Dear Friends,
“I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel.  But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.  Then the word of the LORD came to me:  "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”  -Jeremiah 18:3-6

A few months ago, a friend and spiritual mentor of mine was telling me about a video she had seen of a potter who shaped a lump of clay into one form after another, crushing it back to a shapeless mass between each new creation.  She said she felt that it was an allegory for her life, with God putting away one part of her life and leading her in brand new directions, turning her from one person to another.  Moreover, she emphasized that she believed we must always be open to being entirely torn down and reformed, rather than hanging onto one identity or calling as who we “really are.”

I feel like God has recently revealed some reshaping he must have done somehow without me realizing and then sprang it on me when the time was right.  To give you some background, I used to have a really bad attitude toward other women.  I was not interested in spending time with them and had, for some reason, a rather scornful attitude toward them.  God has slowly been chipping that away, and my female friendships have grown greatly in importance to me over the last few years.  However, I would never have expected what was to come. 

I have been doing a lot of reading on relationships, setting boundaries, the wounds that women often struggle with, and other topics that have fit together in a way clearly orchestrated by God.  At the same time, I have been sitting down with women who wrestle with the very same struggles as I do.  Suddenly, a new passion welled up powerfully within me, and I started crying out, “We shouldn’t have to live like this anymore!”  So I am starting a small group, where we will go through the book I am using in counseling and support each other as we learn to receive healing from God and value ourselves like he would.

Never in a million years would I have thought that I would be in “women’s ministry.”  But, just as Paul reaffirmed Jeremiah’s prophecy above, I too must say, “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” (Romans 9:20).  Hardly.  Rather, I rejoice that God has given me new wisdom, new insight, and new strength that I hope he will use to set my sisters free to live in the life our loving Father wants for us.

Please pray for this new ministry.  Pray that as I grow to understand our wounds, our strengths, and our identity as women, I will be able to offer a new, more whole self to the people I meet on the West Bank and at the Rainbow Gathering.  I feel as if God is recreating me and that my ministry will take a correspondingly different tone.  I am excited about this and look forward to seeing what he will do.

I am happy that God has restored me enough that I have been spending more time at the Hard Times Café again.  Moreover, the Jesus Kitchen continues to thrive, with many people coming each week and many amazing conversations taking place.  We have been blessed to have a prominent figure on the West Bank finding us places to meet for prayer each week, most recently in his own apartment.  He is not a Christian, so it amazes us that he is so open to our presence, so trusting, and so generous.  So we thank God for that blessing.

I also thank you for your prayer on my behalf, as well as Clayton’s behalf.  I know that God is using the rest of the Body to hold us up in times of weakness, and I believe your prayers are a large part of God using all things, even this heartbreak, together for our good.  Specific prayer requests are on the back.  Thank you, and God bless you.

Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong!

Molly S. Waggoner

• Please pray for the women in my small group and me, that we would experience deep healing and freedom from God, and that we would be a profound support to one another.
• Praise God for answering many of our prayers regarding the Rainbow Gathering.  We have found a bus to use that should be within our budget, and an organization founded by some members of Steiger/Salvage Yard (the White Dove Foundation) has given us a grant to pay for the food we serve at the Gathering.  We still have financial concerns, but God is providing for them.  Please keep this trip, and the preceding school, in your prayers.  The school begins on June 5, we leave for the Gathering on June 22, and return on July 6.  As most of you know, this is a very intense experience, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.  Pray that God’s hand would be on it and that people would meet him through our ministry.
• I have been extremely blessed to see that most of my consistent supporters have continued to support me through this time.  I am humbled by this and extremely grateful.  As I mentioned, I hope to continue moving forward with becoming fully supported down the road, so your prayers for this endeavor are appreciated.  And, to remind you, any donations given during the next many months will be used to cover the expense of traveling to New Zealand next year to help organize and lead Steiger three-month “Radical Missions and Leadership Training School.”
• I still need a roommate!  My current roommate is moving out at the end of May, and rent on a two-bedroom apartment is a bit expensive for me to pay by myself.  I cannot move out, as they require a 60 day notice.  Please pray God would bring the right person and provide financially for the doubling of my rent until that person arrives.

Thank you all.  You are a blessing, and I would not be making it without you.

Molly