Greetings!,
Overwhelmed would be a great word to use to describe how I have felt for the last month. Can you picture this? Huge waves pounding the shore line...one after another.
There's no relief in sight, only more tall, dark waves. Do you see it? Why would the Lord allow such a difficult time to befall me? Physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges multiplying...overwhelming me. Why would he open the floodgates like this to bring me to the point of drowning? Was it a lack of interest on his part? An oversight? Punishment, maybe? I can assure you it sure didn't feel like love...but that's exactly what it was. Let me explain.
Proverbs 16:2 says, "All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart)". And here is another encouraging verse from Jeremiah 17:9- "The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]?" Wow! Those are really strong words! The truth is, we don't know what is hiding in us, lurking in the dark recesses, hoping to go undiscovered. But just like a mom on a spring cleaning spree, nothing goes undiscovered by God! Every drawer is opened, every shelf cleared, every cupboard wiped clean when God is busy cleaning our hearts. Is this painful process for our harm? Quite the contrary! It's for our absolute best!
I am so thankful that God knows what has to go. He knows how to purify, and He also knows my limits..and He won't ever allow more "cleaning" than my heart can bear! Today I can say, "Thank You, Jesus!" for this last month. Together God and I have cleaned house. Makes for a much nicer dwelling for the Holy Spirit!
Now on to a different kind of housekeeping...We have made a few changes in regard to donations. Please note that donations for Love Through Me are now being made through Christ Community Church (address found at the bottom of this email). As always, 100% of your donations come directly to Love Through Me. We are so excited about partnering with this great group of people! And a big "thank you" to those at Firstfruits Christian Fellowship who have been so helpful for so long. We appreciate all of you who have partnered with us to carry out the vision God has given us to reach those in need with His love and forgiveness!
Another change is that debit and credit card donations for Love Through Me can now be made through PayPal (no account set-up is necessary) simply by clicking the button below.
 Leslie is still stateside, helping care for her little nephew Luke, who is fighting for his life. Continued prayers for him and his family are greatly appreciated. I still have Patronela and Alexandra here with me. We continue to pray for God to provide the family they need. As the baby grows, Patronela's inability to provide for her baby's needs becomes increasingly evident. May God stir the hearts of a Romanian family to action! Patronela needs someone to love her and her daughter as Christ loves the church. Please continue to pray for the adult orphans of Romania. God knows each of them by name and desires to see each one redeemed. Magda is about to give birth. Cristina wants to learn a trade and make a life change. Dana and Emil are unemployed and will soon be homeless again. Other girls continue to get pregnant and have repeated abortions. May God continue to lead us in His plan for the salvation of these precious ones for His glory! In His grip, Stephanie (and Leslie, too) 
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