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| And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
Well, I sure feel like I'm at the brink of the water, with the waves lapping my feet and the only way this trip will work out is if there's a miracle. Stand still, huh?
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| I am scheduled to be in Jordan for four months-- from August 29 until December 5. I'll be opening the little computer lab before school each morning, taking about half an hour to troubleshoot any issues. With twenty or so computers in a hot, dusty environment, that should prove to be challenging. Then, I'll be teaching in shifts. Most discussion I've had so far with the folks from the school has me teaching "basic computers use." I'm a little apprehensive about it, because I've never really taught anything with computers before... But I'm sure it'll be fine once I get the hang of it. I'll be teaching through translators at first, which could get tricky, although I hope that by the end of the semester I'll be able to communicate enough in Arabic to get the idea across. Other tasks may include teaching English on the side, and of course just doing whatever's needed around the school.
I've arranged housing right across the street from the school-- a family is leaving on furlough and is renting out their house. It's a nice place, evidently, but it's really more than I need or can afford. I'm hoping for the possibility of a roommate, or something.
My most immediate needs for the trip (as far as being able to go is concerned) are for financial and prayer partners. I've saved about two thousand this summer and over the last semester, but that still leaves about three thousand. If you feel moved to contribute, you can do so here. I am required to have ten prayer partners who are willing to commit to praying for me each day while I am in Jordan. If you feel moved to make this commitment, please send me a quick note at brink.of.the.water@gmail.com.
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| Dear
Friends,
A
few months ago I was told about an opportunity to serve the Lord in
the small middle eastern kingdom of Jordan with Christar
Ministries.
Because of the instability in the Middle East, and Jordan's relative
stability, the country is overrun with refugees—the US Committee
for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)
estimates the number of refugees in Jordan at 609,500, a significant
number for a country with a population under six million. Because
the Jordanian governments social programs are unable to support such
a large number of dependents, the refugees don't have access to
programs, such as public schooling. As a result, some refugee
communities have developed their own, private schools to educate
their children.
In
the community of Mahatta, a suburb of Amman, a church
ministering to Iraqi refugees has extended its program to include a
school, which is kept running by missionaries. Iraqi Grace School has
a computer lab designed to prepare Iraqi refugee children for
their futures, but the person who was keeping the lab running has
returned to the States for college, leaving a specific need for
someone who would be able to upkeep a computer lab and teach basic
computer literacy to the children.
I
have been encouraged to fill this specific need, but due to
schooling and financial concerns, I thought it would be impossible.
However, I continued to struggle over what I “need” to do, what
I want to do, and what God wants me to do. Last week I became
convinced that this is an opportunity for service that I should
pursue, both to serve the children and to learn through new
experiences. Having peace about this trip, however will not alone
make it happen; and time is short, as school there starts on the
first of September. If you would like to be involved in this
ministry, please pray. The following are specific prayer requests,
beyond my general needs for strength, wisdom, and humility.
Please
Pray for me to have perseverence and speed in finishing the
application forms, getting vaccinated, and arranging housing.
Please
Pray for my finances; this trip will cost five thousand dollars, of
which I have managed to save about two thousand by working this
summer.
Please
Pray for me to be prepard spiritually and emotionally to minister
in Jordan.
Please
Pray for me to be prepared in my skills and abilities to be able to
maintain an old, dusty collection of computers into a working lab in
a country with third-world communication technology.
Please
Pray for the mission administrators at Christar, as they make
decisions about the trip.
Please
Pray for the misionaries in Jordan, as they travel this summer and
prepare for school this fall.
Please
Pray that a good communication with be maintained among the
misionaries, the administration, and me here in the States. The long
distance can make communication difficult, both in the cost of phone
calls, and the time difference.
If
you would be interested in learning more about Iraqi refugees in
Jordan, the Iraqi Grace School ministry, or my specific role in this
ministry or yours, I can be reached by email at
brink.of.the.water@gmail.com,
or you can read more on my website at
www.xanga.com/brink_of_the_water.
As the next few months proceed, I will provide updates, both through
my website and through an email newsletter. My mailing address is:
In
the States:
1209 IH 35 S #309
New
Braunfels, TX 78130
In Jordan:
Ryan Hyde
PO BOX 143984
Amman 11814
JORDAN
Thank
you for your prayers.
Love,
Ryan Hyde
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| So, as is customary for suburban Americans of my generation, I have purposed to break from the college routine and pack my bags for the Middle East. My particular instance of this American phenomenon bears as its purpose instruction in technology for Iraqi refugee children. So, with my camera and Arabic phrasebook in one hand, and Bernard Lewis in the other, I embark. Updates, of course, will be found here.
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