When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane, and the pine together, that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it. Isaiah 41:17-20.
I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16.
To love is to feel, to express, to identify that ‘inner pull’ of loving those that others pass by. To love even one, the rejected with no one to care whether they live or die, the burdens of each day weigh so heavy they are a slave to the fear of tomorrow. They have no resource of strength, no will to live, their heart longs for someone, somewhere to care. I ask myself: ‘Can I wrap my arms around the homeless? Do I care enough to wipe their tears?’ Matthew 6: 28 ‘And why take ye thought …?’
‘I came to Jesus, and I drank Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, And now I live in Him.’
Life for ‘The Moore’s’ has changed – we stand in awe of God’s provision and the sense of inner peace that we are where we should be ‘For Such A Time As This’. A change of direction (for me personally); relocation. There is an immense power to be found in ‘Standing Still’. I failed in trying to analyse circumstances so I ceased trying replacing struggles of restlessness with trusting in the silence. Still waters speak of a place of quiet rest and in the near future I will share with you a new work the Lord placed upon my heart. I have proved that the Lord works where He sends us to wait.
The drought of suffering and weariness continues: my friend Ana lost her battle with terminal cancer. Two days before she died, I received a picture of her two small children holding her hand in hospital. They had come to say ‘Goodbye’ to their beloved Mum before entering foster care. I remember the smile on Ana’s face as she received two back-packs for her children; her quiet ‘thank you’ said it all. ‘Even for One’. Thank you Ana for teaching me the true meaning of humility. Our love for the Lord should also be clearly expressed by our love and compassion for others. We must be practical in our love by being ‘interested’, ‘involved’ in the lives of other people. And so I would ask you to continue to remember the work of the Emanuel Hospice Team. Two new patients need our prayers: Mrs Kiss (38) suffering from lung cancer (with a baby son aged two). Mrs Copil (35) suffering from throat cancer (also with a little one aged three). Please continue to pray for baby Adam (six months) whose Mother (Julianna) died a few weeks ago. Our Lord had a special place in His heart for all the ‘little ones’ and we pray His ever watchful eye will watch over all these orphans as we place them into His hands of love and protection.
The team of Casa Grace need our prayerful support as daily they reach out and touch emotionally disturbed lives. There are two new families entering our feeding programme: A grandmother (67) caring for her emotionally disturbed granddaughter abandoned by her Mother. They are so poor they live in a converted garage. Our aim is to help the granddaughter throughout her teenage years and to offer assistance to the grandmother. The little girl is very talented in music but lacks and longs for one thing – ‘LOVE’. The second family entering our programme consists of a beautiful little girl (6). Her mother left the family home leaving this little one who was only five months, in the care of her father who is totally paralysed. An elderly neighbour helps take care of the little one – they live on £20 per week. The giants of difficulty trample these situations into the ground. Human frailty, lack of assurance of love; and yet, ‘There is hope’. The Lord is my helper. Will you join me in my call of love for these little ones? Will you help me introduce them to our Friend, the One who is closer than our very breath? We have One who can do the exceptional – His strength is always perfect for every day.
Sister Gaby and the team of Iochebed in Suceava continue to support young and old who knock on the door seeking help with basic needs of food, clothing, desperate situations of poverty and suffering. One young lady new to the programme was so distraught because she had no home and was living with an Aunt. ‘Stop’ signs at each junction, every door closed, her only thought was to give her daughter away as she had no money to feed her. She was surrendering her most treasured possession because of ‘LOVE’. Thank you for helping us with our feeding programme as we have offered support to both mother and baby.
Real people, real situations, painful experiences. Love binds all wounds. We give glory to the Lord for allowing us to enter these lives and through love change situations of hopelessness into avenues of hope ‘In Him’.
I end by sharing an update on my dear and precious friend Denisa. It is four years since my first introduction to Denisa and the memory of that first encounter is as vivid as it it were yesterday. Many miles have been travelled, many mountains climbed, but this mountain is high and has brought us all to our knees before the Lord as we have been quietly seeking His face for the way forward. Now is the time to share with you that Denisa is hurting just now – so many unanswered questions. Please pray with me that she may know the true meaning of John 14:1 ‘Let not your heart be troubled …
Denisa has been battling with Leukaemia since the age of thirteen. After receiving chemotherapy and radiation, Denisa’s cancer went into remission for a few years. Then in senior high school came the devastating news – her cancer had returned. Treatment was administered, resulting in another term of remission. She went on to study, graduating from High School with top honours and entered Medical School where it is her desire to become a Physician. 2014 brought further devastating news – again the cancer had returned. Denisa placed her education on hold and underwent another term of treatment – again resulting in remission. When she suffered a recurrence of the cancer, It was recommended to her that she explore the possibility of various treatments in Milano, Italy as the next step. During 2015 a bone marrow transplant (her mother being the donor) was performed. Denisa returned to medical school to continue her education.
For the fourth time in her young life Denisa has had to face the return of her cancer with masses being present in a few areas of her body. The physicians in Milano, Italy have notified her they have no other treatment options available. Denisa is not ready to give up her fight to live. She personally had her medical records translated into English and sent them to several top cancer centres in America. After reviewing her records. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, has agreed to evaluate Denisa on 24th June, 2018 with the view to offering treatment options. Denisa leaves for USA on 19th June, 2018.
Unfortunately Romanian Insurance is not valid in America. Denisa is trying to raise funds to cover the initial cost of travelling, accommodation, evaluations and treatments. The Lord is able to supply this need and we ask you to remember this amazing young lady. Hold her close in heart and prayer, praying that the Lord will be glorified in the life of Denisa and that she will know His power, His presence, His touch in a very personal way.
May we all be willing to be broken before Him, poured out in love, in our service to others for His glory. How privileged we are to serve together as one with Emanuel Hospice, Casa Grace Foundation, Iochebed and seeking to meet individual needs Please continue to walk with us, to support us in prayer. I can personally testify to the Power of Prayer.
My heart has been touched by your remembrance of me during these months. Thank you for your love and prayers. God knows the end from the beginning – we are placed where we should be according to His plan and purpose. He knows my heart; He knows my name; I am His and I am loved and held securely in the palm of His hand.
Shirley, 09 June, 2018