Life was carefree growing up in the seventies and eighties. We were normal kids from small-town Effingham and Teutopolis, Illinois. Our parents were good friends, and we spent a lot of time together. We were definitely more like family than friends, and Janee’ was like a little sister to me. We have many happy memories of playing Barbies and games like “Old Maid” and “Go Fish” for hours on end. Summers were filled with eating popsicles, drinking Kool-aid, splashing in wading pools and running through the sprinkler. We’d catch baby frogs in the spring and butterflies and lightning bugs in the summer.
Our parents would often play cards late into the night, and we would be put to bed. I liked it best when the card games were held at Janee’s house. Janee’s bedroom was just across the hall from the room my siblings and I would be put to bed in. The kitchen, where our parents played cards, was far away down the hall. The arrangement made it easy for us to sneak back and forth in between the rooms and continue playing. The layout at our house was much more difficult with her in my parents’ bedroom just off the kitchen. We tried to continue our fun after we were sent to bed, but it was just too easy to get caught.
Life got busier as we got older, and we lost track of each other for a while. I was excited when I ran into her mother who told me that she had moved overseas to work with missions. We wrote letters and sent e-mails before the days of social media and later found each other on Facebook. From her personal Facebook profile, I found her blog which I now subscribe to so that I can keep up-to-date with how God is at work in her life. She also recently created a Facebook page, “Seasoned with Spice” for those who don’t have time to read a blog but would like to learn about her ministry.
Janee’ is a very good writer and shares fascinating stories of what life in Antwerp, Belgium is like for herself, her Syrian husband named, Hary, and their two young daughters, Phoebe and Maria-Grace. Janee’s blog has been inspiring to me as I have read story after story about God answering prayers and working in ways that only God can work to help Janee’ get Syrian family members to safety when hope would seem lost to most. She also shares stories of Muslims giving their lives to Jesus Christ and sharing his love with others. Life is very different and sometimes challenging in the Muslim community in which Janee’s family lives, but her family loves the people and has a passion to share the love of Jesus with those around them. Because of the war, they also have the opportunity to share the Gospel with refugee’s from Syria and Iraq.
Whether it be Hary’s job, the children’s school, the store, the coffee shop or wherever they go, Janee’s family is committed to God, and their “heart is to see the Arabic world know Jesus.” One emerging ministry of theirs is an ongoing discipleship program that will disciple and train individuals to go out in the villages and small towns to start Bible studies, houses of prayer and churches. They have a refugee feeding project in which a team of Arabic men visit the refugee holding camps and invite people to join them for a hot meal and to hear about Jesus. Almost every single one of those invited come from a Muslim background. They have prayer walks and prayer ministries and also treat Arabic women by hosting a “spiritual day” once a year with singing, teaching, praying and eating together.
The list of how they reach out to the Arabic people and in Belgium and to refugees from Syria and Iraq goes on and on. Janee’s family seizes every opportunity to share the love of Jesus with those around them. They long for the day when Hary, who is a “tent maker” will be free to evangelize full time.
Janee’ was back in the states from July 13 – August 6 this year. I was blessed to hear her speak at her “home” church, First Baptist Church in Effingham, to talk with her over lunch and to hear more about the amazing ways that God is at work in Belgium. I am also excited for the opportunity to partner with her financially through CBF. Who knows? Maybe I will even have the chance to visit her in Belgium someday and partner with her there in prayer, in serving and in sharing the love of Jesus.
In honor of her Janee’s birthday on August 8, I’d love for you to say a prayer for her and her family and to check out her blog, “Seasoned With Spice: An American Woman in an Arab World” or her Facebook Page, “Seasoned With Spice.” If God tugs at your heart, and you too would like to partner with her financially, you can find more information by clicking here.
As a little girl, I had no idea that God would call Janee’ to join the mission field. I would have never thought that she would find a way to e-mail and get a response from the Queen of Jordan or that she would connect with famous people for help in freeing some of her Syrian in-laws. However, God had a purpose for Janee’ long before she was even conceived; she only had to listen to his whisper on her heart and obey his call.
God has a purpose for you as well! Maybe part of your purpose is in making a donation to help Janee’ and Hary reach the Arab world for Christ. Maybe God plans to send you to Belgium, Costa Rica, Haiti, Thailand, Russia…. Maybe he simply plans for you to share the Gospel of Jesus with your neighbor, co-worker or family member. Whatever your purpose, I hope that you will listen. I hope that you will obey. Don’t miss out on the blessings he has waiting for you!
I am humbled today as we remember those who died serving our country. Over the years, millions of men and women have committed to serving our nation, and over a million have given their lives so that we could have freedom and security. I did nothing to deserve the blessings that have come because of their selfless acts. It is hard for me to understand why these heroes are willing to risk everything, but I am so thankful to them. I am touched and humbled by these heroes.
I may not be a great singer, but I love to sing praises to God and to worship Him. I don’t have a degree in counseling, but God does send me people to listen to, encourage and point to him. I don’t have a degree in teaching, but I have been given opportunities to build up high school students in my life group each week and to love and encourage children by volunteering in my son and daughter-in-law’s classrooms. I also may not be confident with my writing skills, but once in a while, I am blessed to know that God used the words I wrote to touch and encourage someone and to show them how awesome He is.