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Monday, July 16, 2001
NM-Bosnia: from Shannon
Hey everyone,
It is such a blessing to us here to know that you all are back there reading these emails and keeping us in your prayers. We greatly value them.
I will attempt to give you some sort of update but find I am struggling to find words to describe all the things I have seen or how to express all my thoughts. God is doing much.
God continues to bless us with this country and the people here. A resounding comment from our team is the feeling that these people are family and the amazing closeness that we feel to them after only a few days. We all were shocked and saddened when we
realized we would be leaving here next Monday. This church has an ability
to love each other in such a deep and unique way, I'm not sure I could even explain it. They love, provide for, and are vulnerable with one another so deeply and we all have been blessed by it. I feel rather adopted by several of the older women in the church. They all call me Jenny. I guess I look like the daughter in law of a loved and well known woman named
Asima. I continue to grow in my love and respect for these women and so enjoy the times I have had with them.
The reality of the war continues to sink in as the stories of those we have to grown to love deeply begin to come out. Stories of pain,
hopelessness, and loss. It is easy to forget that the person sitting next to you who you just laughed with, talked with about why we like spoons better than forks, worked next to, and shared a pizza with has seen
horrors that I couldn't even imagine. And as I struggle to understand why, God
repeatedly places on my heart the image of bringing light out of darkness. Bringing life out of death. And when I look into the eyes of the believers here that is what I see an
incredible bright light that may never have been found in those eyes unless they had been brought through death. And I stand next to my brothers and sisters here, in awe and humility of their faith and passion and love for God. I so thankful that we have a such a
sovereign and loving God.
The pain of Sarajevo is deep. We continue to pray for the deep healing of God's love and the peace of his spirit for this city
As a team we find ourselves feeling very much at home in Bosnia. We all seem to so easily fit into the culture and lifestyle here. The years of Neighborhood Ministry experience have greatly prepared us for the cross cultural ministry and the woundedness of those ministered too. It has been a blessing to watch Nadine as she
interacts with several of the nationals. She has a story that they can relate too and it has so obviously been a blessing for them to see her heart for God and to know where she has come from. Every single member of this team has been so
incredibly effective and God's hand in choosing who should come has been evident.
Pray for our team. We are searching to know how to love and care and protect each other and know the importance of being one. Pray for unity that we so need and for protect from the Enemy's attempts to tear us apart. Pray that as issue arise that we would have wisdom to know how to deal with them in a godly, healthy way.
We love it here and are excited about the next two weeks we get to spend here. We continue to seek God's heart and watch as He works in us and around us. Thank you so much for your partnership with us in the adventure. We are blessed by your prayers. God bless.
His,
Shannon
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