LATE NOVEMBER UPDATE:
Final word from Clarkston ...but not the final word ABOUT Clarkston! I look forward to sharing in the future with those who want more details about the amazing opportunity I had (made possible by YOU!). It is my deepest hope and prayer that some of you will consider a missions trip to or internship at an Envision site.
I must confess that each morning this week I awoke wishing that I could stay here in Clarkston. Now that my car is packed, I just want to get home! I would still like to return to Clarkston, however. :-)
There were more wonderful experiences this week. P. was not able to attend a church service on Sunday, but again joined me for house church on Monday evening. This is a great place for her to connect, because one of the pastors is multi-lingual. P. can speak with him in French or Spanish. It is a small group that has experience coming alongside individuals in very difficult circumstances and loving them well in Jesus' name. I will miss the very lively and meaningful discussions about scripture with this group.
Earlier in the week, during afterschool tutoring, a little girl was prompted to tell me that she is "nervous about Judgement Day". Can you imagine a 3rd grader thinking this is the thing she is nervous about, especially when she tragically lost her mom earlier this year? The door was opened for us to have a beautiful discussion about Jesus paying for our sins so we don't need to be nervous about Judgement Day! She prayed such a sweet prayer after our discussion. Pray for "A" to have peace in Jesus and know Him as her constant companion!
At Envision Acres, Stephanie and I wrapped dozens of bars of aromatic soap. This will go to various markets for the Christmas season with the funds helping to support the farm.
During the team meeting on Thursday, we read the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican from Luke 18. Some very pointed questions prompted us to search our hearts about our position before the Father. Are we trusting in ourselves (we all do at times!) or humbling ourselves before a merciful Father? We had precious fellowship time over lunch before the team "prayed me out".
Today, I had my final debrief meeting with a team leader, got rained out of a final hike but had dinner with a new friend, cleaned, did laundry, and packed.
What a blessing to be in the midst of this amazing group of folks who have been called to a hard place yet daily exude Jesus!
Blessings on the journey,
Sue Streett
Learn more at envisionatlanta.org.
EARLY NOVEMBER UPDATE:
Friends,
Thank you for your prayers for my time in Clarkston. The last couple of weeks have been very busy, even though my schedule is constantly changing. Flexibility is definitely the name of the game down here!
The last two Wednesdays at Envision Acres, I had the opportunity to help Stephanie with making goats' milk products. You can see photos below of the candles and soap (the soap is still in the molds, they need to sit a couple of days before being cut). We also harvested sweet potatoes and onions, which I delivered to the Brannon Hills Bible study for distribution to refugee families. There were some other fun farm chores, like scrubbing the goats' water buckets.
One of the most powerful things that I have had the opportunity to participate in are the prayer walks. Different team members just go walk through neighborhoods, praying for the residents, asking Jesus to move in their hearts and minds, asking that Father give us encounters with people whose lives He wants us to impact for the Kingdom. Last week, we met a lady from Equatorial Guinea, whose first language is French. She is here in Clarkston, not as a refugee, but through a series of unfortunate events after she came here to visit her brother. We helped her with groceries and getting information on how to navigate the immigration system to get the help she needs. On Sunday, I hope to take her to a French African service at a local Alliance Church.
Today, again, we entered a neighborhood, praying for a purposeful encounter. We immediately met a Syrian gentleman who is newly in the United States with his family. We were invited into their apartment (very common to receive this type of hospitality) to meet his wife and five beautiful children. We were served Arabic coffee and cookies while conversing with the family. Both parents speak English fairly well, but the children are still learning English (age 18 months to 6th grade). The wife explained to us that in Syria, they had a lovely, large home with a swimming pool. When the war started, they fled the city, returning later to find their house had been bombed and there were deceased people in their home. They fled to Egypt, where they lived for 8 years, until coming to the U.S. This is a Muslim family. It was a lovely visit and we were asked to come back. Pray for relationships to develop that will lead to opportunities to share Jesus!
Today, I received an email telling me that it was time to start the debriefing process of my Envision experience. What?! Time to debrief? I feel like my time here is just beginning. Sadly, I only have about 8 days left. Please pray that I would finish well this time of serving in Clarkston. I have definitely been served by the team here, as well. Would you pray for the Lord to clearly direct my next steps? I am returning home with no winter housing arrangements and no job. I will stay temporarily with my parents. My family jokingly refers to my "gypsy life", but the Lord has had me on a wonderful adventure. I have learned that I can trust Jesus 100% to meet all of my needs in His perfect timing.
One of the greatest lessons that has been reinforced on my journey is that obeying Jesus is difficult but rewarding. No sacrifice is too great; Jesus is worth it all.
Blessings on the journey,
Sue Streett
END of OCTOBER 2023 UPDATE (revised):
Thank you, thank you to everyone who has been praying for me.
This time in Clarkston with Envision Atlanta has been such a blessing!
I have been able to provide much-needed help with the childcare during ESL classes.
The ESL class here at the Envision Friendship Center is taught by a retired couple from Toccoa, GA. They do such a great job! The ladies currently in the study are from Uzbekistan. They bring many preschool children who need to be supervised so moms can study. It is a lot of fun to be teaching the children English, like colors and numbers and words for things in the kitchen and other toys (one little girl plays in the toy kitchen from the time she arrives until mom drags her away!).
Wednesday, I attended a Bible Study held in the parking lot at Brannon Hills (you may recognize this as the apartment complex that is really on the hearts of the Brokopps). There has been a lot of drug and gang activity in this area, but the outreach is having an impact! The relationships being built without even a common language (other than love) are beautiful to see.
One day during the week, I was on the walking path that goes through town, I struck up a conversation with an Afghani woman with two small children. Her English was not very good, but she managed to tell me that her husband was in the Afghan Army, helping the Americans, which was why they had to evacuate (common among Afghani families here). She was walking to her brother's house in an apartment complex across from the Envision house and she invited me to come with her. For safety reasons, Envision suggests that we do not enter homes without another person with us. It's hard to turn down an offer of hospitality, because it is much more important to other cultures than in the the U.S. But, she could see my hesitation and said "no problem". I am praying that I might see her again!
The Fall Festival at Envision Acres yesterday was a great success. Besides beautiful weather, there were many children brought by EA workers in the vans, and then many families who drove out to the farm. I posted some photos on my Facebook page. We don't take close-up photos of refugees for safety reasons. I wish I could have taken photos of the children in their traditional cultural clothes. They were so beautiful! There were many volunteers from Toccoa Falls College, One Mission Church (local Alliance church), as well as Matt and Stephanie's families and folks from Immanuel Alliance Church in Mechanicsburg, who came down for the event (if you look closely, you will see Duane Stine driving a tractor). There were games, food, fellowship, and animals! The baby goats were a big hit, as were the dogs.
Today, I worshipped at Crossroads Bible Church with Amanda, from the Envision Team. Amanda is going to Kosovo with CAMA in January, so she is speaking at churches in the district down here. She shared so poignantly about her calling to overseas missions and the journey she has been on to flesh that out.
It's hard to believe that my time here is half over. There are still some "firsts" on my schedule for the upcoming week. :-)
Please pray for my next two weeks in Clarkston to be helpful to the team and spiritually productive.
Please continue to pray for healing for Maha.
Pray for spiritual breakthroughs in the Bible study at Brannon Hills.
Pray for the Lord's direction for next steps in my life
added prayer requests:
Please pray for my winter housing - As always seems to happen, housing from the previous year is no longer available, someone else has moved in. I need something from Nov 26th to about April 5th. House share with a single woman or in-law quarters are ideal.
Pray for a source of income when I get back to York - house or pet-sitting, part-time seasonal work, etc. There is the possibility of returning to Clarkston again before April. I don't want to make a commitment to anything I can't leave easily.
Thank you for praying! I am remembering those of you at home and asking Jesus to draw you close, meet your needs and use you to extend the Kingdom!
Blessings on the journey,
Sue Streett
OCTOBER 2023 UPDATE:
Greetings from Georgia, where fall has come just like in PA. What a surprise to find cool temperatures and the beautiful leaves falling from trees, just like at home. :-) It is supposed to warm up a bit later this week. I had a leisurely, relaxing drive down over several days. I spent two nights with my dear friend and mentor in North Carolina. I did a little hiking each day.
I arrived at the Friendship Center (Envision's house in Clarkston) last evening. The house has been renovated over the past year and is beautiful! It is used throughout the week by various groups for meetings, small groups, etc, so I won't be too isolated. :-)
The schedule this week involves lots of meetings and trainings, so I can get to know the team. Currently, I am scheduled to be at Envision Acres Farm every Wednesday with Matt & Stephanie Stine and I am really looking forward to that!
I was asked if I would be willing to drive a 15-passenger van to transport students. Children from the afterschool program earn rewards and their reward will be to go to Stone Mountain (beautiful!) and have pizza on Thursday afternoon this week.
Your continued prayers that as I meet the residents of Clarkston, they will see Jesus in me and I will connect with those whom Jesus would have me meet.
Many thanks to all who have financially supported me and those who are praying! Nothing is accomplished except Jesus go ahead.
Blessings on the journey,
Sue Streett
Blessings on the journey,
Sue Streett
"Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit in itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me." ~ Jesus
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September 2023 update from pre-field weekend:
Thank you for prayers for the pre-field weekend at beautiful Beulah Beach on Lake Erie!
My plans to stay with the Allens were changed due to Susie not feeling well. But, I was able to visit with another friend on my way out (via a shorter route). On Wednesday evening, I went out to the rental car to get something at 9:30 pm and discovered that the car battery was dead! Thankfully, the rental car company was able to tow it and get another car to me just in time for my scheduled departure at 9:30 a.m. God is always right on time!
My roommate was the youngest Envision intern this year, the daughter of the Dunkerleys, who were missionaries to Poland almost 20 years ago. We had 17 Envision “Go-ers” and an AMAZING team of Envision staff to lead us in this spiritual formation weekend. Devotions, discussions, worship, and workshops focused on “BE – BECOME – DO”.
BE – who we are in Christ. Caring for our souls, dealing with soul wounds/forgiveness. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. God has called us and He will do it!
BECOME – sanctification. We are formed by God and formed by community.
DO – cross-cultural transition, things we need to know, becoming part of the team, evangelism, things we will never be prepared for… Pray first! God will always come through!
We ended with a campfire dinner and commissioning ceremony. It was a very encouraging weekend.
Blessed on the journey,
Sue
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9/9/23 PRAISE & PRAYER UPDATE FROM SUE:
Praise God, because of the generous donations of many people, I have raised enough money for my first month in Atlanta, AND my training in Ohio, AND a SECOND month in Atlanta (or another Envision site). Currently, I am considering returning to Atlanta again in mid-January, but we will see what the Lord has in mind.
I would appreciate prayer for my trip to Ohio this week for Envision training. I leave Wed morning, will spend Wed evening with Tim & Susie Allen, and then drive to Beulah Beach Thursday. Return trip will be Sunday. Please pray especially that some of the continued discomfort from the Lyme's disease doesn't prevent me from making good time driving out and back. (I finish antibiotic Monday!).
Thank you again for your prayers and your support!
Blessings on the journey,
Sue Streett
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AUGUST 2023 LETTER FROM SUE:
Dear friends,
Wow, what a summer this has been! I am so amazed at how God has been moving in my life, especially through recent significant challenges. He is faithful to the work of expanding His Kingdom! A scripture that has become especially meaningful to me is 2 Corinthians 3:4-5. “Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who has made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
In the Spring, at the suggestion of one of our guest speakers at GAC, I contacted the Envision office of the Christian & Missionary Alliance. Envision provides short-term missions opportunities from one month to one year in a variety of locations. Many of you are familiar with Envision Atlanta and Envision Acres. As I have been following and praying for this work for years, I have been hoping for a chance to participate in the ministry, as well. Here is the description from the Envision website:
Envision Atlanta is a response to the migration of people to Atlanta from all around the world. There are over 700 people groups represented in the Metro Atlanta area. Many are from unreached people groups, and still more are from countries where our C&MA missionaries can't go. Our site is on the east side of Atlanta. Hundreds of refugees from all over the world are placed in Clarkston each year. It is commonplace to see people walking down the streets in clothing traditional to their native countries, and ethnic food is easy to find. English is rarely the first language spoken by most of the residents of Clarkston. There are many religions represented here; you will find a Buddhist temple, a Hindu temple, and a mosque all on the same street.
Over the past couple of months, I submitted my application and references, had interviews, and was finally offered an opportunity to spend a minimum of one month working with the staff of Envision among the immigrants and refugees in Georgia this fall. The work that I will be doing there will include English tutoring with the women, and afterschool academic help for the children, as well as anything else the staff can find for me to do! These outreaches are opportunities share of the love and truth of Jesus with the people I encounter there.
To make this opportunity a reality, I am asking for your support. The most important thing I ask for are your prayers! I would appreciate prayer for recovered health (being treated for Lyme’s disease), for a smooth training and preparation time, and of course, that I would have an effective ministry in Georgia. To pay for my housing and expenses for one month (mid-October to mid-November), plus a required training weekend in Ohio in mid-September, the goal is to raise approximately $2000 by September 10th (short notice!). I know that most of you support your local church and other missionaries and projects, so not everyone will be able to donate. If that is the case, please just say an additional prayer for my funding. ?? Donations of $10 or $20 will add up! If you do feel led to offer financial support, there are instructions on the following page to make donations directly to an account that Envision has created for me. This method of giving will provide you with a tax-deductible receipt.
God is always at work! As I have looked for ways to join Him in that work, Envision Atlanta is the next stop on my journey with Jesus. Thank you for your love and support, in whatever way you offer it!
Blessings on the journey,
Sue Streett
P.O. Box 265
York PA 17407
Go to the C&MA online giving page: www.cmalliance.org/give/ (Envision is a missions specialization of the Christian and Missionary Alliance)
Under “1. Gift Type”, find the yellow box with the title: “a worker you love”, and click on the box within it that says “Find an International Worker”
A secondary window will open, where you will be prompted to “Select and International Worker”. Type "ENV— Susan Streett" in the text search box.
After typing “ENV – Susan Streett”, the name should be reflected below the text search box (some names will pre-populate; typically full-time workers with the Alliance). Check the box to the left of Susan Streett (there should be a note below the name that says “SELECT THIS OPTION TO GIVE”).
After checking the box to the left of the name, select the blue “Select” button. This brings you back to the original page and lets you enter the amount you want to give.
You can choose one of the suggested giving amounts, or type in the amount you’d like to give manually. Should you choose recurring giving, you’ll need to create a giving account in the next section below. If choosing a one-time gift, you will not need to create an account.
The next section, “2. Giving As” allows you to give individually or as a church/other organization.
Finally, enter your personal and billing information below along with your payment information.
Confirm in section, "4. Review," that everything looks correct!
Hit "Submit My Gift Now!"
Thank you!
**ALL funds given to your support account will be tax deductible and your supporters will get a receipt for their records.