When the World Feels Dark, Look Up
There are times when it feels like the darkness of this world is creeping closer and closer to us.
Everywhere we turn, we see brokenness, fear, suffering, hatred, and evil. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming. Sometimes it can even feel as though the enemy is working overtime, and in many places around the world, we are seeing that very thing.
But this is not the time for God’s people to lose heart.
We have a Father who is good. We have a God who is faithful.
Nothing comes into our lives that He does not allow. That does not mean everything that happens is good, but it does mean that nothing is outside of His authority. When things look bleak, He is still making a way. When we cannot see what He is doing, He is still working.
So this month, instead of focusing on everything that is wrong in the world, let’s shift our eyes to what the Lord is doing.
And we have so much good news to share!
God Is Making a Way in Cuba
Things in Cuba have certainly not gotten better. In many ways, they continue to get worse. Food is difficult to find, clean water is a tremendous need, medicine is scarce, and our friends and partners are carrying burdens that are difficult for us to fully understand.
But in the middle of all of that, God is still at work!
This month, because of your generosity, we were able to help Yaili with the medical bills from the procedure she underwent several months ago. What a blessing it was to be able to help ease that burden.
We have also been able to purchase more than 200 pounds of supplies: food, AquaTabs for clean water, medicine, and other items that our partners specifically requested. Some of you have gone even further and simply asked for Yaili’s mailing address so that you could send things directly to her. Those packages, along with the financial gifts many of you gave to help cover shipping, are now being gathered and prepared to be sent to Havana.
And there is another tremendous need that we were able to address.
We purchased 10 Sawyer bucket filters, each capable of providing up to 450 gallons of clean water per day. Clean water is such a critical need right now, and these filters will be an incredible resource for our friends and the people they are serving.
The circumstances in Cuba are difficult. But our guys are strong.
The Church is shining brightly in the middle of the darkness. People are coming to the Lord. Believers are encouraging one another. And God is providing through His people.
That is what I want us to see.
The darkness is real—but so is our God.
God Is Building His Church in India
We are seeing the same thing happening in India.
Jiwan is facing immense persecution because of his faith. He has told us that they are being watched and attacked. Every little thing they do is scrutinized, and reports are being taken to the authorities.
Satan is certainly working overtime.
But if you know Jiwan, you know something else: He won’t give up! God has placed an incredible burden in Jiwan’s heart for his people, and persecution has not caused him to retreat. Instead, he continues to faithfully serve, teach, and reach people who desperately need Jesus. Because of that faithfulness, three new churches have been planted in three new villages!
Think about that for a moment.
The very place where the enemy is trying to bring fear, intimidation, and discouragement, God is building His church! The enemy may be working overtime, but so is God…and that is the good news we need to remember. The darkness may be real, but God’s light is greater.
Don’t let the darkness become your focus. Look up.
Our God is still on His throne.
He is still protecting His children.
He is still answering prayers.
He is still providing.
He is still opening doors.
He is still saving people.
He is still building His Church.
And He is still using His people to accomplish His purposes around the world.
Please Don’t Stop
I want to end by simply saying thank you.
Thank you for giving. Thank you for serving. Thank you for sending supplies. Thank you for asking how you can help. Thank you for praying. Thank you for caring about people you may never meet on this side of heaven.
Every gift matters. Every prayer matters. Every box that is packed and shipped matters. Every person who says, “How can I help?” matters.
And I want to ask you…please don’t stop.
There is still so much to do. For our friends in Cuba, this is literally a matter of life and death. In India, the need for the Gospel continues to grow even as persecution increases. And across the places where God has given TREC the privilege of serving, there are people who need hope, help, and most importantly, Jesus.
We don’t want to be discouraged by the darkness around us.
Instead, we want to keep our eyes fixed on the One who is greater than the darkness.
We see Him at work.
And because we see Him at work, we will keep going.
Thank you for going with us.
Thank you for praying with us.
Thank you for giving with us.
Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus and keep saying yes to whatever He asks us to do.
Jeff & Trudy
