Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?     -Isaiah 58:6-7

 Dear Friends,

In the last two months, three people have been killed on the West Bank. I am heartsick. I did not know the victims, but in a way that makes it worse. Why did I not know them? Why have I not met more people and shared with them the hope of the Gospel? While I trust in God’s goodness as I consider the eternity before these three souls, I cannot help but feel the horror of losing more people who do not yet know the salvation that comes from the cross of Christ.

God has been speaking to me a great deal from Isaiah 58, a few verses of which are shown above. I have always felt a great passion for sharing the Gospel, but he is reminding me that if we say to someone, “‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but [do] nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” (James 2:16). Jesus is passionate about caring for those in need and setting people free not only from spiritual bondage, but also from every form of oppression in their lives. The West Bank is a place of poverty, crime, addiction, oppression, injustice, and all kinds of brokenness. And I feel strongly that we are being called to take action, to love not only “with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

I do not yet know precisely what form this will be taking, but I know that we are going to begin incorporating more hands-on social involvement into our ministry to ensure that we are able to “repair the wall” (see verses above) that has been torn down by the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Please pray for us. We need God’s heart and his creativity regarding how to effectively make a difference in this place.

On another note, I will soon be heading off to the Rainbow Gathering. This will be my seventh year at the Gathering, and it is always immensely challenging but equally rewarding. Despite having gone many times, I never want to think that I have it “figured out,” so I ask for your prayers as I get ready to step into that dark place once again. I will be working until the day before we leave, so I will have a hard time finding time to prepare on both practical and spiritual levels.

When I return from the Gathering, there will be a few major changes in my life. Soon after coming home, I am going to move to the West Bank! After all these years, the time is finally right for me to live there, and I am very excited. I am currently looking for the right place and right roommates, so please pray that God works out what he wants. Immediately upon my return, I will also begin a new job… but only temporarily! I have been offered a position filling in while the coordinator (kind of like a chief of staff) for a Senior Vice President at our company goes on maternity leave. This is a huge opportunity. I have agreed to take the position only until the regular employee returns from her maternity leave in early November… at which point I am going to quit my job. I know that God is calling me to expand what we are doing on the West Bank, and I believe God leading me to trust him for the resources I need in order to free up more time to pour into the work he has for me. As you can see, I need your prayers more than ever! There are details below regarding my quest for more support, along with other needs, and I would so very much appreciate your prayers. I am thrilled to be moving into this next phase of life and ministry, and I am so glad to have you all along with me!

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

Molly S. Waggoner
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Prayer requests:

+ I leave for the Rainbow Gathering on June 21st. Please pray for the people we will meet there, for spiritual authority, for words of wisdom and knowledge, for God’s heart for the people, and for our physical safety and strength.

+ Regarding support raising: I have received approximately the same amount of support each month since I very first began working as a Steiger missionary in 2003. It is about 10% of what I make in my regular job, which is clearly nowhere near enough to live on. Yet I feel that God is calling me to take a step of faith and trust that he will provide. I do expect to work a part-time job when I first leave my current position, but I still will need to see a significant increase in what I bring in. So please pray for me! I do have a few new opportunities to connect with groups that might open doors for new supporters, but there are no guarantees. If you are part of a small group or Bible study and would like to hear about what we are doing in more depth, I would be happy to come and share with you, regardless of whether or not there would be financial support; I need prayer more than money any day!

+ And please pray for the new things God has for us on the West Bank—that we would know his will and receive his guidance.

+ Please pray that I find the right place to live. Also please pray that I would have wisdom in how to interact with my new coworkers. I always want to see my job as an opportunity to have an impact on people's lives, so I want to have God’s heart and wisdom as I begin to work among new people.

Thank you! You are such a blessing in my life!
MSW

A group of us at the Gathering, relaxing and praying in preparation for the day.

Donations may be made by sending a check to Steiger Int’l, PO Box 480, Huntington, MA 01050, with “Molly” in the memo.