The Middle East melted my heart
5/22/2008 5:08:36 PM

The Middle East melted my heart!

By Katey, a student volunteer to Northern Africa/Middle East

My World View before this summer mission trip to the Middle East was very vague and simple. Where I am from in Kentucky, the outreach that the people here do for God are not on “that” side of the world… I had never talked to a “worker” from the Middle East… If it hadn’t been for me taking a class on religion my fourth semester of college, I would have had no idea about Islam. If it hadn’t been for the training material, I would have known nothing about the culture. My World View went from the perception of Middle Eastern people being heartless, idol worshipping, evil people to the eye-opening fact that the Middle East is in DIRE need of God and Jesus. And there are not enough people to tell them about Him!!!! I fell in love with the Middle Eastern people. They melted my heart!

My Worldview went from “I do not know how the rest of the world lives” to “Wow, we are SO spoiled here in America!” From simple things such as clean streets to complex things such as churches on EVERY street corner.

I know God led me to the Middle East to show me the heart He needs me to have for the people. I will always feel a longing to cry out to God when I hear the call of prayer being shouted into a city of lost and mislead people. How incredibly blind I was before I left for the Middle East. Oh, how I pray God sends some more laborers to bring in His harvest from the Middle East.

My life back home has forever changed. I look at EVERYTHING differently. I remember spending loads of money on shoes before I left. In the Middle East, there were kids with no shoes. I buy much cheaper clothing now, needless to say. I feel so spoiled here. I had no idea just how spoiled I was until I went there. I look at all the luxuries we have here and I look at all the money that is wasted every year by people looking for happiness… It makes me wonder what would happen if that money was used to send people to the Middle East to reap God’s harvest.

I decided when I got home that I was going to continue the ministry I was trained in, telling Muslims about Jesus. I have been going to the local mosque and meeting local Muslims. Before I left, I had no idea there was a mosque here in my town. It is such a small place, yet we can reach the other side of the world right here!

I also have a huge burden on my heart. If it weren’t for school and God giving me patience, I would be in another country doing His will. I know, after this trip, God needs me overseas as a full-time worker in His harvest field.

Serve God in the Middle East!