Sweet Hope!

I feel I need a place to come and process all my thoughts.  Over the years I have returned here several times and left after perusing posts from years ago without adding to the blog.  But, I need a place to get it out, the joys, the heartache that  these joys bring as doubt and shame desire to bind me to the impossibilities.  Ah, so much hope and wonder are in me right now.  The Lord has given me the gift of a new friend, a friend that has opened wide the hope in my heart for so much, doubts are being dashed, lies destroyed, truths that have been planted are being watered and their roots are shooting into the depths of my heart.  All due to the gift of a new friend, a friend that walks in the Word, with the Lord as His guide, equipping and cheering on those around to walk closely as well.

This friend in the short period of time I have known him has found a sweet place in my heart that often when touched brings tears of awe.  I am fearful of looking to closely, yet it is so comfortable, and maybe that is what the tears are from, the fear that I will look and he will be gone.  The dance in the park brings a giggle and opens wide this little girl's heart to dream, to long for another.  The only difference in this dream is I am looking into his eyes instead of at his feet, because I long to be vulnerable, to let him see the fear there, the embarrassment and the hope.

He has told me that my heart, ALL OF IT, is safe with him.  Ah, I believe these words, really believe them.  It is evident with the things I have shared, and not only shared but the absence of shame when I share them is indicative of the safe place I have found :)

I wanted to let anyone who visits this site know that I have started a new website that I am recording my trip here in Takamatsu on...

http://web.mac.com/beka_joy

Please visit, comment, etc. any time. I would love to hear from you.

Praise and Prayer

I met a young lady (I will not disclose her name as to protect her) at a Youth Prison here several months ago. Over this course of time we witnessed her surrender to the Lord and grow in Him, she went from a hard, untrusting inmate to a young woman who desires and is pursuing a close walk with the Lord.

She now faces entrance back into the world this coming Monday. Praise the Lord for her release from the spiritual and physical shackles that have bound her. Praise the Lord for providing an apartment and a new beginning in a new location. I know there are many fears in her, please pray for her strength and wisdom as she makes new friends and connects with old friends and family. Please pray for the Lord's direction to a Bible believing and teaching church. Please pray for healing as there are many hurts in her past and much anger from those circumstances.

Due to our agreement as we go in to visit with these ladies we are not allow to give them any of our information, for our own protection. We are seeking ways to be able to stay in touch with her, to be able to encourage her. We pray for the Lord's will here.

Please remember to lift up those who are incarcerated, I have seen the Lord work in incredible ways behind these bars. There are many testimonies that come from behind those bars. Praise the Lord as He knew what it would take to draw His children to Him.

A week away

It is so hard to believe a week from now I will be on my way. Thank you all for your prayers, my confidence in the Lord's plan has been restored, the excitement for this trip and the anticipation for meeting the people of Takamatsu is great.

Please continue to pray for all those who are in my life. Several have been sharing their fears with me, praise the Lord for the incredible peace that has been restored as these fears aren't taking root in my heart.

Others are very sad that I am leaving, I have to keep reminding them that I have a return flight home, and two months (well, two and a half months now), will go by so fast. In the scheme of things, it is such a short time. I pray that our focus will be on today, that the fears and sadness won't steal away from what the Lord has today.

It has been very humbling as the Lord has been showing me how many lives are influenced or touched through one person. You have no idea how many people love you, how many people are influenced by you until they are threatened by your absence. Please pray for my continued patience, compassion and wisdom as I spend this last week at home.

Congratulations!!

My nephew, Ryan Matthew, was born last night at 6:09 pm. He came into the world weighing 9 lbs 3 oz. and is 21 inches long. It amazes me how much he looks like his older brother, Nathan.

Praise the Lord for this little boy, also for the Wynne's new baby boy, Ethan James born 2 and a half hours ago.



I can't wait to meet you boys.

Long Overdue Update

Where to begin after nearly a month of silence?? I have to start with He who is most deserving of every minute, every breath, every word of praise, and that is with my Faithful Lord. He has been continually preparing me for the journey ahead. He has been the victor over many attacks that the enemy has sent my way. He has provided for my every need, whether it be a word of encouragement, calming my heart, wisdom, ability to serve or minister, protection, financially, rest, etc.

The attacks have been many over the past couple of weeks, last week especially was a tough one, it seemed every area of my life was being bombarded by some unseeen tyrant. But as I mentioned above, the Lord gave me victory over all these attacks. And in this an even greater victory, a renewed peace and greater anticipation for the journey ahead.

In regards to my time in Takamatsu I have a better idea of what is in store. My students will range in age from kindergartners to seventy plus years old. Some of my students do not know any words in the English language and some can speak it fairly well. My classes run Tuesday through Friday.

The Bible study I will be teaching on Saturdays has 10-13 ladies in attendance. I have been warned that these ladies will be very upfront in letting me know that they are not saved. They come to the class and do their homework strictly to have more experience with the English language. Praise the Lord that His word does not return void and no matter what their motives, He is working in their lives.

Sundays I am told are very busy with church all day. There are three church plants right now in Takamatsu and I will be attending all three, I will have a better idea of what my role will be in this once I get down there and get settled in.

We learned last week that Barbara will be returning to Richmond on the 16th of May to spend the summer assisting their oldest daughter Sarah. Barbara will be taking their 7 year old, Annah, with her. So, some of my late afternoons and evenings will be spent helping Mike Gray with their two youngest children, Isaac and Rebekah, enabling him to continue with the weekly meetings he has.

Mondays are my days off from teaching, so maybe I can get a little sight seeing in on these days. I was told that there is a beautiful Japanese garden that is a great place to go for my devotional time, it is about a 10 minute walk from the condo where I will be staying. I can't wait to see it.

There is so much more to share, but there is much work to be done here.

Prayer request

This is a video of a young woman who aides her parents in running an orphanage in Mexico. She has a desire to go to college to be a missionary doctor and needs our prayers.

If you would like more information regarding the orphanage you can visit http://www.casadeelizabeth.blogspot.com/.