Encounter

I was able to serve on my first encounter retreat in Lebanon this past weekend and it was absolutely amazing.
We had over 60 participants attend the encounter. We had around 20 from Syria and their spiritual hunger was incredible. Our Assoicate Pastor at Abundant life preached on the Cross during one of the sessions and the anointing was powerful. I have never truly felt anything like it. The participants began to weep before he even finished. The Lord showed up in a very tangible way. Then Our Senior Pastor led the session titled the Holy Spirit and revelation was flowing. He really opened up some scriptures to me and while he prayed for the participants you really could feel the fire of God consume His people.
I truly am honored to serve with these believers and I am so thankful God brought me to Lebanon.
I'll be leaving in three weeks to attend New Hope's annual mission conference and the Pastor will be with us this year and I can't wait. I am so excited to see all of my friends and family again. Its been over five months now.
I love every one of you and am so thankful for each and everyone's prayers and gifts during my stay here. I truly cannot express my gratitude in words.

Blessings on you all.

My cast is off

well my cast was taken off last week. It nice to have my good hand free, but when they were removing my cast they cut my hand with the saw. The cut is only the size of an inch. It really hurt, but the funny thing is they just sent me home and told me to put some cream on it. It was an open cut too. I went to a pharmacy though and they cleaned it and put a bandage on it. Everything is good now. This was a crazy experience.

I have learned so much by being here. There have been many challenges, but I am a better man for them. I love the people and I have built great relationships. I am picking up on Arabic too. I have still a long way to go but taking two hours of class Tuesday through Friday is beginning to pay off.

I am traveling this weekend to renew my visa so I will keep you updated.

Blessings on you all.

emergency room

Well, I had my first emergency room experience in another country.
I was playing basketball with the youth and the Pastor this past Monday. We just started playing when the lights went out, I went to grab the ball and so did one of the guys and we collided. His knee fractured my left hand. Everything is fine though. Every one has been helpful and thank God I have a roommate. Please pray for a quick recovery.

Blessings

My First Sermon

Hello,

This past Saturday I gave my first sermon at the youth service. It was really cool seeing there faces light up as they were being encouraged. I love to encourage people. I spoke on Faith and believing God's promises. Romans chapter five verses one through five was the reference I used.

Also this past week the whole church has been in a time of prayer and fasting for the conference in August. People are coming from all over the Middle East to receive from the Lord. This past Wednesday we walked and prayed in the area around the church. As I walked and prayed with my friend in Bourg Hammoud, my heart broke for these people. I also love the boldness of my friend. When he felt led he would stop and hand someone a flier or talk to them about Jesus. I would pray while he did this because I still have a long way to go with learning Arabic.

Blessings on you all

Hello,

Everything is going good in Lebanon. My trip to Jordan was amazing. I got to see the place Jesus was baptized and Mt. Nebo where Moses looked over the promise land before he died. That was pretty cool. The youth conference was awesome.

Last Saturday we had an outreach in downtown Beirut right in front of the Mosque. There were over 400 people there worshiping the Lord. It was an awesome experience to be a part of this. It was called the B.C./A.D. conference. A team from North Carolina was helping host and fund this event. Churches from all over Beirut gathered to make this event possible.

Well, I am leaving Achrafieh and moving right across the church. I will save so much on not having to use taxis or buses as much. Yeah!!!

Thank you so much for everything.

a Crazy Experience

I had a interesting experience this past week. I went to Saccine Square to catch the bus to church for prayer.

I got on bus number eight as usual but he went a different route. I had no idea were I was.
He finally reached his destination and begin yelling at me since I was the last passenger.
I told him were I needed to go and he pointed and made me get off the bus.

I did not have any idea where I was. That was not a comforting feeling at all. I called George Nayaty but he did not know how to tell me where to go because he did not know where I was.
Thank God there were people who spoke English and who could point me to Bourg Hammoud square. I finally saw a place that looked familiar.
I learned a lot from this experience.

I laugh about this now because I paid a dollar to walk 40 minutes when I could have walked from my house for 25 minutes for free.

I truly know God was with me. I just hope the bus driver does not do that again, but now I know where to go.

Hello,

I led my first small group in Lebanon this past Thursday. The leader I help had to attend a worship band meeting so he asked me to lead the group. Many of the guys know English, but one of the guys translated for me. I was really glad I was able to share a little of my heart with the guys. I could tell they were receiving. Then a few of us went to go hang out and get something to eat.
Then three of the guys asked me to pray with them during the afternoon on Friday. Their summer vacation is just starting and one of the first things they wanted to do was pray. My heart really was touched by that. I didn't understand the words but you could feel His presence.
Blessings on you all.

Thanks for all your prayers

Hello,

I want to thank everyone who has been praying. The elections are over and the country is at peace. Everything is slowly going back to normal.

Life is been good. I am doing Arabic classes from 8-10 a.m. on Mondays and Fridays, and 8-11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am starting to pick up some words during people's conversations.

Also the prayer times from 6-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday are really a blessing. These believers are committed to prayer. A lot of times its hot and the ac does not work, but they come and seek the face of God for this country and region of the world.

Thanks and blessings on you all.

hello everyone,

I wanted to let you know what a week looks like for me here in Lebanon.

Monday is usually the day I rest. Except on the first Monday of the month which is an evangelism meeting.

I have a leaders meeting on Tuesday. Then I go to a youth leaders meeting as well. I usually get home around midnight.

On Wednesday I go with the guys in my small group and we go minister in different people homes. Last week our leader shared Jesus with the taxi driver. He may come to the evangelism meeting on Monday. These guys are really becoming good friends. They have a heart to bring their people to Jesus. They are very bold in their faith. We make a good team.

On Thursday I attend a small group of some guys in the youth. I help the leader in any way I can.

On Friday I attend the Arabic service.

On Saturday I attend the youth service.

On Sunday I go to the English service, the school of leaders class that Mary Beth's teaches, and the Arabic service at Night.

Next week, I'll will be starting the Arabic language classes during the day.

I stay busy, but I am loving every minute of it. I love to encourage people and so many have already told me that I have encouraged them. I am so thankful that God would allow me to be in fellowship with these believers. They give so much to the Lord on a daily basis.

Three weeks

Well I finally feel settled here. I am getting into the routine of ministry here. The believers here are amazing. I believe I am making life long friends.
The youth ministry is tonight and I am looking forward to bringing some ideas to the youth ministry and serving any way I can.
The young people here are awesome.

There is a leaders conference next week and I am really excited about. Speakers form Global Advance and the Global 12 project will be here. It is going to be awesome. I have been helping them prepare for it.

Its funny because I usually go eat lunch around three at the store around the corner and every time I have been there the power goes out. Its like clock work. They tell me to get use to it.
Life here is different. They have no sound laws here. They were working on constructing a building near mine at one in the morning. The hammering and welding got pretty annoying, and
the people love to use their horns in their cars.

Despite all this I love it here. I really just began to pray to God as I was at lunch today.
May the Lord touch Lebanon and use the believers here to change the Middle East forever. I am so thankful that God has allowed me to play a small smart in His great Plan.

Blessings

Hello Everyone,

I am finally in Beirut. Brad and Reagan have been a great help getting me settled before they leave tomorrow. I don't know what I would have done without them.

The believers here have been amazing. They are so kind and helpful. Today they showed us the Cedars of Lebanon. These trees were used to build King Solomon's temple. It was beautiful up in the Lebanese mountains. Snow was still on the ground.

Tonight is the first service I'll be attending. They will be announcing my arrival tonight.

I will blog more often now and keep all of you updated. Thanks for making my dream possible by your prayers and support.

In Christ
Ben

Seven Weeks Out

I can not believe I am seven weeks from leaving.
The scheduled date is April the 19th.
With feelings of excitement, anxiousness, anticipation, and nervousness I feel the Lord's presence.
With all the thoughts racing through my mind: I'm leaving a good ministry job, what will happen when I get there, and can I do this. The Lord asked me through a song, do I love Him more than life?
My answer is yes.