If you are like me, you sometimes say, “What can I do to even make a dent in abolishing the crime of the sex slave trade?” “Little ole’ me?” “The problem is so huge. There’s nothing I can do.”
Exodus Cry is a great organization that is very active in exposing the evils of the sex slave trade. I recently came across this list on their website of 10 things everyone can do to stop this horrible cancer that is spreading across the globe.
I sit here in Jerusalem, 2000 miles from Brussels and Antwerp, unable to go into the red light districts and show the women (and men) the love of Abba God. Yet I can pray. It is in the place of intercession where the battles are won on the ground in those dark places. Without prayer we have no hope of lives being affected and the atmosphere changing.
I am stirred. I love those women.
If I’m asleep and having a dream, don’t wake me up. This is truly a dream come true. We’ve been praying about this for so long, that I’m having a hard time realizing that it’s actually happening!
I love the ways of God. Sometimes you encounter road blocks and situations in life that are just too hard to comprehend, then a door opens and you feel the smile of God on a particular dream and desire you’ve had for years. His ways are so far above our ways. His leadership is perfect. God has made it abundantly clear that He wants a missions base/house of prayer established in Brussels, Belgium. When we first started praying about it, none of the team was here. We now have everyone here except for Zach & Liz Lowrie and Allyster Taubeneck. How awesome is that?!
The latest to arrive is my sweet daughter and son-in-love, Courtney and Nathan AND their four beautiful, adorable children!
Just getting off the plane!
Preston has another buddy, Judah.
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(from lower left) Kadyn, Ashlyn, Madysen, Courtney, Nathan, and Judah
Through many ups and downs and a roller coaster of emotions, I am overjoyed to say that my daughter and family, Courtney and Nathan Watkins, Ashlyn, Madysen, Kadyn, and Judah, will be arriving in Brussels in TWO days!!! Yes, Monday is the day! You can’t imagine how excited I am! They have been so obedient in following the word of the Lord in moving here. They will add to our team in an unbelievable way. I’m so excited to see what God is going to do here. And we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our other team members also, Allyster Taubeneck and Zach & Liz Lowrie. This missions base has been interceded for and talked about for years. It’s so great to see it actually happening!
Tomorrow we have a big event here at the ministry base, so we are hard at work all day today getting everything in order for the Watkins’ arrival on Monday. Bunk beds moved. Sheets and towels washed. Presents for the kids wrapped. (Yes, I said PRESENTS!) Rooms and closets cleaned. Ahh. This is FUN work! (more…)
When we moved to Belgium two months ago, it was full-fledged winter here. Below freezing temperatures, snow, sleet, wind, rain, cloudy ALL the time. Now two months later I feel like it is a different world. It’s still very cool in the early mornings, but the beauty of springtime in Belgium has totally surprised me. There are flowers everywhere. Even in our backyard where we’ve done absolutely no planting or yard work (other than mowing once), we have signs of spring everywhere.
I love all the flowers in our yard, but I want to show you my pleasant surprise for the day. (more…)
I have been in Belgium for two weeks and I’m slowly getting used to the cold weather. That is a huge statement coming from someone who was born and raised in Texas. I LOVE hot weather. I look forward to the 100 degree days during the Texas summers. I really love the heat. I even like to sweat. That’s why I find it so humorous that God would send me to Belgium where most of the year is spent under rain clouds and 40 degrees. Two days ago it snowed all morning. This morning we had to scrape ice off the windshield before driving to church. It’s not too fun, but you really do get accustomed to being cold. After a winter in Jerusalem and now being in Belgium, I am totally used to the European heating system, which consists of radiators in every room emitting heat instead of wall vents blowing heat like in the States. At night while everyone is in bed, the heat is turned off. I am totally used to this way of heating, and I even think it’s superior to the system in the U.S.. Why waste perfectly good heat while you’re sleeping? That’s brings up another difference. The bedding is SO soft and comfy. Duvet covers enveloping down comforters is definitely the way to sleep. They trap your body heat, and you seriously get too warm at times, even with the heaters off in your room. I haven’t tried it yet, but my best friend, Lynn, in Cyprus, tells me that her hot water bottle is a must during Cypriot winters. One of my friends in Jerusalem always sleeps with a hot water bottle at her feet. (more…)
