Don’t Say It

“Say not, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.”

Ecclesiastes 7:10 (ESV)

It’s easy, when life gets difficult, to look back and think things were better before. But were they really? Before we knew Christ, we recognized our need for Him and received Him into our lives. It may be that we falsely assumed that from then on life would be a cakewalk. 

The difference is not that we no longer face the fires of life alone. We now have Someone with us in the fire. Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17), and that makes what we say important. There is often an in-between place from the time we say we are trusting God for His promise until we see what we are believing for. That is where the fight of faith takes place.

When circumstances look like a desert, don’t say everything you’re thinking or feeling. Don’t keep rehearsing what you see. Say what God says so you can hear what God says and build your faith.

Yesterday wasn’t better. God was faithful then; He is faithful now, and He will be faithful tomorrow. So, hang on. And don’t say it.

Travel News

We have spent the past several weeks here in the USA meeting friends and partners. The last time we took this amount of time to connect was at least ten years ago. It has been amazing to reconnect and share testimonies of what God has done and is doing, while looking forward with faith to what He is going to do.

We are grateful for the past, but we are not looking backward wishing for former days. There is too much ahead! We believe the same God who has been faithful in every season is leading us forward into the next one. Thank you for your prayers and partnership during this time of extended travel and reporting. 

Testimony Time

We have great news about one of our sponsored students in Burundi. Abigail and her younger brother, Josue, first came to the Hope Center three years ago. Both parents have passed away, and the children live with their aunt in a plastic tent near the Hope Center.

We sponsor both children to attend school and receive meals through the Hope Center. This year, Abigail finished second grade at the top of her class, with the highest final grades in the entire school! Thank you to everyone who supports our sponsored students and to the Helping Hands team in South Florida, whose tireless work helps fund this outreach each year.

Vision/Training Center Update

We are now waiting for the contract to purchase the property for the Vision/Training Center. The owners have given us a very generous discount, and we currently have about one-third of what is needed for the purchase.

This is one of those “in-between” places we talked about at the beginning of this newsletter. We don’t yet see how everything will come together, but we know what God has said, so we will keep saying what He says and trusting Him for the outcome. In other words, we’ll follow our own advice and, Don’t Say It!

God has been faithful, and He will continue to be faithful. If you haven’t seen the video about the Center or would like to know more, click the link to watch:https://youtu.be/FVZanPK4LAw?si=lNK-4rPAwJTBJAYb

Thank you for your prayers and partnership.           

Jamie, Lea, and Andreya

Connect with us:

Email: JLPeters@africa-and-beyond.com

Online: www.africa-and-beyond.com

Lea’s blog: www.aculturalshift.com