This week we will be sharing a bunch of testimonies we have been privileged to witness. We begin with our time in the Middle East.
Greg was managing the gate for a property our 10/40 Team is praying about purchasing. They hope to use it as a ministry base, training and equipping center, and safe location for victims of human trafficking and refugees. The protocol was the same as usual on location in most of the Middle East. We don't talk about what we do or use ministry terms in the presence of strangers. In Greg's eyes we're just looking at the possibility of running an organic co-op.
Greg spoke pretty good English, which isn't totally unusual but definitely stood out. As we toured the property Greg showed us the dilapidated bungalos and fountains, pointed to the abundance of fruit trees, and the view of the sea. There was nothing out of the ordinary until I got a chance to stand next to Greg for a moment while we all individually soaked in the views from the property.
Very matter-of-factly, Greg told me how good he thought this property would be as a Bible college or Christian training center. He certainly caught me off guard; I wasn't sure if he was walking me into a conversational trap, or if there was something about him that we didn't know. The leaders from our team only met Greg once or twice before. I did my best to smile and wave and change the subject. Then he asked where I was from. When I told him we had come from Tanzania and we were teaching, he smiled and said he spent time in Tanzania working with major international relief organizations and Christian ministry groups. Again, trying to hear the Holy Spirit, I struggled to process exactly what was really happening in this conversation. And again, I more or less shrugged it off. As we began to move on to the next part of the property, Greg got closer to one of the leaders of our local team. Apparently, in both the local language and some English, he began to share details of his past and how he ended up as a caretaker of this property.
The story went that Greg grew up in a Soviet satellite nation. He had joined the Soviet army and later became a KGB agent with specialized training in the language and culture of the Middle Eastern nation we were in. At the time of the Soviet Union's break up, he had said he had been asked to perform an assassination of a top local leader. When he declined, he went on the run and fled. Because of his understanding of the language, education, and this nation's opposition to Russian interests, he was granted political asylum and later citizenship. Although he was safe, he was alienated from his family for almost the past two decades.
A few years ago, Greg was diagnosed with brain cancer. The local social healthcare programs provided him a means to care, but his deteriorating health combined with the fact that he was not a Muslim, created a huge problem for him in maintaining employment. So Greg told us that the last two years of his life were a steady decline of health and a steady march into poverty. By now, his cancer was untreatable and the tumor in his brain caused frequent blood pressure attacks that resulted in migraines and blackouts. He had no money, and the man who owned this property had given him one of the sheds as a place to stay so long as he managed the gate and the guard dogs that lived there. There was no electric, running water, and only a small old wooden stove that he used to cook and provide heat. This man was living homeless. His history and character had him doing his best to present himself as a man of dignity. But it was obvious he wasn't lying when he told us it had been four days since he had showered and several more since he had the opportunity to wash his clothes.
By the end of the tour, we found ourselves standing around Greg as a group, asking him if we could pray that God would touch him and heal him. At this point, Greg smiled, welcomed us to pray, and began to cry as we laid hands on him. We called on the presence of God to do what He does best – to heal Greg's body and broken life. As we finished praying, he started to share a little more. He told us about how he had been separated from his now 22-year-old daughter. He told us how there was an outstanding debt on his medical care, and in the nation he was in until that debt was paid he'd be restricted from traveling. The debt really wasn't all that big, but to a homeless man it may as well have been a million dollars. As we were praying for healing, the Lord moved us to praying that he would not fear death, and that no matter what days were marked out for him that he would live them out abundantly and close to the Spirit of God. We had prayed for fullness and for fear to be cast out. When we were done, he Lord moved on our hearts to meet the financial need.
At that point, we invited Greg to come back to our place and take a shower and wash his clothes. We got an opportunity to share a cup of coffee and for him to tell us a little more about his life. The things he told us were incredible. Over the years the Lord had taken him to serve as security detail for different charitable and ministry organizations around the world. To have the honor of sitting with this man and offering him the only hope that we know, as brothers and sisters in Christ, was such an awesome privilege. It was one of those moments traveling the world in ministry that stands out and humbles you; God putting you in a situation where you get to minister life to someone whose experiences seem to make your own look small. But in the Kingdom of God it's no surprise when the Father uses His children across generational, social, and cultural lines.
As we parted that day, for all we knew or part in the story was over. Our time in the area was not going to be long, and we had no natural connections to this man. There was a good chance our local team could have contact with him again, so long as his health held up. But we said goodbye not knowing the next step for Greg. However, few days later Greg reached out to share with us some things that came out of our time together. Greg had an upcoming doctor appointment which was part of his regular care schedule. Of course, when he called us, we knew he was going to be able to take care of his medical debt. But that wasn't all. When Greg called he was so excited to share with us that the doctors were unable to find any trace of the tumor that was growing on his brain or the residual effects of high blood pressure and smaller issues that it was causing.
Greg told us that the doctors didn't know what to do and told him to come back if he had any major issues or relapses. If not, they said they'd hope to see him for a check up in two years! GREG IS NOW BACK IN RUSSIA WITH HIS DAUGHTER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS! What Jesus did that day was demonstrate to us once again how good and how great He is. What an amazing ride it is to walk with Christ.
Miracles are not the reason we follow Christ. But there is no doubt, they are fun.
Very matter-of-factly, Greg told me how good he thought this property would be as a Bible college or Christian training center. He certainly caught me off guard; I wasn't sure if he was walking me into a conversational trap, or if there was something about him that we didn't know. The leaders from our team only met Greg once or twice before. I did my best to smile and wave and change the subject. Then he asked where I was from. When I told him we had come from Tanzania and we were teaching, he smiled and said he spent time in Tanzania working with major international relief organizations and Christian ministry groups. Again, trying to hear the Holy Spirit, I struggled to process exactly what was really happening in this conversation. And again, I more or less shrugged it off. As we began to move on to the next part of the property, Greg got closer to one of the leaders of our local team. Apparently, in both the local language and some English, he began to share details of his past and how he ended up as a caretaker of this property.
The story went that Greg grew up in a Soviet satellite nation. He had joined the Soviet army and later became a KGB agent with specialized training in the language and culture of the Middle Eastern nation we were in. At the time of the Soviet Union's break up, he had said he had been asked to perform an assassination of a top local leader. When he declined, he went on the run and fled. Because of his understanding of the language, education, and this nation's opposition to Russian interests, he was granted political asylum and later citizenship. Although he was safe, he was alienated from his family for almost the past two decades.
A few years ago, Greg was diagnosed with brain cancer. The local social healthcare programs provided him a means to care, but his deteriorating health combined with the fact that he was not a Muslim, created a huge problem for him in maintaining employment. So Greg told us that the last two years of his life were a steady decline of health and a steady march into poverty. By now, his cancer was untreatable and the tumor in his brain caused frequent blood pressure attacks that resulted in migraines and blackouts. He had no money, and the man who owned this property had given him one of the sheds as a place to stay so long as he managed the gate and the guard dogs that lived there. There was no electric, running water, and only a small old wooden stove that he used to cook and provide heat. This man was living homeless. His history and character had him doing his best to present himself as a man of dignity. But it was obvious he wasn't lying when he told us it had been four days since he had showered and several more since he had the opportunity to wash his clothes.
By the end of the tour, we found ourselves standing around Greg as a group, asking him if we could pray that God would touch him and heal him. At this point, Greg smiled, welcomed us to pray, and began to cry as we laid hands on him. We called on the presence of God to do what He does best – to heal Greg's body and broken life. As we finished praying, he started to share a little more. He told us about how he had been separated from his now 22-year-old daughter. He told us how there was an outstanding debt on his medical care, and in the nation he was in until that debt was paid he'd be restricted from traveling. The debt really wasn't all that big, but to a homeless man it may as well have been a million dollars. As we were praying for healing, the Lord moved us to praying that he would not fear death, and that no matter what days were marked out for him that he would live them out abundantly and close to the Spirit of God. We had prayed for fullness and for fear to be cast out. When we were done, he Lord moved on our hearts to meet the financial need.
At that point, we invited Greg to come back to our place and take a shower and wash his clothes. We got an opportunity to share a cup of coffee and for him to tell us a little more about his life. The things he told us were incredible. Over the years the Lord had taken him to serve as security detail for different charitable and ministry organizations around the world. To have the honor of sitting with this man and offering him the only hope that we know, as brothers and sisters in Christ, was such an awesome privilege. It was one of those moments traveling the world in ministry that stands out and humbles you; God putting you in a situation where you get to minister life to someone whose experiences seem to make your own look small. But in the Kingdom of God it's no surprise when the Father uses His children across generational, social, and cultural lines.
As we parted that day, for all we knew or part in the story was over. Our time in the area was not going to be long, and we had no natural connections to this man. There was a good chance our local team could have contact with him again, so long as his health held up. But we said goodbye not knowing the next step for Greg. However, few days later Greg reached out to share with us some things that came out of our time together. Greg had an upcoming doctor appointment which was part of his regular care schedule. Of course, when he called us, we knew he was going to be able to take care of his medical debt. But that wasn't all. When Greg called he was so excited to share with us that the doctors were unable to find any trace of the tumor that was growing on his brain or the residual effects of high blood pressure and smaller issues that it was causing.
Greg told us that the doctors didn't know what to do and told him to come back if he had any major issues or relapses. If not, they said they'd hope to see him for a check up in two years! GREG IS NOW BACK IN RUSSIA WITH HIS DAUGHTER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS! What Jesus did that day was demonstrate to us once again how good and how great He is. What an amazing ride it is to walk with Christ.
Miracles are not the reason we follow Christ. But there is no doubt, they are fun.
Miracles can be scary. Believing in a God who could easily remove the pain of this life but often allows us to walk through suffering can feel like a huge contradiction. Facing the disappointment of what they see as unanswered prayer is the reason many people just stop trying. All of us cross that bridge in our walk with the Lord. But it's exciting to share the stories that show just how short the bridge really is.
In all He does, God desires to bear eternal fruit in this world through our lives. The times when we can't explain, or don't understand, what He's doing or His timeline are the times that we fall into trusting Him for what He's already done. No matter what we see or feel in this life, the reality is Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price and the miracle of salvation He offers is the greatest one of all. However, what we are learning, is that as we live by the voice of God and surrender all of our expectations and needs, the presence of God draws closer to us and manifest His glory more and more.
We are a partner supported missions family and you can find out more about us and Touching Nations Today at www.touchingnationstoday.org
If you want to be a part of this ministry with partnership and financial support, please visit www. TouchingNationsToday.org/donate and follow the instructions for our family, the Garretts. Use giving code 3068.
We are a partner supported missions family and you can find out more about us and Touching Nations Today at www.touchingnationstoday.org
If you want to be a part of this ministry with partnership and financial support, please visit www. TouchingNationsToday.org/donate and follow the instructions for our family, the Garretts. Use giving code 3068.
