Covering Turkey in Prayer

In a few short weeks I'll be leaving for Turkey with Ryan Peters and Noelle Myers, so please  pray for us!  We will be updating a new blog while we are there.

Here is an overview of things to pray for while I am in Turkey...

-God's will

Pray that God's desires for this trip will occur.  There are so many good things that we could pray for and attempt to do, but what is good is not necessarily best.  We want to accomplish what God wants done, even if that means spending all two weeks we are there with one family; we are willing vessels.  Pray that we will remain peacefully in this yielded posture and that God will use us in whatever way he desires.

-Guidance

Because we desire so strongly to follow God's leading for this trip, we have left room for movement in our plans and will be continually praying about what our next step should be.  Since we are such a small team, we have the unique ability to change plans quickly and follow the Holy Spirit's leading as we go, so pray that we will be flexible and sensitive to his leading.

-Exposure

This trip is a perfect opportunity to be exposed to a culture and religion totally different from our own, and we want to soak up as much as possible while we can.  Pray that we will be alert and observant and that we will have endurance and stamina towards the end of the trip to make each moment count for eternity.  Pray that we will absorb lessons and experiences that will impact the rest of our lives.

-Ministry

We have many desires and dreams for this trip, but again, we want to do what God has planned and not follow our own plans.  Pray that God will open and shut doors to guide us, but more so that he would open them.  We want opportunities to share the good news that has changed our lives; we want chances to encourage and uplift our brothers and sisters living lives of faith in an antagonistic culture; we want open doors into homes to fellowship with Iranian refugees seeking truth; and most of all we want to see God glorified in everything we do.  Pray for protection and provision as we walk wherever God leads us.

-Team

One of the most stretching and satisfying parts of missions is working with a team, and this dynamic will only be intensified by the size of our team.  Pray that we will not just get along but that we will be catalysts in each other's lives to bring transformation.  Pray that we will be unified by our love for God and people, and that we will be protected from jealousy, miscommunication, insecurity/fear, and selfishness and other things that divide and distract teams.  Pray that we will be better followers of Christ and better lovers of people because of our interactions with each other.