My grateful tears flowed freely as I hung up the phone last night. God had used Anila, a prayer warrior in the States and a stranger to me, to show me His boundless care.

Sometimes we hear stories of how God impresses people to pray very specifically without knowing any details of a situation. When we see how on-target their prayers were, our faith is greatly strengthened. God does speak to hearts when He knows they will listen.

God used Anila to help protect our daughters just when they needed it. We can’t express how grateful we are to God for keeping them and us under His wing, We are also eternally grateful to Anila for heeding His voice in her heart and lifting up our children to Him with the compassion of a mother. There are many others like Anila who pray faithfully, and we want each of you to know that it makes all the difference. May you be encouraged to pray with your whole heart for missionary families and the precious souls within their influence.

God has given me a new friend in Anila and has bound our hearts together. This is her testimony:

Dear Mays Family,
My husband and I are always excited when Adventist Frontiers magazine arrives in the mail. We love reading the stories of the missionaries all over the world. Sometimes we even fight over who is going to read it first. Many times we read or tell the stories to our children.

The stories from the missionaries in Albania have a special place in our hearts. You see, I am originally from Albania, and my husband and I have a burden for the Albanian people. So it was with great anticipation that I started following the stories from new missionaries to Albania, Sean and Brenda Mays and their two daughters, Megan and Moriah.

Recently, as I finished reading one of their stories, I glanced over at their family picture. As I looked at their girls, so sweet, young and innocent, I was overcome by a strange feeling of fear mixed with urgency to pray for their safety. Something inside me said, “Pray for the safety of Megan and Moriah Mays!” At first, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. I started telling myself, I have read this magazine for a long time now and have read stories from young families in countries so much more dangerous than Albania, and I haven’t felt this way about any of those families. Certainly you have to be careful in Albania as there is no rule of law and danger lurks, but Albania is not as dangerous as these other countries. But the tug in my heart would not go away. So I prayed, and I prayed. I prayed with a heart of a mother concerned for her daughters. I prayed with urgency as if their lives depended on it.

Weeks went by, and I found myself reading Adventist Frontiers again. As I turned a page, the Mayses’ article opened before me. No sooner had I glanced at their family picture than I suddenly felt that same tug in my heart and an urgency to pray for Megan and Moriah again. There was no mistaking it this time. The tug was real and strong—so strong I didn’t even dare look at their faces again. So I prayed again with the same urgency. From then on, every time I would read the Mayses’ stories and look at their picture, I would recall the sense of urgency I had felt on those two previous occasions and send up a quick prayer for the safety of Megan and Moriah.

Today I talked to Brenda on the phone. After she told me how God has recently protected their family from very real danger, especially the girls, my faith grew and I was encouraged. I made a commitment to pray for them on a daily basis.

I am humbled that the Lord chose to impress me to pray for these two incredible young ladies far away in Albania. Not only does He care for them, He also cares for me and wants me to spend more time in prayer not just for myself but for others, too.

Megan and Moriah, I hope to meet you someday before we finally meet in heaven. But, until then, I want you to know I am praying for you. Keep up the good work. Shine for Jesus and do not let any circumstance or anyone stop you from fulfilling His call in your life. You are very special, and I thank you for giving of yourself to bring the love of Jesus to the people of Albania.

Love and Blessings,

Anila Mehmeti Mayhew=

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