Hello friends and family,

I want to take you through an experience with me. Picture yourself at a busy fairgrounds or street festival. The place is crowded with people, with all sorts of lights and sounds coming from every direction, and every salesman is trying to get you to try their food or play their game. Everyone is smiling and having a great time with their friends and loved ones. Now, picture the same scenario but 4,000 miles from home in a place you have never been before. All the same concepts are there, but things are different. The streets are crowded with people conversing in a language you cannot understand. Clowns tying balloon animals are replaced with men playing instruments, making snakes dance, or monkeys performing tricks. Part of you is exhilarated by all the stimuli; there are so many new things to experience. Then it hits you. You begin to realize that while you are surrounded by thousands of people filled with life and energy, none of them have ever experienced true joy. None of them have experienced everlasting life.

This realization hit me in a Moroccan medina(market) and ignited a passion I never knew I had—a passion to tell the world the Truth. I have been presented with an opportunity to do this as an English teacher. This unique doorway allows me to build relationships with students and mentor them. It will enable them to ask questions about the difficult things in life without fear of judgment.

I will be taking these next steps in Uzbekistan. This country's population is over 90% Muslim, and emigration is low except by people from neighboring countries, who often share the same beliefs. On top of that, Uzbekistan is one of only two double landlocked countries in the world, making global influence on the country very difficult. This means many people there will never hear the Truth unless someone like me goes to them.

Therefore, I accept The Father’s calling on my life to go to a country I have never seen before and bring the Truth to those who have never heard. Their needs are great, and I want to help them in any way possible, but I can’t do this alone. Would you consider partnering with me as I take these next steps to help the people of Uzbekistan? I’d love for you to be on my team. If you feel led, click the GIVE button below. Thank you.

~Ryan Merrell