Read the below information and pray for God’s provision, protection and presence. The needs are overwhelming and time sensitive. The author is anonymous as well as the mission agency and location. Please do not speculate about the location online. This for the safety of the team and for the Christian nationals there. Perhaps the author can ghost-write a blog through me after returning.

It is vital that the visas are approved so the team can enter the country. Pray for them as they LIVE the gospel through compassion and aid. Secondly, pray for Spirit-led appointments to TELL the gospel:

“David,
I’ve got an upcoming mission trip that I would like you and Sojourn to pray for. I can’t give a lot of specifics, but I can tell you that we are supposed to be going to an asian country whose government is neither friendly to westerners nor open to the Gospel. Our team is in limbo at present because we’re still awaiting the return of our visa-stamped passports. We are scheduled to leave this Sunday, May 18th, so we really need to get those passports back. Pray that God will open doors for our team and provide whatever push is necessary to get us moving. Pray specifically for clarity and discernment for our leadership because the stakes here are rather high. Above all else, pray that God will pour out his Spirit on this place and that He will use us to expand His kingdom and glorify Himself.

This place we are going is full of people with profound basic needs right now. Many have died even in recent days and it is likely that more will die before the current crisis has abated. I am praying that the Lord will provide us with ways of showing love and mercy to the people we meet there. Isaiah 51 has been stuck in my head throughout the preparation phase of this trip:

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. (verses 6-8)”
__________________________
David Thew
Sojourn Pastor
Thewblog
twitter.com/davidthew