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Spring has sprung! Even with a few days of chill still upon us (here in the Central Virginia area) there is new life springing up all around. The dormant flowers are dormant no longer! In this update, I bring news of fresh life from our work among the people we serve. Below are two testimonies (among many) that we pray will encourage you. The Lord is moving!
These smiling faces are some of the prisoner’s wives that have received businesses. Hope for them to provide for their children was palpable. Below is one of the testimonies that shows God is not only providing them a way to support their children, but also changing how they see themselves and Him!
I would like to highlight two testimonies, among the many, of the micro-businesses that have been opened through the generosity of our supporters. The names have been changed to protect identities.
Mira has come to our gatherings for a few years during which I felt strongly that the Lord wanted to testify of His goodness by breaking off a poverty mentality; He was asking them to not only be receivers, but also givers. I challenged them with this word: “When you receive the packages of food and return to your villages, find someone in need and gift them with one of the items in your package. Bless them, not with what you least like, but something that you DO like. And throughout the year, even if you only have a grain of rice, cut it in half and give to another in need.”
Mira took this to heart. The pastor over these women could not wait to tell me her testimony. He found a need in the community of prisoner’s wives. There was a woman with small children that had NO MATTRESSES, they were sleeping on the floor. He sent out 160 emails seeking someone that may be able to help. Mira, he said, was the only one that responded. She had two mattresses. She shared one with a child and her other children shared the second. She thought, “I can give away one and we can just pack into the other.” The Lord saw her generosity. A week or so later, someone offered her a BRAND NEW MATTRESS. When I heard this testimony I thought of how good the Lord is! Much to my utter surprise, the pastor said, “Pastor Sherrie…she found someone that had a greater need and GAVE THEM THE NEW MATTRESS!” Shortly after that, her business became more successful! She learned that she cannot out-give God. Through her testimony, others have been encouraged to change their view of themselves and their Generous Heavenly Father!
This is Rhema. She, a gifted seamstress, was in great need to support her and her children. Her desire was to make puppets of all sizes for churches in their ministry among children. We gifted her with a sewing machine and various types of fabrics and material. She began immediately making puppets for a local church; word began to spread throughout Egypt. She now has a WAITING LIST of clients. Friends, the Lord is confirming His Word. HE IS NOT forsaking these women and their children. Like Hagar in her time of need, HE IS THE GOD WHO SEES!!!
We are already making plans for our next trip this year. From the moment we land to when we return, these trips are completely packed! Prayer is needed and greatly welcomed for strength, endurance, and anointing from the Lord. This years trip includes:
- At-Risk Girl Camps in Minya and Assuit: Our target is 200 girls in each camp. We minister to them through worship, teaching, individual prayer, and each girl receives a parting dowry gift. Our ministry partners on the ground identify girls that would benefit from a micro-business. This is usually due to being taken out of school and needing to work to help support the family. By providing a business, we reduce the risk posed to these young girls that would otherwise be hired by men that target many of them for conversion to Islam. Providing businesses also reduces the risk of girls being kidnapped, forcibly converted and unable to return to their families.
- Prisoner’s Wives Gatherings in Minya and Assuit: We are able to reach approximately 100 of these women in each location. They are led in worship, prayer, receive the Word, and we provide ministry time by our team. Each woman is gifted with a small financial gift and a large package of food staples which include canned meats, rice, pasta, flour, spices, etc.. Our partners on the ground also find candidates that have the skill and ability to run micro-businesses. Our desire is to not only “Give a Fish”, but also “Teach to Fish”. We have been met with great success in this model of providing for spiritual as well as physical needs.
- Women Church Planters: For the last two years we have met with women that are church planters in some of the most difficult communities in Egypt. These communities are considered “ghettos”. In my previous update, I shared the difficulty that they face and how God is meeting them in amazing ways – including the gift of healing moving through them. We will continue to strengthen, encourage and empower this group of women who are brave heroes of the faith. They travel far distances to meet with us. They are hungry for more of the Lord and for prayer.
- Widows and the Poor: We continue to gather approximately 400 widows and the poor. They come for worship, teaching and ministry. There are so many that struggle with the inflation in Egypt which is at an all time high. We gift each person with a small financial gift in addition to ministering to their soul and their bodies.
- Pastors & Their Wives: We host pastors and their wives from the region. This gives each of them opportunity to receive personal ministry as well as meet and encourage other leaders in Egypt. This has been a personal highlight as, after the meetings, we spend time fellowshipping and praying together. Quite often it is a time where we are able to prophesy and bring encouragement and often confirmation that gives them the ability to stand in difficult situations.
The total for this trip is $14,500.
Additional funds received will enable us to plant more micro-businesses. The cost to establish each business is between $350 – $400. This is a one-time cost to launch the business. Each person receiving a business is trained with business skills in budgeting, restocking, etc. so the business becomes self-sustained. At present, we have established a little over 250 micro-businesses.
We cannot thank those of you who have sown into this work enough through prayer and financial gifts.
The hand of the Lord is truly on the lives of those we reach out to those we engage with. For those who desire updates as we approach and while “on the ground” please send an email with your name and phone number to JOTN.Egypt@gmail.com and we will send you an invitation to the JOTN channel.
For those that would like to partner with this work financially, you may use this link for PayPal. Donations by check or money order may be sent to: JOTN – c/o S. Moore to 4802 W. Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23226
Sherrie Moore 