An Observation of Ramadan this year

A friend sends me these messages each day. It gives me a glimpse into her perspective as a Muslim.

There is only 1 week left for the "Holy" month of Ramadan. One thing that surprised Jason this year was that the "young believers ", that have been studying the Bible at our home, have been joining in praying and fasting with the rest of the Muslim farmworkers. This is the first time Jason has seen 2 of them pray with the others and it is almost feels like it's a"chess match"- what move is next- how should one respond? Jason got to talk to our Bethany teamate who is a believer with a Muslim background and asked if there is pressure to fast/pray even after someone decides to follow Jesus. Our teamate answered there is tremendous pressure because of the "community aspect ". The whole community breaks the fast together and are "celebrating" throughout the night until the sun rises. There is a special feeling Muslims get during Ramadan probably very similar to the "spirit of Christmas feeling ". 

Jason has come terms of just leaving each man alone to make their own decisions and not try to persuade/convince them one way or another. We remain hopeful that once Ramadan is over the "young believers " will seek out to start up reading the Bible again, but we shall wait and see. As a team we just finished reading through 1&2 Thessalonians and are now in 1 Timothy. In the end of chapter Paul gives a charge to Timothy,

"Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme." Vs.18-20

What we read from Paul is that he was responsible to speak the truth of the gospel to people. Many heard but not all were not interested in turning away from sin to God. Paul was released from continuing to invest into those people as to not "throw pearls to swine" as it says in Matthew 7:6. By no means is Jason giving up a heart for discipling but instead we continue to surrender people in this region up to the Lord. Asking God for transformation in lives and families. 

For several years there has been discussions with the farmworkers that they dream to go to the Coast so that they could see the Ocean for their first time. We are planning on making this happen next month inviting all farmworkers and high-school scholarship students to a 2 night stay at the Indian Ocean. God truly loves and cares for each one of them and our desire is that they would have a deeper understanding of God's love through this. We are excited for conversations that will happen as well as all the fun in the sun we will have. Please be praying over all the logistics to fall in order smoothly and ultimately that Jesus will be glorified in us and through us.

The 2025 Ramadan sign in town.

The most recent house completed 

University of Tennessee colors.

Philadelphia Eagles house.

The side profile.

Another message a friend sends each day.