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“When God closes a door He always opens a window.”
Where does the above phrase come from? How do we know the door has been closed? Where do we find that window? Should we look for it or simply wait for it? These are questions I’ve been asking myself since last night. I was having dinner with the leaders from our church when I heard the bad news. The director of the orphanage we work with went to the city administration about releasing children into our care for camp and they refused. When the news was told we all sat there quietly looking at each other with baffled faces.
Last night as we began to process the news the question started flooding out of us. What do we do now? That means kids camp will go from almost 30 kids to just 10. Do we cancel camp all together? Do we go to the village where the orphanage is and do a VBS there and in essence hold two separate camps? Do we go to the village and set up our camp alongside the orphanage? Will they give us permission to do even that? How do we wisely use our resources? What does God want? As we sat there falling into a deep pit of questions with no answers we began to pray in earnest. As we prayed tears came to my eyes. They were tears of frustration and confusion. Still I chose to trust God. I don’t know if the door is shut. I don’t know if a window will open. In fact I have no idea how to move forward in this. All I know is that God knows and I’m trusting Him to give me and the leadership wisdom and guidance as we move forward.
As I left last night the song playing on my stereo said “I will have faith even when I can not see,” a line that summed up yesterday for me. In the afternoon I received a phone call from Pastor Victor asking me to take Ibenez to a doctor’s appointment. I didn’t really have the time or energy but I agreed to take her. I picked Ibenez up and for the hours drive to the doctors she told me her sad tale. I had already heard most of her tale but I didn’t know the recent change of events. Her husband has kicked her out and is now living with his mistress and their baby. Ibenez’s two older boys are also living with her husband. Ibenez and her youngest son are currently living with someone from the church. Her husband is in terrible debt and knows that he is living in sin. He says he can’t help it. Ibenez is leaving for a couple of months to visit her family. Her husband says that when she comes back they will be a family again and he will leave his mistress. He also said that if Ibenez leaves him he will kill her.
How do you respond to a broken and hurting life? Ibenez believes in God but she is still learning what that means. She honestly believes that when she comes back everything will be alright because God will answer all her prayers. God wouldn’t allow her 17 year marriage to end would He? With tears in her eyes she asked me “do you believe everything will be okay?” I took a deep breath and said a quick prayer. I told her that I didn’t know if everything would be okay. God has His own plan and sometimes it isn’t what we want. Sometimes we have to walk through very difficult times before things get better. I also explained that her husband has a choice. He has to make the right choice and follow God before things can change. I know it isn’t what she wanted to hear but it was the truth. I hope I spoke it in love.
My faith is being tested. While you might read this newsletter and think I must be at least discouraged in ministry I can honestly say I’m not. There is a battle going on in Nizhniy Novgorod. For the first time in a long time this battle is brining me to my knees. It is on my knees that this battle is going to be fought and won. Please pray with me. Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance. This church is young and Satan would love to tear it apart. Pray for God’s protection. Pray for God’s peace as we walk through these hard times.
I have no idea what the next few weeks will hold. I was supposed to be preparing for camp. In a way it is liberating not to know how to proceed. It leads me into a deeper walk with and a dependency upon the Lord.
Blessings
• We had an amazing time at the orphanage last weekend.
(for pictures go to www.rowleysroar.blogspot.com)
• Physical health. I am finally back to 100%!
• A wonderful and caring church family.
Needs
• God’s wisdom, protection and guidance.
• An answer in how to proceed with camp.
• Increasing language ability. This might be redundant but my effectiveness in ministry is related first to my relationship with the Lord and second to my ability to speak Russian.
Thank you for your prayers and your support of the Great Commission Fund. Without you I could not be here.Blessings,
Sarah Rowley
As always for updated information please go to my blog: www.rowleysroar.blogspot.com
Thank you for your support of my work special, car fund and outfit fund. Currently each of those funds are doing well. If you wish to give please give to Rowley - Great Commission Fund
In the Memo write: For the Support of Sarah Rowley GCF
Write the check out to: The Christian and Missionary Alliance
Send to: The Christian and Missionary Alliance
P.O. Box 35000
Colorado Springs, CO 80935-3500
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