Encouraging others...

So the past two days have been somewhat low key... We are all just waiting around to start the playground ministries next week, but I must say I have learned a lot over the past two days....

I was so blessed to participate in the Ledford's weekly Shabbat.  For those of you (like myself) who don't know what Shabbat is it is a Jewish tradition which celebrates God's creation and rest with a blessed family time.  Although we are not Jewish we recognized that Jesus was Jewish and so Jesus participated in Shabbat.  We broke bread and drank grape juice symbolizing Jesus and his sacrafice and everyone at the table was blessed with a little prayer.  I loved learning about this interesting tradition and it was a great time of fellowship and thanksgiving with pretty ahhhhmazing food. 

Today we met up with some other missionaries for dinner and coffee as a way to encourage each other in our own specific journies.  One of the Methodist missionaries, Nick, that works with Chelsey had a friend from home come for a visit.  She is a full-time missionary in the Middle East!!! We all were blessed to hear about her journey.  She explained that anytime she went out she had to cover her head, and that they had to hide their prayer meetings by meeting at different times and places during the week.  I quickly realized how much I take for granted on a daily basis.  Back home and even here in Ukraine I can take my Bible out and read it anytime I want, I can go to church and worship in public, I don't have to worry about being caught and killed for my religion.  Hearing her experience was certainly eye-opening.  The bible tells us to be an encouragment to the people around us, and I hope that we were an encouragment to her to stay strong in her walk and missionary experience. 

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tomorrow we are going to pass out candy and tracts at a local bizzare, which is similar to a farmers market.  Please pray that God is with us and that people will be willing to hear about Jesus.