Hey guys!
So, I haven't been extremely busy since my last update, but I have been doing a few different things that I thought you would like to know. Weekly I have pretty much the same basic routine; I try and clean up around the church by sweeping, mopping and organizing. I also play drums in the worship team. I have been practicing guitar quite a lot since I arrived and hopefully one day will play a song or two in church! During the week I try to stay connected with God through daily bible time and by maintaining a steady prayer life. I have become friends with Ollie, a 16 year old English dude who comes to the church. I have also formed a few relationships with some other people here in Paphos. One guys name is Koko, he is a 19 year old Egyptian kid. He and his family are Coptic Christians (Egyptian Orthodox), and I try to spend time with him. Ollie and I also met Koko's friend named Waheeb. Waheeb is a forty something year old Palestinian man, who is really nice and I enjoy hanging out with him! He is muslim, so I am praying that God would use Ollie and I to be able to speak into his life and that God would use us to help transform his heart and soul, that he would come to know Christ! On Friday nights I have started a guys bible study, so far it is only Ollie, Koko and I, but it is good and I am sure God will use it to strengthen all of our lives! On Saturday nights we have Youth For Christ, a youth night where the kids can invite their friends to come in and hear the Word of God being taught from 5-6pm, and then from 6-8pm we have games and small lessons. It is a really great time and we are trying to encourage many of the young people to come to it!
There is a somewhat troubling matter that I am facing that is quite difficult. Well it is somewhat troublesome to me being that I am but an insignificant human who unfortunately seems to have a slight problem with letting God take control of situations. But when I really stop and think about the situation, I realize that God is in control and I have absolutely nothing to worry about. Here is the dilemma, as an American passport holder, I am only allowed to stay in Cyprus for 3 months without any documentation. After the 3 month period I must leave for 3 months before I can return and spend another 3 months here. It's the 3 in 3 out system. So in order to stay it will require me to obtain a visa. Getting a visa for Cyprus is very difficult though, so I really could use your prayer and financial support for my visa situation. I say financial support, because in order to get a visa you must have quite a large sum of money (don't know how much yet) in a bank account here. So, as of now God has given me a peace about leaving here after my 3 months are up (that will be May 7th). I have been contacting other Calvary church locations around Europe and Israel and asking if it would be possible for me to come and help them for a period of 3 months. I received a response from the pastor of Calvary Chapel York England, where one of the bible college campuses are located. He told me that if my time is drawing near and I have no where else to go, that I could go there and help with their ministry. But yesterday I received a message from Calvary Chapel Helsinki, Finland. The message I received was very encouraging to me, because through it God showed me that it is the clear option for me if the Lord should not provide a Cypriot visa for me . Here is what Pastor Pecoraro said:
Hi Evan!Thanks for writing. And sorry about your visa situation.The Summer months are probably some of the slowest months in Finland as many Finns take a whole month or more sometimes and go on holiday. With that can come a lull in activity. However it is always nice to have more people with us through the summer so if the Lord leads you our way we wouldn’t be troubled to have one more person around.With the warmer weather in summer there are many more opportunities on the streets to reach out to people. It would be of great help to have someone oversee outreach activity once or twice a week, if not more... Along with outreach we have weekly practical tasks that need attention too.
... We can see if there is a brother here that might let you room with him for that time. My house would be available for a part of the time but I wouldn’t be able to put you up for three months. Maybe we can shift you around several houses throughout the duration of your stay, would that be a bother? Not saying these things to deter you from coming but just wanting to let you know the reality of the situation. Honestly if housing works out here and you can afford to feed yourself then I don’t have any problem with you joining us for the time you need to be out of cyprus.
We will be in prayer about this
Again,. thanks for writing.
Sincerely
Bob Pecoraro
So this is what I have been up to over the past month and a half. I can't thank you all enough for you support, whether that be through prayer support or financial support!
With that said, I would like to just remind everyone that the support that the Lord is providing me through you guys, is incredibly important. I hope you will all continue to be faithful to do as the Lord leads you. Once again thank you for your help, your support and your encouragement! I hope you are all having a blessed day!
In Christ!
P.S. I almost forgot to mention, that for my birthday I had the option of going to the city of Larnaca and watching the U.S. vs. Ukraine football (soccer) match! It was such a cool opportunity! I had never seen a live soccer match before, and it was an experience I never thought I would get the privilege of, especially not while on the mission field in Cyprus!
