police station. There is a Muslim girl who goes to a school near us. Some people in town are starting to think she might be thinking about becoming a Christian and so she got attacked. We got a phone call that she needed to be brought to the hospital and Jason went to pick her up. Hot oil had been poured on her, she was beaten by a metal rod, bitten and of her wrists had been broken. She still has not even claimed to believe Jesus is her Messiah- and this is what has happened to her. I so desperately want you all to know what a different world it is being here where it is mostly Muslim. I want you to know because it is so hard to receive these calls. This girl is one of many that see Christians showing her love and then members from her own religion feel threatened and then will take matters into their own hand by physically harming. She is just one of many that has to make the choice, and count the cost of choosing to follow the Lord but then literally face persecution possible death. That is what she has told us, "I can’t become a Christian because my family will kill me". Her father has passed away a few years ago and now since Jason has helped her file a complaint at the police station she has said she will call him father from now on. This is a huge honor. Most girls are forced to get married by their fathers by the age 15 so already she has been given freedom from this. One of the students from our college has befriended this girl and felt so guilty when she got beat up because she could not protect her from it. We can praise the Lord that our physical body may be able to be destroyed but then we still have eternity with our Lord after that. What goes on in the heart is far mar important than what happens with the body. Please pray that no matter what has to happen that God will prevail here and we will be used as He wills. I think the verse that is going to be mine to recite each day for these next 3 years is Psalms 118:6-7

"The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
The Lord is with me; He is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.

After hearing this story and many like it, it can be easy to see all the Muslim people we encounter each day as the enemy. This is such a lie though. There are many women who see me with my children and are drawn to them. They will ask to hold Nevaeh for a few minutes and although there is a language barrier you can see the joy we both share for these little ones. We took a picnic in the giraffe park the other day and so many people passed by greetings us. Most of the Muslims are very friendly people, and there is just a few that can give all of them a horrible reputation. Ultimately people are people. We have our own hopes and dreams and our own hardships we face everyday.