So, today is my last full day here. I can honestly say that I accomplished almost everything I hoped to on my internship (though there are still quite a few things I would like to do today before I leave...we'll see how that works out). A lot of things here were great. Some things weren't so great...like the two bikes that were stolen from me within a week and a half from each other. Some things were just normal. But, even the normal things weren't normal to me because I think God really helped me to have the right attitude. That is something I really prayed for before I left, and God has helped me to stay content, be joyful, be flexible, and to see just how He is, and has been, working through all circumstances, whether they seem good, bad, or just average.
I can't believe I'm leaving tomorrow. I really have started to feel pretty comfortable in the area, and things that at first seemed crazy or strange have started to feel pretty common. I'm excited to go back home because I feel like the timing has worked out pretty well, but I am definitely going to miss this place and the people here. Speaking of that, I have plenty of people to visit, and a lot of things I want to do today, and I am running out of time. See you all when I get home!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
What Makes the Difference
What was it that made people like John Wesley, Charles Finney, Paul, or... to live such powerful lives for Christ? Why are there so few who make such a difference for the Kingdom as they did? What pieces do we seem to be missing?
I have really been contemplating this issue. I have wondered why we also seem to have the attitude that they were spiritual giants, and we have no hope of ever accomplishing even a fraction of what they did. They were only men...men who had glaring character flaws just as the rest of us do...but they were men empowered by the Spirit of God.
But why? What made the difference for them? What can we take from their lives to learn to live more like they did?
The answer I've come to is that they were disciplined. They trained for their spiritual lives daily and dilligently, just like a professional athlete would. They did not just take their service to God casually, but they were continually caught up in practices of prayer, solitude, fasting, service, submission, simplicity, and worship so much that they became automatic. Do you think that God could just be waiting for the rest of us to do the same sorts of things?
We may never have the same influence that they did on the world, but the truth is that the power of the Holy Spirit that they lived by and relied on continually is just as readily available to us all as it was to them. God can give it to us, but He wants us to work with him. There is no reason that we cannot live lives of victory and giving glory to God as they did, as long as we are prepared to put in the training and effort that is due on our end.
I have really been contemplating this issue. I have wondered why we also seem to have the attitude that they were spiritual giants, and we have no hope of ever accomplishing even a fraction of what they did. They were only men...men who had glaring character flaws just as the rest of us do...but they were men empowered by the Spirit of God.
But why? What made the difference for them? What can we take from their lives to learn to live more like they did?
The answer I've come to is that they were disciplined. They trained for their spiritual lives daily and dilligently, just like a professional athlete would. They did not just take their service to God casually, but they were continually caught up in practices of prayer, solitude, fasting, service, submission, simplicity, and worship so much that they became automatic. Do you think that God could just be waiting for the rest of us to do the same sorts of things?
We may never have the same influence that they did on the world, but the truth is that the power of the Holy Spirit that they lived by and relied on continually is just as readily available to us all as it was to them. God can give it to us, but He wants us to work with him. There is no reason that we cannot live lives of victory and giving glory to God as they did, as long as we are prepared to put in the training and effort that is due on our end.
Just Right
So...when I think about the events of the past three days, I don't know whether to sing, smile, or giggle uncontrollably. I just got back from a three-day trek, and though it was not what I expected, it was exactly what I wanted and needed. There is no question in my mind that what occurred was according to God's plan, and there is nothing else I would have rather been doing.
I'll give a few short highlights:
I was the co-leader of an eight-person team. The other team leader could speak just enough of the language to get by, so she was needed to help communicate much of the time, and I was given the responsibility of making decisions on where to go and how to get there. We were probably 50 or more miles away from the city, and most of the time I felt like I had no clue what to do, but God was in control from the beginning, and He directed our every step.
We came to many different villages, and we were swarmed by people within minutes of arriving at nearly all of them. We were able to entertain everyone with balloon animals and hair braiding (the girls), giving out books, and trying to figure out where the best routes to travel were located. We often spent long periods of time trying to communicate and drawing maps to figure out where we could go, but it really gave us the opportunity to make friends with some key people. When we were leaving the first village, we got to talk with a young guy who could speak some english, and he helped us out a lot. We were able to pray for him and give him some amazing books that have life-changing material in them, and they will help him with his english because they were written with the local language and english side-by-side. Not only will he benefit from them, but he is also a teacher of many children in the village, and he is now planning on using the material to teach them. How amazing! The people are going to be learning the truth of the Gospel while they are learning to speak and read english.
That is just one small example among many. To sum up the rest of the trip quickly...we took a speed boat up the river for almost an hour, which was insane, and way too much fun! We met a man who was carrying what looked like a cross, and we just felt compelled to follow him. He ended up taking us across the river to several villages that we could never have visited otherwise. At each of them we met tons of people (I mean entire villages), made balloons, ate with them, gave out more material to those we talked with (carefully), and prayed for them. Afterwards, the man who took us around brought us back to his home, and we were able to give him some things to read and really thank him. They were so excited about the books we gave them. Before we could even leave, they were reading them intently, pointing out passages, and discussing them with their friends and family. Other than all of that, we hiked to a village where we had to stay at a nearby guest house because there was no one to take us in, visited a waterfall, went swimming, hiked some more, visited more villages and gave out more balloons and material. Eventually we were able to catch a tuk tuk from a road back to the city for the last 18 kilometers. We met so many more people and did so much more than I could have ever hoped for.
I realized that it was exactly what I've always wanted to be doing, and it's the most I could possibly do with my level of cultural experience. I often feel so limited because I am only here for a short time, and I can just barely talk to people at all, but God showed me how much he can accomplish through our inadequacy.
While we were taking the long ride on the speed boat, I was just rejoicing and praying, and God just made it blatantly clear to me that this trip was what I have only been able to dream about in the past. I mean, there was trekking, speed boating, real plowing of the fallow ground through prayer and giving out material that showed the Truth, uncertainty, exploring, and hundreds of people from the villages. Man, does God ever answer when we take risks for Him. He gave me an amazingly fruitful experience and adventure, and what it takes is going for it. These things don't happen from always taking the easy route.
I can honestly say that I have been changed, and I still can't believe how blessed I have been in this trip and my life..."unusually blessed." God has done so much already, and I can't wait to see what He has for me wherever I go. I have tasted of His goodness, and there is no settling back into the bland taste of the world which just floats along. Sometimes we wonder how we get stuck in the daily grind of life, but we have to wonder what steps we are really taking to make it different. We can fully serve God wherever we are, but we have to be focused fully on Him in order to do that. I plead with you if you are reading this...go out and experience His goodness (it can start in the quiet solitude of your bedroom). Now is not the time for sleeping!
I'll give a few short highlights:
I was the co-leader of an eight-person team. The other team leader could speak just enough of the language to get by, so she was needed to help communicate much of the time, and I was given the responsibility of making decisions on where to go and how to get there. We were probably 50 or more miles away from the city, and most of the time I felt like I had no clue what to do, but God was in control from the beginning, and He directed our every step.
We came to many different villages, and we were swarmed by people within minutes of arriving at nearly all of them. We were able to entertain everyone with balloon animals and hair braiding (the girls), giving out books, and trying to figure out where the best routes to travel were located. We often spent long periods of time trying to communicate and drawing maps to figure out where we could go, but it really gave us the opportunity to make friends with some key people. When we were leaving the first village, we got to talk with a young guy who could speak some english, and he helped us out a lot. We were able to pray for him and give him some amazing books that have life-changing material in them, and they will help him with his english because they were written with the local language and english side-by-side. Not only will he benefit from them, but he is also a teacher of many children in the village, and he is now planning on using the material to teach them. How amazing! The people are going to be learning the truth of the Gospel while they are learning to speak and read english.
That is just one small example among many. To sum up the rest of the trip quickly...we took a speed boat up the river for almost an hour, which was insane, and way too much fun! We met a man who was carrying what looked like a cross, and we just felt compelled to follow him. He ended up taking us across the river to several villages that we could never have visited otherwise. At each of them we met tons of people (I mean entire villages), made balloons, ate with them, gave out more material to those we talked with (carefully), and prayed for them. Afterwards, the man who took us around brought us back to his home, and we were able to give him some things to read and really thank him. They were so excited about the books we gave them. Before we could even leave, they were reading them intently, pointing out passages, and discussing them with their friends and family. Other than all of that, we hiked to a village where we had to stay at a nearby guest house because there was no one to take us in, visited a waterfall, went swimming, hiked some more, visited more villages and gave out more balloons and material. Eventually we were able to catch a tuk tuk from a road back to the city for the last 18 kilometers. We met so many more people and did so much more than I could have ever hoped for.
I realized that it was exactly what I've always wanted to be doing, and it's the most I could possibly do with my level of cultural experience. I often feel so limited because I am only here for a short time, and I can just barely talk to people at all, but God showed me how much he can accomplish through our inadequacy.
While we were taking the long ride on the speed boat, I was just rejoicing and praying, and God just made it blatantly clear to me that this trip was what I have only been able to dream about in the past. I mean, there was trekking, speed boating, real plowing of the fallow ground through prayer and giving out material that showed the Truth, uncertainty, exploring, and hundreds of people from the villages. Man, does God ever answer when we take risks for Him. He gave me an amazingly fruitful experience and adventure, and what it takes is going for it. These things don't happen from always taking the easy route.
I can honestly say that I have been changed, and I still can't believe how blessed I have been in this trip and my life..."unusually blessed." God has done so much already, and I can't wait to see what He has for me wherever I go. I have tasted of His goodness, and there is no settling back into the bland taste of the world which just floats along. Sometimes we wonder how we get stuck in the daily grind of life, but we have to wonder what steps we are really taking to make it different. We can fully serve God wherever we are, but we have to be focused fully on Him in order to do that. I plead with you if you are reading this...go out and experience His goodness (it can start in the quiet solitude of your bedroom). Now is not the time for sleeping!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Plowing the Fields
Over the past two weeks, I haven't had as much of a chance to post, so I thought I would just post twice tonight to make up for it...this is the second.
Too much has happened recently to even try to explain in this post, so I will just give a few highlights.
I spent all of yesterday finishing up a sandbox for the kids at the daycare center. It takes way longer than I could have ever imagined here, but I have to admit that it feels more satisfying when you get done. The lid was actually a bit complicated because the sandbox was definitely not made to be a perfect square...maybe it's more of a rhombus. But, despite it's shape, I was able to successfully put it all together, and it works pretty smoothly, so I am happy about that.
The short term team from Malaysia/Korea arrived three days ago, so I have been a lot busier helping them since they got here. Friday, I took them on a prayer walk around the city for a couple of hours, and it turned out to be a really good time of praying for the people and the city. This tuesday, I will be leading the team on a three-day trek. We will be driven a few hours from the city and dropped off. We will then hike to the river, catch a boat across, and start making our way back through the jungle. We will be passing many villages and will be stopping to ask for a place to sleep at one of them when it starts getting late. We have no map (there just aren't detailed ones for the area where we'll be), but as long as we know where the river is, we will be able to get back. The really exciting thing about this trek is that we will be focusing on prayer. We are sort of plowing the ground as we go because we will be praying for the people we meet and taking detailed notes about where we go and possibly transferring some "reading material." After we get back, all the information we take down will be used to send in another local believer behind us. He will be following up on the people we encounter and will be able to really do a lot because he can speak and move within the culture a lot better than we can. The coolest thing about all of this is that it is a clear example that prayer can be, and is, action! We need to be bathing all we do, all of our ministry, in prayer because God answers it with power. Man, God is amazing, and I am more than blessed to be able to serve Him here and now, or anywhere. I hope nobody forgets that.
Too much has happened recently to even try to explain in this post, so I will just give a few highlights.
I spent all of yesterday finishing up a sandbox for the kids at the daycare center. It takes way longer than I could have ever imagined here, but I have to admit that it feels more satisfying when you get done. The lid was actually a bit complicated because the sandbox was definitely not made to be a perfect square...maybe it's more of a rhombus. But, despite it's shape, I was able to successfully put it all together, and it works pretty smoothly, so I am happy about that.
The short term team from Malaysia/Korea arrived three days ago, so I have been a lot busier helping them since they got here. Friday, I took them on a prayer walk around the city for a couple of hours, and it turned out to be a really good time of praying for the people and the city. This tuesday, I will be leading the team on a three-day trek. We will be driven a few hours from the city and dropped off. We will then hike to the river, catch a boat across, and start making our way back through the jungle. We will be passing many villages and will be stopping to ask for a place to sleep at one of them when it starts getting late. We have no map (there just aren't detailed ones for the area where we'll be), but as long as we know where the river is, we will be able to get back. The really exciting thing about this trek is that we will be focusing on prayer. We are sort of plowing the ground as we go because we will be praying for the people we meet and taking detailed notes about where we go and possibly transferring some "reading material." After we get back, all the information we take down will be used to send in another local believer behind us. He will be following up on the people we encounter and will be able to really do a lot because he can speak and move within the culture a lot better than we can. The coolest thing about all of this is that it is a clear example that prayer can be, and is, action! We need to be bathing all we do, all of our ministry, in prayer because God answers it with power. Man, God is amazing, and I am more than blessed to be able to serve Him here and now, or anywhere. I hope nobody forgets that.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Victory in the face of defeat
The outlook for Christians here is definitely not good. I'm in one of the ten most highly persecuted countries in the world, which has been listed as high as number three (behind North Korea and Saudi Arabia), and, on top of that, the country has a lower average annual income than Haiti. There is not very much that supports people coming to Christ. People even receive serious pressure from their families. One man who came to Christ in the past year was completely shunned by his friends, and when he refused to pray and give offerings to spirits, his family began to put serious pressure on him because they believe that they will be cursed if he didn't take part in the rituals. Others still are beaten and killed by members of their own village. There are many problems that come along with being a believer, and the source of much of it is fear.
Despite all of this, there are people that are turning to their Savior. Over the past few weeks, a certain local person who will remain unnamed, made it known that she was questioning her beliefs. She has had several dreams since then, and has been asking many questions. In the past two days, she has decided to become a believer and be baptized. It's just so exciting to see God working in the peoples' lives when it seems as if everything around them is against it. God can be glorified anywhere, and I am glad to be taking part in that here and now.
This type of change really helps me see purpose for why I'm here. This trip is not just for sightseeing and studying. It is preparation for the future and for the building of God's Kingdom. I have gone, and will go, way too far from home and everything I am used to for it to be wasted on anything else other than God being glorified.
Despite all of this, there are people that are turning to their Savior. Over the past few weeks, a certain local person who will remain unnamed, made it known that she was questioning her beliefs. She has had several dreams since then, and has been asking many questions. In the past two days, she has decided to become a believer and be baptized. It's just so exciting to see God working in the peoples' lives when it seems as if everything around them is against it. God can be glorified anywhere, and I am glad to be taking part in that here and now.
This type of change really helps me see purpose for why I'm here. This trip is not just for sightseeing and studying. It is preparation for the future and for the building of God's Kingdom. I have gone, and will go, way too far from home and everything I am used to for it to be wasted on anything else other than God being glorified.
Monday, July 13, 2009
New Things Every Day
So, it's been a week since I last posted. Plenty has happened since that time, and God has been blessing me every step of the way.
First of all, in honor of missing River of Life over that last few days, I decided to build a fence. I was able to finish most of the construction over a few days, along with some other smaller building projects, and it will help keep the kids at the daycare center out of some pretty nasty stuff. It really makes the play area look a lot nicer, and I must say it feels pretty strong. Just maybe it has something to do with some of that work I have to do every summer at ROL. Anyway, I'm happy that so much was able to get done, and now I just have to finish building a sandbox, which is going to be really big. It's definitely nice to have tangible results.
Another recent development has been Anna coming back home from Thailand. Right now she should be flying back from Tokyo. I know it was hard for her to leave, and traveling such a long way is always difficult, so please keep her in your prayers.
This past weekend was really busy, but it was nice because I got to spend a lot of time with more local people. Sunday was an amazing day. We met up really early to go to a Christian village that is about an hour away, in order to attend a service and meet a girl's family that we know in town. A Christian village is not something you will normally find here. We drove motorbikes through the mountains to get there. The ride was amazing because we rode through the mountains in nearly perfect weather. It was a lot more fun than traveling by bus. The service we attended was really great, and it was such an encouragement to see the church in such a new context. They actually had us come to the front to sing some songs, but I have to admit that I preferred there songs a lot more.
After the service, we went back to our friends' family's house, but so did pretty much the whole congregation. They swarmed around us almost the entire time. They filled baskets with flowers and arranged the girls' hair with them, they made a special gift of blessing for us out of bamboo leaves, which was really cool, they prayed over us, and they made a ton of food for us. I think it was the best meal I've had since I arrived. It was a great time of fellowship with local believers, which is something that you can definitely miss in this part of the world. Last weekend there was just the one family, but this weekend there was a whole village, and it was definitely a great time of rejoicing!
After we left, there was still plenty more to enjoy because we had another beautiful ride on the motorcycles left ahead of us. But, all that riding has its price, so when I got back, I pretty much passed out of exhaustion from the day...it was enjoyable but tiring.
Now, I am going to be spending the rest of this week finishing up some construction projects, working on a video for the team, and preparing for a short-term team that consists of two koreans and two malaysians, who will be here for about a week. I have part of the responsibility of leading their trip while they are here, so there is plenty to do, and I am excited about a lot of it. I'll try to keep more posted as it comes. God bless
First of all, in honor of missing River of Life over that last few days, I decided to build a fence. I was able to finish most of the construction over a few days, along with some other smaller building projects, and it will help keep the kids at the daycare center out of some pretty nasty stuff. It really makes the play area look a lot nicer, and I must say it feels pretty strong. Just maybe it has something to do with some of that work I have to do every summer at ROL. Anyway, I'm happy that so much was able to get done, and now I just have to finish building a sandbox, which is going to be really big. It's definitely nice to have tangible results.
Another recent development has been Anna coming back home from Thailand. Right now she should be flying back from Tokyo. I know it was hard for her to leave, and traveling such a long way is always difficult, so please keep her in your prayers.
This past weekend was really busy, but it was nice because I got to spend a lot of time with more local people. Sunday was an amazing day. We met up really early to go to a Christian village that is about an hour away, in order to attend a service and meet a girl's family that we know in town. A Christian village is not something you will normally find here. We drove motorbikes through the mountains to get there. The ride was amazing because we rode through the mountains in nearly perfect weather. It was a lot more fun than traveling by bus. The service we attended was really great, and it was such an encouragement to see the church in such a new context. They actually had us come to the front to sing some songs, but I have to admit that I preferred there songs a lot more.
After the service, we went back to our friends' family's house, but so did pretty much the whole congregation. They swarmed around us almost the entire time. They filled baskets with flowers and arranged the girls' hair with them, they made a special gift of blessing for us out of bamboo leaves, which was really cool, they prayed over us, and they made a ton of food for us. I think it was the best meal I've had since I arrived. It was a great time of fellowship with local believers, which is something that you can definitely miss in this part of the world. Last weekend there was just the one family, but this weekend there was a whole village, and it was definitely a great time of rejoicing!
After we left, there was still plenty more to enjoy because we had another beautiful ride on the motorcycles left ahead of us. But, all that riding has its price, so when I got back, I pretty much passed out of exhaustion from the day...it was enjoyable but tiring.
Now, I am going to be spending the rest of this week finishing up some construction projects, working on a video for the team, and preparing for a short-term team that consists of two koreans and two malaysians, who will be here for about a week. I have part of the responsibility of leading their trip while they are here, so there is plenty to do, and I am excited about a lot of it. I'll try to keep more posted as it comes. God bless
Monday, July 6, 2009
New Experiences
So, I just recently returned from an awesome trip into the countryside. I had the chance to go to a Hmong village that was about three hours away, in another province. We drove through huge mountains and jungle, and we passed by several small villages and rice farms along the way.
The family we stayed with were basically the only Christians in the whole area, and they lived in a small hut with a straw/bamboo roof. There were 11 people living in the house, but they were very inviting. We knew the father of the family's son because he attended a language school in the city. I was able speak to them a little, which was really exciting, because I learned to speak about a paragraph of the Hmong language last year at school. The family seemed to get really excited when I began to speak, so it was a nice experience that I accidentally prepared for earlier in the year.
It was really awesome to see the family live because they were a light to the other people around them. One family was drawn to Christ because of them. Their baby was sick and no matter what they did, the baby wasn't getting better. They brought the baby to the family because they knew they were Christians, and, after they prayed for the child, it was completely healed. It was so great to see that God is even working in places where it seems very unlikely.
The father of the family was a knife-maker, and he was the only one bringing in any money. He was very experienced and had been doing it his whole life. It took him an entire day just to make one knife. I watched him make two knives on saturday and sunday, and it took a lot of work. When he finished making the knife on sunday, he just gave it to me. Can you believe that he would do that. He gave gift that he worked on for hours...worth an entire days wages, when he is the only source of income, and they are trying to save money for a house than can better fit his family. It is really a gift I will cherish.
Even more than that, one of the sons of the family had a newborn daughter. Hmong people do not give a child a name until it is at least ten days old. They were planning on doing the naming ceremony on the second day we were there, and when the time came, they asked us to pray for the baby and give it a name! At first we kind of laughed because we thought they couldn't be serious, but they definitely were. After talking it over and asking our Hmong friend about it, the baby's name came to be Esther (Eseter in Hmong). That name was chosen because of the way that Esther saved the Israelites. That was a seriously new kind of experience. I mean who has actually ever gotten to name someone else's baby?
While we were there, they also killed several chickens to eat, and we found out they normally only eat about two to three per month, so we know that had to be a sacrifice on our behalf. We had a time to sing songs with them and just tell them what was on our hearts, which we did through their one son who can speak english. We also got to go to hike to some caves with that same son. Many people hid in them during the war, and some of the wounded were kept in a lower chamber. It was so amazing to see all that we did.
These past few weeks have been filled with new experiences for me, and there is plenty still ahead of me. I know I will be doing plenty to let everyone know about because some of it has already been planned. Thanks for all the prayers and support. God has absolutely been blessing me. Also, please pray for the family. They are such a light in the darkness, so pray that God will use people like them in this place where it can be extremely difficult.
The family we stayed with were basically the only Christians in the whole area, and they lived in a small hut with a straw/bamboo roof. There were 11 people living in the house, but they were very inviting. We knew the father of the family's son because he attended a language school in the city. I was able speak to them a little, which was really exciting, because I learned to speak about a paragraph of the Hmong language last year at school. The family seemed to get really excited when I began to speak, so it was a nice experience that I accidentally prepared for earlier in the year.
It was really awesome to see the family live because they were a light to the other people around them. One family was drawn to Christ because of them. Their baby was sick and no matter what they did, the baby wasn't getting better. They brought the baby to the family because they knew they were Christians, and, after they prayed for the child, it was completely healed. It was so great to see that God is even working in places where it seems very unlikely.
The father of the family was a knife-maker, and he was the only one bringing in any money. He was very experienced and had been doing it his whole life. It took him an entire day just to make one knife. I watched him make two knives on saturday and sunday, and it took a lot of work. When he finished making the knife on sunday, he just gave it to me. Can you believe that he would do that. He gave gift that he worked on for hours...worth an entire days wages, when he is the only source of income, and they are trying to save money for a house than can better fit his family. It is really a gift I will cherish.
Even more than that, one of the sons of the family had a newborn daughter. Hmong people do not give a child a name until it is at least ten days old. They were planning on doing the naming ceremony on the second day we were there, and when the time came, they asked us to pray for the baby and give it a name! At first we kind of laughed because we thought they couldn't be serious, but they definitely were. After talking it over and asking our Hmong friend about it, the baby's name came to be Esther (Eseter in Hmong). That name was chosen because of the way that Esther saved the Israelites. That was a seriously new kind of experience. I mean who has actually ever gotten to name someone else's baby?
While we were there, they also killed several chickens to eat, and we found out they normally only eat about two to three per month, so we know that had to be a sacrifice on our behalf. We had a time to sing songs with them and just tell them what was on our hearts, which we did through their one son who can speak english. We also got to go to hike to some caves with that same son. Many people hid in them during the war, and some of the wounded were kept in a lower chamber. It was so amazing to see all that we did.
These past few weeks have been filled with new experiences for me, and there is plenty still ahead of me. I know I will be doing plenty to let everyone know about because some of it has already been planned. Thanks for all the prayers and support. God has absolutely been blessing me. Also, please pray for the family. They are such a light in the darkness, so pray that God will use people like them in this place where it can be extremely difficult.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Things Have Gotten Much Busier
I just wanted to give a quick update. I've been much busier than before lately because there are many projects and things I, and some others, are working on...I've mentioned several of them before. Today I actually started building a sandbox for the children at a daycare that is run by the team. It was much harder than at home, due to the dull hand saw, having to put screws in by hand, and using hard jungle timber. It's worth the effort though because the kids don't have a whole lot to enjoy outside, so I'm sure they will appreciate it.
This evening I went to a barbeque with a lot of local people. It was pretty great because we had some amazing food, and I am really beginning to feel more at home with the people...despite the obvious communication difficulties. I have never quite felt so comfortable in a culture so different from my own, probably because I've never been immersed like this for so long, but it really excites me to know how it feels to just begin to fit in, even in small ways. It gives me encouragement for work that I will do in the future, when I can really spend the necessary amount of time to adjust and live among a new people.
I am leaving early in the morning to go to a village for the weekend. It should take about 3 or 4 hours by "bus," if you can call it that, and I am excited to see more of the countryside. It will be really interesting to see what life is like in a more rural village that is far from the city. I will only be gone for two days, but I am still excited. I will let you know how it went soon after I get back. God is still great.
This evening I went to a barbeque with a lot of local people. It was pretty great because we had some amazing food, and I am really beginning to feel more at home with the people...despite the obvious communication difficulties. I have never quite felt so comfortable in a culture so different from my own, probably because I've never been immersed like this for so long, but it really excites me to know how it feels to just begin to fit in, even in small ways. It gives me encouragement for work that I will do in the future, when I can really spend the necessary amount of time to adjust and live among a new people.
I am leaving early in the morning to go to a village for the weekend. It should take about 3 or 4 hours by "bus," if you can call it that, and I am excited to see more of the countryside. It will be really interesting to see what life is like in a more rural village that is far from the city. I will only be gone for two days, but I am still excited. I will let you know how it went soon after I get back. God is still great.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Daily life with Christ in Asia
Good news, most of that nagging rash is finally gone. Alongside the healing up of my skin, I've gone up a nearby mountain from which i could see the whole city, mountain range, and river, I met a family on a ten-month vacation from New Zealand, I've gotten to go to dinner with some local people that are close to my age, I've gotten started on building a fence, and I've even enjoyed a hamburger from a stand in town, and it was probably better than one you could get from most fast food places at home.
God has definitely blessed me with the opportunity to come to the other side of the world, and I know that He has brought me here to both teach me and use me. I can already tell that I will be able to have a more positive affect here as I grow more and more accustomed to the local culture because I am beginning to feel much more comfortable doing things here. I have already been learning a great deal about the culture, and I am definitely learning from God through the experience.
I have had a lot of time to read and pray and reflect on things, and I am sure that it has been good. I know God has already used this time to help me grow, and I would not say that it is because there is "more God" here on the other side of the globe, but sometimes we need some change to help us focus on Him a little more. I cannot over emphasize the importance of being disciplined in the acts of prayer and solitude. I know that making the extra time to do these absolutely is worth it because He will speak to us if we will only listen. It is from this communion with Him that we are ever truly equipped to serve and worship Him. I am very thankful that God has allowed me to have these times with Him even more while I am far from home because I know that it is through the steady process of following Him daily that I will ever truly learn and grow spiritually.
Keep praying for me, and for the people I work with and come in contact with. I have already experienced many blessings that come from God answering prayers. It is amazing to see Him work in and around me.
God has definitely blessed me with the opportunity to come to the other side of the world, and I know that He has brought me here to both teach me and use me. I can already tell that I will be able to have a more positive affect here as I grow more and more accustomed to the local culture because I am beginning to feel much more comfortable doing things here. I have already been learning a great deal about the culture, and I am definitely learning from God through the experience.
I have had a lot of time to read and pray and reflect on things, and I am sure that it has been good. I know God has already used this time to help me grow, and I would not say that it is because there is "more God" here on the other side of the globe, but sometimes we need some change to help us focus on Him a little more. I cannot over emphasize the importance of being disciplined in the acts of prayer and solitude. I know that making the extra time to do these absolutely is worth it because He will speak to us if we will only listen. It is from this communion with Him that we are ever truly equipped to serve and worship Him. I am very thankful that God has allowed me to have these times with Him even more while I am far from home because I know that it is through the steady process of following Him daily that I will ever truly learn and grow spiritually.
Keep praying for me, and for the people I work with and come in contact with. I have already experienced many blessings that come from God answering prayers. It is amazing to see Him work in and around me.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Experiencing Life
So, I have really begun to see what life is like here in...Southeast Asia. The people are very relaxed and kind (at least openly), and there is a great deal of change that is taking place here, due to the recently rising numbers of tourists. There is plenty for me to enjoy here, and there is still a lot for me to see because things are just so different here than anywhere else I have ever been.
God has blessed me with the opportunity to be here among these people, and I am very thankful for that. Just the other day, I met a local girl, about my age, who was a believer. It is very hard for her here because most people do not like the fact that she has become a Christian, but her faith has not waivered. Not only that, but we saw her at a local cafe, and she was there witnessing to a friend. It was just so encouraging to see someone that was her age, in this difficult part of the world, really living out her faith like she believed that what Jesus taught was true. It was nothing complicated. She simply believes in Jesus Christ, and she proves it with her life. She was doing what came natural, which was using opportunities and relationships around her to tell people about Christ because she really loves them, and she loves God.
I was just encouraged to see her because there are not many Christians here, and many of them are afraid for it to be made known, and for good reason. I know God will continue to show me many more things during my time here, but I am glad I can just share some small parts of those experiences with everyone back home. God is doing good things, even in places where we wonder how it could be possible.
I have also been working with some kids and doing some maintenace work, and I seem to have picked up a rash from either a child or some plant life, so I am obviously enjoying itching over most of my body. The good thing is that it could definitely be worse if I were actually sick, so I am at least thankful to God for the blessing of being in good health right now. And, I have also moved into a new house for the next couple of weeks, and I have to admit that it is quite a step up from the last place. I have a nice toilet, an internet connection, and even some air-conditioning in one of the bedrooms. It's funny that I would move in here now because I had actually just gotten pretty well adjusted to the other place, but I will be back there soon enough, and I am thankful for this current blessing.
I am fully enjoying it here, but I also miss everyone at home.
God has blessed me with the opportunity to be here among these people, and I am very thankful for that. Just the other day, I met a local girl, about my age, who was a believer. It is very hard for her here because most people do not like the fact that she has become a Christian, but her faith has not waivered. Not only that, but we saw her at a local cafe, and she was there witnessing to a friend. It was just so encouraging to see someone that was her age, in this difficult part of the world, really living out her faith like she believed that what Jesus taught was true. It was nothing complicated. She simply believes in Jesus Christ, and she proves it with her life. She was doing what came natural, which was using opportunities and relationships around her to tell people about Christ because she really loves them, and she loves God.
I was just encouraged to see her because there are not many Christians here, and many of them are afraid for it to be made known, and for good reason. I know God will continue to show me many more things during my time here, but I am glad I can just share some small parts of those experiences with everyone back home. God is doing good things, even in places where we wonder how it could be possible.
I have also been working with some kids and doing some maintenace work, and I seem to have picked up a rash from either a child or some plant life, so I am obviously enjoying itching over most of my body. The good thing is that it could definitely be worse if I were actually sick, so I am at least thankful to God for the blessing of being in good health right now. And, I have also moved into a new house for the next couple of weeks, and I have to admit that it is quite a step up from the last place. I have a nice toilet, an internet connection, and even some air-conditioning in one of the bedrooms. It's funny that I would move in here now because I had actually just gotten pretty well adjusted to the other place, but I will be back there soon enough, and I am thankful for this current blessing.
I am fully enjoying it here, but I also miss everyone at home.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Settling In
Well, I've now been here in the city for a few days. I've gotten to know the team (they've been really encouraging), and I'm beginning to be able to find my way around on a bicycle or a motorbike.
God has definitely given me grace so far because I have become well adjusted to the more difficult aspects of living here, despite my initial concerns. I have been doing a lot, and I have gotten the chance to meet many of the local people. I feel extremely encouraged about the people that are here doing work, and I am blessed to be a part of it. It's great to be able to have some fellowship with expatriate believers in a place that is so far away from home.
I know there is so much said about persecution in certain areas of the world...I even heard that 15 christians were recently arrested in a nearby province...but I have to say that it is not something that you daily live in fear of. I just can't help but think that this is not something that only "super-Christians" with some special calling do, but it is something that any/all believers could do. Sure, there are difficulties, frustrations, and problems, but they are definitely not more than we can handle when we are relying on God. He gives us strength, not just to put up with the conditions in which He has put us, but to flourish and enjoy it to the fullest.
I cannot say that I am someone who has always just had a perfect attitude about all of this...I have many of the same concerns as everyone else, but I've gone forward anyway...and I can promise that God is good when you follow Him, even if you're a little unsure about it at first. I have asked Him to give me joy in all circumstances, and He has absolutely delivered. I have not only had to endure or try to enjoy difficulties...there are many things that have been fun, exciting, and enjoyable.
I have had great fellowship with other believers, gotten the chance to feel a few moments of air conditioning, play some games, eat a hamburger, and even watch some local people sing karaoke...all this amongst serving God to the best of my abilities. I just want it to be known that God knows what we need, and He will offer reprieve where we need it.
So, at the moment, my tasks will be to become more comfortable with the area, language, and culture, to interview some people and look for opportunities, to take up some carpentry projects, and to serve where I am needed. There is much to be done! God bless
God has definitely given me grace so far because I have become well adjusted to the more difficult aspects of living here, despite my initial concerns. I have been doing a lot, and I have gotten the chance to meet many of the local people. I feel extremely encouraged about the people that are here doing work, and I am blessed to be a part of it. It's great to be able to have some fellowship with expatriate believers in a place that is so far away from home.
I know there is so much said about persecution in certain areas of the world...I even heard that 15 christians were recently arrested in a nearby province...but I have to say that it is not something that you daily live in fear of. I just can't help but think that this is not something that only "super-Christians" with some special calling do, but it is something that any/all believers could do. Sure, there are difficulties, frustrations, and problems, but they are definitely not more than we can handle when we are relying on God. He gives us strength, not just to put up with the conditions in which He has put us, but to flourish and enjoy it to the fullest.
I cannot say that I am someone who has always just had a perfect attitude about all of this...I have many of the same concerns as everyone else, but I've gone forward anyway...and I can promise that God is good when you follow Him, even if you're a little unsure about it at first. I have asked Him to give me joy in all circumstances, and He has absolutely delivered. I have not only had to endure or try to enjoy difficulties...there are many things that have been fun, exciting, and enjoyable.
I have had great fellowship with other believers, gotten the chance to feel a few moments of air conditioning, play some games, eat a hamburger, and even watch some local people sing karaoke...all this amongst serving God to the best of my abilities. I just want it to be known that God knows what we need, and He will offer reprieve where we need it.
So, at the moment, my tasks will be to become more comfortable with the area, language, and culture, to interview some people and look for opportunities, to take up some carpentry projects, and to serve where I am needed. There is much to be done! God bless
Friday, June 19, 2009
Finally Here
So, I have finally made it to Laos. I spent last night here in my new bed. My new residence is a single, concrete room that is right among the Lao people. I have a little bathroom with a squattie and a little rubber tube for a shower. It's going to be tough, but I am definitely excited. I will be doing a lot of different things, so I will let you all know what is going on once I get started. God has me here for a purpose, and I look forward to seeing what He is going to use me for and show me. Please be praying for me. I miss everyone, and I will do my best to let you know what is happening.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Almost There!
Well I am now sitting in the Bangkok airport...and I have been for the past 8 hours or so. I will be departing for my last flight in about 3 hours. The trip has actually gone pretty well so far, though it has been very long and tiring. I still can't believe I'm actually here! God has given me a fairly positive attitude in all of this so far, so I am thankful for that. I just pray that I will rely on God's sustaining presence, and I will take advantage of all the opportunities He sets before me. I am here to learn, so pray that I will remember that. I am excited of what is ahead of me. Thank you all for your support!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Rediscovery
Okay, so I just found my blog that I set up a couple of months ago for the first time in a while...I forgot what the URL was, but now everything is good to go. I'm gonna try to use this to keep everyone updated on what's happening with my trip. I'll post as much as I am able to, though I do not know just how readily available the internet will be once I get there. Thanks for all those who are supporting me in prayer.
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