Some time back, my fellow elder and I met “Fatima” in my parish. Since then, I have had multiple opportunities to visit her with my wife and family, have her over to our house, and once she has come to church. As an Iraqi refugee, she’s experienced hardship; and things have not always been easy adjusting as a “stranger in a strange land.” She is a very sweet, special lady, who is hungry for friendship. And our hope is that she will find that greatest of all friends, the Friend who laid down His life for His friends.
Last Lord’s day evening, we went as a family to visit her again. She very warmly welcomed us, serving traditional Iraqi tea, dried mango and pineapple, seasoned sunflower seeds (the eating of which we unceremoniously bungled!). We talked about her life and experiences, shared music interests, and talked about the latest about our family. Different worlds, yet the same world held in the hands of our Father.
She related that she has made some friends, is going to the area community college, and continues to work at the job we found her some time back. But it’s more physically demanding, and she’s dealing with some various nerve and/or muscular problems that troubles her, so she’d really like to find another option. She also is lonely and yearns to find a good man; but few are forthcoming. Though she thinks less of herself, we think she’s a beautiful lady and would be a catch for someone.
We eventually shifted to the “one thing needful.” I read from Luke 16, the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son(s!). As we read and discussed the chapter, it struck me more forcefully than it ever had before that the ratio in the parables moves from 100:1 to 10:1 to 1:1. A sheep is valuable, a silver coin (probably) much more – but a son! Oh, a child or daughter is the most precious thing of all! Would we not rather lose all our sheep and all our coins, never to find them again, if we could but keep our child? One human is worth more than we can relate. So it is with us. We are lost, yes, we are dead, as the Father said. But His heart beats for lost sons and daughters. And when they finally come home, O! how He will run with inexpressible joy, thrown His arms around them, and embrace them in His boundless love?
Lord, find Fatima. And may we rejoice with you and the angels when you do!
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Would you like to help us minister to Fatima? If you live near the area, could you help out on an occasional evening? Or if further off, could spare one or more Saturdays per year? She could use another good (especially) Christian friend to love her, help her with smaller, practical life issues. Contact me at mjives dot refparish at gmail dot com.
West Port Experiment 
God bless your labors reaching those who have never heard!