I needed to hear your voice...

Early yesterday morning, my phone rang. “Hello, sister!” the eager voice spoke from the receiver. I immediately recognized the voice of Veronika, our faithful partner in the Sudan. “Hello, Veronika! How are you?” “I am fine in the Lord. I miss you! I needed to hear your voice.”

What can I tell you about Veronika? She is more than fine in the Lord. She loves the Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. She loves her husband and their 6 children. Together, they continue to fight the good fight against persecution and passivity from without and within. Believers in the Sudan sometimes grow weary of the political, religious regime of the majority religion, forcing its way from north to south.

Yet, they stand firm, embracing their faith and making the most of every opportunity to demonstrate the love God so freely gives in His Son, our Savior.

Veronika went on to share her prayer concerns for her Mother’s health, and the women’s ministry training engaged in providing HIV-AIDS prevention to women in various parts of Sudan. Her effervescent joy was both contagious and revitalizing. I nearly forgot about my broken right arm, as I was taken up into the love and beauty of partnering with Veronika and the women of the Sudan. We exchanged prayer requests and expressed an expectancy that our God will do more than we can even know to ask!

Veronika said that she needed to hear my voice . . . truth be known—I was the one who needed to hear hers.

Won’t you join me in partnering with the women of Sudan through prayer? Believe it or not, our phone conversation lasted for 5 minutes. How about spending 5 minutes in prayer for Veronika and the women she serves right now?

Dear Lord,

Forgive my complacency and self-pity this day. Replace it with your lovingkindness and tender mercy. Make your Presence known to and through our partners’ women’s ministry team in Sudan, “The Women of the Good News”. Equip them with everything good to know and do your will, especially their ministry to widows and other women vulnerable to HIV-AIDS. Protect them as they travel to Darfur and other regions in Sudan. Make their paths straight and produce much fruit through their courageous efforts.

Thank you Lord, for the love and beauty of partnership, one of your most precious gifts!

Amen.