Reflections

As I look back on the past year, I am amazed at what God has done in our first year of ministry at the Home of Hope in Moldova. And I realize that none of it could be possible without the prayers of so many. There is no doubt that finances are needed to run a work, but many people have finances and don't see lives changed. Without faithful prayer for the ministry and for the lives of the women, we would not see the great things we saw this past year.

Thanks for believing with us in prayer for a director. Elena is doing an amazing job. I often sit and listen to her lead and feel incredibly blessed to have her there.

Thanks for praying for Ali*--a month ago she learned from a few of the staff about baby dedication and this Sunday we will dedicate both her newborn son and her 3 year old daughter at our local church. She's made the complete break in an awful relationship and is moving forward. But best of all I see joy and peace in her life. Everything is not perfect, but she is a living miracle.

Thanks for praying for God's work and God's timing. This month we've taken in two new women. One is pregnant. The other is young. Both are so hurting and broken. Continue to pray for Leah* and Ginny*. They need God's touch. We see smiles on their faces some days. We want them to come to truly understand Christ in their lives. We now have five women and four children in the home and that is exciting.

Thanks for praying for work for the women. We've partnered with Salvation Army to give fair trade work to the women. Some are sewing. Another is crocheting. It is allowing them to earn money and hope for a better future. Two of the women are ready to begin a local cooking school.

Thanks for praying for our staff. I'm amazed at what God is doing in their lives. They are wonderful women who truly love what they are doing, how God is using them and how they can be involved in lives being changed.

Current prayer needs--

Ginny* needs complete physical healing in her body--the effects of her trauma.

Ali's baby is doing well, but the doctors were a bit concerned about his growth this past time. Pray for this little baby to grow.

Pray for a special blessing this Sunday. Ali is such a leader and she has lead the way in baby dedication. The others are following and all our children are being dedicated to the Lord this Sunday. How exciting that their lives are being changed! How exciting that they do not need to know the pain that their mothers's lives held. God is so good. So please pray with us for this Sunday.

Have a Blessed Christmas!

Leah

Leah* came to the Home of Hope two weeks ago. She is depressed and struggling with the upcoming Christmas holiday. She says that everything bad that happened in her life, happened at the Christmas season.

Please keep her in prayer this month. Every girl that comes into the home struggles with the lack of freedom, the rules, the structure, and wants to leave. They cannot see that life can be better and want to run. Leah is in this place at this time.

This past weekend she spent a lot of time saying she wanted to leave. Tuesday is our prayer and fasting day, and we prayed specifically that she would see God in her life and make the choice to stay. In the afternoon she went to visit a foundation that takes in pregnant women and mothers. They told her that they would not take her because she is not from the city. We see this as a miracle because we know they take any needy woman, no matter where she is from.

And while she was there, Leah noted how sad everyone looked. She saw the difference from those at the Home of Hope. So she has come back and said she will stay until after her baby is born. Please pray specifically for her this week and this month. Pray that she would settle and see what God will do in her life. There is a great battle for her life at this time. Pray that she will see God showing himself to her this Christmas season.