IM MENA

Cyprus - 22 July 2024

Ben and Burgi

Dear Friends!

Mediterranean summers have probably never been so hot as this year. Early at 5:30 in the morning we make short trips to the sea. During the day we live with AC at home and in the car. Only at 7 in the evening we prefer to go and buy groceries.

While our teams do camps in Egypt and Lebanon, we prepare the three-month training schedule and facilitation for our next DTC class this fall: nine new students want to be trained for missions in MENA countries. Except one from Syria, all others are Egyptians. We are excited. There are a few challenges, though. Our Syrian friend cannot leave Syria/Lebanon to join us, and not all Egyptians can leave their kids when studying with us. Therefore, as in former years, we depend on ZOOM for more than half of the teaching sessions. But without electricity ZOOM and the Internet in general will not work. Since several months Egypt suffers from daily electricity outages, sometimes up to five hours. If we'll be cut off during training, we won't have a plan B.

Serving in the Middle East is a great training place for resilience. Although Burgi and I serve already quite some time here, we are stretched. When praying about it we know that we should continue and step out in faith. The training of leaders for all the new (and old) sheep is the project of the Lord! Therefore we find peace in Him and in His faithfulness. 1 Cor 16:13 reminds us: "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong". We want to follow that reminder and become more resilient and more persistent.

During late summer and fall we will fly to Cairo, Beirut and Baghdad. Sitting with students, with staff and with friends has always been worth while traveling. We trust that the Lord will provide with energy and health.

And yes, we count on your supporting prayers during these months.

Let us together keep going, standing firm in faith, courageous and strong.

Blessings from the Middle East,

Ben and Burgi