To the Ends of the Earth...
Flory Update Fall 2015
Jordan
Getting to know Munther and meeting his delightful wife
Indonesia
Flower sacrifice on Hindu island of Nusa Pineda
Ukraine
St. Michael's Cathedral in Kiev, a beloved spot in Kiev
To the Ends of the Earth...and Back again!
Dear SCC Missions Team!
Sending you early Christmas greetings as you worship the Lord through all the festivities. Christmas still seems far off here in Ukraine. The weather is a cool 32ish degrees (and I'm really enjoying it!) but no snow yet on the horizon. A few flakes were flitting around as we pulled into the train station last week. Christmas trees are just coming out for sale. New Year's, and "Ded Moroz" or 'Grandfather Frost', is more of their bigger cultural holiday. We will be celebrating Christmas twice, once on the 25th (New Christmas) and then on January 7th (Old Christmas). I am praying that the Lord will bless me with my own place to decorate before the new year, but until then enjoying the quiet without the hustle-bustle that is typical.
I have to be honest, it is hard being here when I know the Blyckers are now there with you all. What a joy it would have been to welcome them with you, but as Angela reminded me this past week (as I was tempted to come back to coincide with their time) that God has "work for me to do here." Yes, He does. But enjoy them for me, okay?!
...digressing over...back to the update... :-)
How can I tell...?!
So much has happened since my departure to Jordan and Indonesia on October 30. I feel I have gone to 'the ends of the earth' and back! It is hard to describe all that the Lord did, so will simply share a brief piece of a letter I wrote to Angela upon my return....
"Have much to process yet between Jordan, Indonesia, and Bali. Tried to begin writing about the [Hindu unreached] people on Nusa Pineda (an island off Bali) but just found myself getting emotional....and put it away. How can I tell so shortly all that God did and showed me? And that is just in one place! What about ...
How do I tell all of their stories?! So many people...and there are so many more who need a touch from the Lord." (Dec. 5)
...And now there are even more stories and events in the two weeks back in Ukraine.
Sending you early Christmas greetings as you worship the Lord through all the festivities. Christmas still seems far off here in Ukraine. The weather is a cool 32ish degrees (and I'm really enjoying it!) but no snow yet on the horizon. A few flakes were flitting around as we pulled into the train station last week. Christmas trees are just coming out for sale. New Year's, and "Ded Moroz" or 'Grandfather Frost', is more of their bigger cultural holiday. We will be celebrating Christmas twice, once on the 25th (New Christmas) and then on January 7th (Old Christmas). I am praying that the Lord will bless me with my own place to decorate before the new year, but until then enjoying the quiet without the hustle-bustle that is typical.
I have to be honest, it is hard being here when I know the Blyckers are now there with you all. What a joy it would have been to welcome them with you, but as Angela reminded me this past week (as I was tempted to come back to coincide with their time) that God has "work for me to do here." Yes, He does. But enjoy them for me, okay?!
...digressing over...back to the update... :-)
How can I tell...?!
So much has happened since my departure to Jordan and Indonesia on October 30. I feel I have gone to 'the ends of the earth' and back! It is hard to describe all that the Lord did, so will simply share a brief piece of a letter I wrote to Angela upon my return....
"Have much to process yet between Jordan, Indonesia, and Bali. Tried to begin writing about the [Hindu unreached] people on Nusa Pineda (an island off Bali) but just found myself getting emotional....and put it away. How can I tell so shortly all that God did and showed me? And that is just in one place! What about ...
- Carla and Tamara, the two sisters-in-love in Jordan and our tearful goodbye after just two short days?
- The Muslim-background house workers in Bandung who were fascinated by the art project we did there in Puebla on joy and can't wait to do their own?
- Fatyma, the Crimean Tatar Muslim-background believer in Kiev who translated for an trauma healing session that I unexpected helped lead?
- Olga, a local woman on the train who just came back from all places...Saginaw, Michigan!
- And Victor...the war-weary and jittery soldier on the train, going home from the front lines, who put his forehead to my head as I held his scarred hands and prayed over him?
How do I tell all of their stories?! So many people...and there are so many more who need a touch from the Lord." (Dec. 5)
...And now there are even more stories and events in the two weeks back in Ukraine.
- three two-day conferences since my return, two as a participant, one as an unexpected leader...all about healing and caring for others
- an apartment hunt to get settled and at 'home'
- praying over local missionary couple in crisis, humbled and seeking the Lord
- inviting a local pastor to a conference in progress knowing he needed to be there (he then came for 1.5 out of the two days)
- speaking truth into two women's lives who are used to operating 'the old Soviet way
- a meeting with a local organization to set up a trauma healing (TH) conference to minister to their workers
I am honored to be a part of what God is doing in Ukraine.
Thank you, SCC, for being such an important part of this ministry. Training, teaching, sharing and praying in the Middle East (Jordan), Asia (Indonesia) and Eastern Europe (Ukraine) would be possible without your continued intercession, letters of encouragement, skype conversations, and generosity to meet the financial needs.
Looking forward to seeing you all soon.
In Him,
Renee'
Women along the way...
Missing Grandma
This young woman (left), new to the field in Asia is the granddaughter of a women who mentored me in my early missionary years. This grandmother recently went to be with the Lord after suffering through years of Alzheimers. It is a bittersweet to meet with this women who wished her grandmother were there to mentor her as well.
Women of Nusa Pineda
These women enter through the temple gates on the Balinese Hindu island of Nusa Pineda. In addition to daily sacrifices, there are special festivals that they observe to please the thousands of gods. Pray for these women to see the Light of Jesus and the hope of his salvation.
Carla and Tamara
What a joy to meet Carla, Syrian, and Tamara, Jordanian, when I was in Amman for the Trauma Healing Advanced Training. They were best friends...and then they married brothers!! In two short days our hearts connected. I anticipate returning me to Jordan to do minister to women alongside these two...and to just love on them as well.
Fatyma and Linda
What a joy to work alongside Fatyma, a Muslim-background believer from Crimea, Ukraine, and Linda Bridges, of the U.S., a master trainer with the Trauma Healing (TH) program. We were a beautiful team together and look forward to partnering again in the spring to train dozens of new Ukrainian leaders.
Pastors Wives
I was to leave in 5 hours to get on a train for my final leg home from Asia...instead an email declaring, "I'm here in Kiev..." by a women who was a trainer in the Trauma Healing program, prompted me to dump my ticket and join her for two days of sharing the program with a group of pastors' wives and ministry leaders.
Colleagues...and Friends
I'm honored to be received as a peer and colleague with psychologists and social care workers in Ukraine. The Lord is opening many doors of continued education, training, and support...in bringing healing and wholeness to Ukraine. With friend and psychologist, Marina, and children's home director, Ludmila.
Trauma Healing Training in Jordan
The Citadel
Ancient ruins overlooking the city of Amman. Delightful. The artist in me filled up. :-)
Worship
Joining Jordanians in worship, hearing Arabic redeemed was redeeming, no longer a language of hate
TH Training
With founder/author Harriet Hill and SCC brother Munther Shahatit, training Jordanians...and me.
Women's retreat in Indonesia
Sweet Life
Sister Karen sharing at the "Life: Sweet as Cupcakes" retreat to over 30 women
Creating
Creativity flowed in preparation for the women creating their life stories
Faithful!
Her artistry revealed God's faithfulness throughout this dear sister's life
Prayer Needs
- Spiritual refreshment and reflection as we celebrate Jesus coming to us
- Holy Spirit leading in all I do
- Divine appointments and getting out there among the people
- Guidance in developing Trauma Healing (TH) ministry in Kherson and in Kiev
- Trauma Healing groups on calendar from now to early Feb.
- For planned trip to U.S. from early February to early April (more details later)
- The apartment hunt--for a light, safe, updated apt, near bus stop and with view of the heavens
- Courage in making connection and decisiveness in planning with TH
- Increased funding in early 2016 (currently at 30% of full support)
- Wisdom in relationships with family as they walk through an ongoing season of crisis
Thanks for your prayers! They availeth much!
Here I am...
Technology is so amazing! I am as close as just a skype call away. Would love to connect with you, hear your voices, pray together. It means more than you know. Pass the word!
My skype handle: reneezydaizy :-)
Pics: (Left) Can you tell what I caught these two teenagers on Nusa Pineda doing? I had to smile. Teens are teens no matter how remote. :-); (background) Inside the temple on the Hindu island of Nusa Pineda
My skype handle: reneezydaizy :-)
Pics: (Left) Can you tell what I caught these two teenagers on Nusa Pineda doing? I had to smile. Teens are teens no matter how remote. :-); (background) Inside the temple on the Hindu island of Nusa Pineda
Email: renee.flory.ministry@gmail.com
Website: www.ripeforharvest.org
Location: Kherson, Khersons'ka oblast, Ukraine
Phone: +38 (095) 245 54 02
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/renee.flory.9