I live in Shiraz — a city of gardens, poetry, and ancient memory. For centuries, travelers have come here to walk among the roses of Eram Garden and read the words of Hafez and Saadi, poets who wrote of love, longing, and truth. Shiraz has always carried a softer spirit than many cities in Iran — a place where beauty and art have shaped the soul of its people.

But these days, life feels different. The sound of jets and distant explosions sometimes interrupts the quiet of our streets. During the recent war, airstrikes struck near Shiraz, even damaging areas around the airport and killing civilians in nearby neighborhoods. Many families here now live with uncertainty, wondering what tomorrow will bring as the wider conflict continues across the country.

Beyond the war, there has also been deep unrest inside Iran. Students and ordinary citizens have protested economic hardship and political repression, and the government has responded with heavy crackdowns and internet blackouts. The tension is felt everywhere — in markets, universities, and homes where conversations grow quiet when certain topics arise.

Yet even here, in a city weighed down by fear and uncertainty, there is a quiet search for hope. The people of Shiraz have always loved beauty and meaning. I believe that longing — the same longing that filled the poetry of this city for centuries — is leading many hearts to search for something deeper than politics, war, or tradition.

In hidden ways, God is at work. Conversations about faith happen quietly. Dreams stir questions in the night. And small gatherings of believers pray for this city of poets and gardens to discover the true Author of life and the true Prince of Peace. I believe Shiraz will not only be remembered for its poetry of the past — but for a new story God is writing in the hearts of its people.

ईरान में कार्यरत फील्ड वर्करों के लिए प्रार्थना जारी रखें। एप्पल ऐप या गूगल प्ले ऐप.

• के लिए प्रार्थना करें the people of Shiraz, long known for poetry and longing, to discover the true Author of life and the love that satisfies every searching heart.
  (Jeremiah 29:13 – “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”)
• के लिए प्रार्थना करें peace and protection over Shiraz as tensions and conflict affect the region, that fear would give way to hope in the Prince of Peace.
  (John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”)
• के लिए प्रार्थना करें students and young thinkers in Shiraz’s universities to courageously pursue truth and encounter the freedom found in Christ.
  (John 8:32 – “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”)
• के लिए प्रार्थना करें secret believers and small house fellowships in Shiraz to grow in faith, wisdom, and unity despite pressure.
  (Colossians 2:2 – “That they may be encouraged in heart and united in love.”)
• के लिए प्रार्थना करें Shiraz — famous for its gardens — to become a spiritual garden where many hearts are awakened and new life in Christ flourishes.
  (Isaiah 58:11 – “You will be like a well-watered garden.”)