Today we pray for…

Retreat attendee: Cindy

Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.  Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle (Psalm 103:1-3).

We ask that your comfort be felt in tangible ways when these ladies experience loneliness, depression, loss and grief. So often while serving overseas one has to grieve losses long-distance. When news of a loved one’s sickness, divorce, struggles, or death occurs, the cross-cultural worker can feel overwhelmed and alone, as those around her may not be able to empathize with her. There are times when the losses can be multiple (i.e. death of mom, grandmother, close friend). Processing these can be a lonely, long road.  Lord, we ask You to be their anchor in the middle of their emotions. May they each meet someone at the retreat with whom they can share their heart with and feel heard. As they leave and interact with family, friends, supporters who may be in different stages of grief, help them work through possible feelings of being out of sync.

Albania continues to be one of Europe’s poorest countries.  Economic life is almost wholly dependent on remittances from Albanians abroad, smuggling and foreign aid.  Thank you, Lord, that dictator Enver Hoxha’s proud boast of eliminating all religion in 1967 has been overturned with over 74% of the population claiming a faith in God.  We praise you that every town and city now has a group of evangelical believers.  You know, Lord, that Albania’s experience with Communism has been economically, morally, and spiritually devastating.  We pray for the peace and development of Albania and for the provision of a just and fair government.  We pray that the Balkan cauldron of ethnic and religious hatreds may not erode the present religious freedoms.  Muslim countries have poured in huge amounts of aid and cross-cultural workers, so we ask Lord that Albania be spared the sorrows of radical Islam.  We thank you in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

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