Wow! God has already answered the prayers I feel people praying for me regarding more opportunities to minister. Thanks so much to those of you who have been praying. I got to connect with two single women missionaries over in Bethlehem on Thursday. Not only was it great to hear their stories, but they were able to offer a lot of encouragement and hook me up with names of some orphanages, a refugee camp, and a women’s mental hospital- all located in Bethlehem. The orphanages are what I am most excited about!!! Today Kaytlin and I went with them to the mental hospital. We spent time with some of the older (think 80's), terminally mentally ill women. Though the place was very clean, it was pretty depressing. The room we were in had 10 beds all lined up and the women were just laying in them doing nothing. They were pretty happy to see us. Two of them actually talked to us in English, though a lot of what they said didn't makes sense. A few more of the women babbled in Arabic. We had no idea what they were saying. The lady I was "talking" with told me (with the nurses help) that she was 85 and had been ever since her family left her there and went to America- 15 years! We sang to the women and they seemed to like that. We hope to go back and maybe paint their nails and wash their feet (we figured they would get a kick out of colored nails!)
Kaytlin and I were talking on the way home about how we both really felt God was reminding us that though these women are old, mentally handicapped, and have been thrown away by society; because they were created in the image of God, they are beautiful. God sees them as beautiful and worthy and deserving of much love. Though, from a human perspective, it can seem pointless, we are called to love these women, honor them, and treat them with the dignity they deserve. Even if we can't understand the point of spending time with them, we really need no other reason to do so besides the fact that God created them. (Since when do we only care for those who can give us something back or who our society considers worthy?!) I am continuing to pray, not simply for compassion towards these women, but for a deep and genuine love for them.
I am going to an Arab church in Bethlehem tomorrow with Lilly, the lady I assistant teach with at the Beit Jala school. Kaytlin and I are hoping to check out one of the orphanages on the way home. It's a pity that I am making all these connections (I've met 7 different missionaries in Bethlehem now) right when my time here at JUC is getting busy and coming to an end. I have to trust that God knows what he wants to do with me during this last month that I am here.
God gave us the most beautiful sunset to enjoy on our way home through the check point. In the bottom of the picture is the seperation wall and the city of Bethlehem. 
3 comments:
Thanks so much for sharing Naomi! I loved reading what you had to say about learning to love the women. It's seems like that is exactly what God has been teaching me at my job. I'm so happy God is blessing you with the many oppurtunities to be His hands and feet. :)
~Kelsey
naom, thank you for being such a go-getter, someone who will not sit back and be passive, as someone who looks into the heart of God, unafraid of what the implications in your life may be. may the Lord bless you, give you rest and passion both together, and may He guide both your ministry now and later in wisdom, discernment, love, good clear cross-cultural communication, and selflessness not out of the bottom of your tank, so to speak, but out of the overflow of the His life that He has poured into you. may you see what He has you to do and do it with joy. i love you, friend.
:)
I continue to be amazed, Naomi, at the wonders God had in store for you in Israel!!! One of the recent verses I memorized on my commute is "Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them" (I forgot to memorize the reference ;0). I look forward to hearing a further account of what God has done over coffee sometime soon! Love you, dear!
Post a Comment