In the summer of 2012, I was seated on a flight next to a young professional man who had recently been doing electrical work in Dubai. He spoke of his experiences working alongside workers in labor camps, and he told me that there are one million workers from many nations in these Dubai camps. Some labor workers commit suicide because they have lost hope, feeling that they will never be able to go home to see their families again. I began to pray for the labor workers and asked God to let me go in and speak to them one day. Little did I know that the door would open a few months later!
After being chosen to go on the Dubai mission trip, I remembered my prayers for the laborers to know Jesus, for suicide to stop, and for families to be reunited. Upon arriving in Dubai, I discovered my host dad was connected to a man who had access into the labor camps. The Holy Spirit was beginning to “connect the dots” in my heart, so I asked my host dad what he thought about the possibility of taking me into the labor camps. He responded very doubtfully. “Well, Honey, you being a woman in the Middle East, the chances are extremely unlikely that they would let you in. Even the men on your team probably wouldn’t be let in.” I respectfully said that it would be great if he could still check on it.
A little bit later, my host dad was at my door with the phone to his ear. “Yes, yes, just a second. Here she is,” and he handed me the phone. On the other end, an emphatic voice immediately asked, “What do you want to do in the labor camps?”
I mouthed to my host, “Does this guy know Jesus?” He said yes.
I said, “Well, I want to tell them about Jesus, see the workers encounter the love of God, and for people to be healed!”
He loudly replied, “Find out how many people you will take with you and when, and call me back!” He then hung up.
I smiled. It was a yes. After approving the operation with the leaders, and after heeding our leader Ben A.’s specific instructions to take all of the men on the team, we decided to go.
We took chocolates and sweets to the labor workers, as well as the Word and power of God. We shared, through interpreters, in two locations: first to a group of women in the service industry who work locally as housekeepers and second to a labor camp of men. We came alongside a national who is pouring into the men’s lives on a regular basis. He welcomed us in to complete the evening service. I spoke, and then different members of the team shared. A student named Jonathan called out a specific word from the Holy Spirit that backs needed healing, and men who needed healing for their backs began to stand up all around the room. We split up our team to pray for them, and God began to move and heal.
Finally, before leaving, I asked the Lord to show me who the father of the camp was (the man the other men went to for encouragement and fathering). He highlighted a certain man, so I went and prophesied over and encouraged him. As if on cue, he confirmed his father’s heart right after I finished praying.
“Please pray for this man here,” he said. “His daughter has tests today.”
So we prayed for the man’s daughter. I could hardly believe it! God had let us into a place we shouldn’t have been able to enter. We were able to declare life, see people healed, and restore hope to the hopeless! Thank You, Jesus!
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