Africa here we come.... Be ready... We are about to make war.
This week was debrief with the some of the AIM staff. Debrief is a time of transition... A time to process these last two months in Eastern Europe... A time to prepare for Africa... A time to talk...
Each team has a meeting with our squad leaders and aim staff. And each team meeting looks different depending the needs and dynamics of the team. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I figured it would be the basics questions of how was the month and the new team and the highs and lows of the month. And yes we discussed the basics briefly, but than they asked how we were doing spiritually.
And that's a hard question. How am I doing spiritually?
My team is a team that knows their identity in Christ. We have that foundation of Christ's love for us. And whether that foundation was built over 2 years or 12 years, we know who we are and what we believe. We are each solid people, who have been blessed with different gifts and abilities to further God's kindgom.
This month had its ups and downs... Especially with the girls and guys living separately so it was challenging to really know what was going on with everyone when you weren't living together. We each grow spiritually but in different ways and all individually.
Spirtually, for me, it was challenging to stay focus on reading through the OT when I have failed so many times before. And not letting those past failures get in the way of my current goal. Also with my English class, we had lots of spiritually debates about God, the resurrection, heaven and hell, is God just, the meaning of life, depression, and much more. Soooo it was a month where I had the opportunity to share the gospel and what I believe in almost everyday. Which was incredible.... But it was such a growing experience. Because I had to know what I believed before sharing them with my class. Trusting God for the right words to say and how share the hope that I have in Christ without pushing Religion on them.
One of my teammates was spiritually attacked. A person who is strong in prayer and devotion. Confidant in the Lord. But being defeated and wore out. And I remember sitting in a coffee house, just praying for this person. Coming together as a team and speaking life. Allowing God to unveil things in this teammate and seeing God in the end. Seeing that spiritual attack is real.
At debrief, the leaders spoke into my team. It was said that my team is ready to make war. Make war in a spiritual sense. We are each indiviadually defined by our faith, and it time to come together as one. None of us can do it on our own. We have to come together to make war against this world. And it's not going to be easy. We can't be passive. Spiritual attacks are real. But its through those times of battle that we have to come together, take up our cross, and go to the front lines. Stand firm and relentless. God has equipped us. And He has prepared us for such a time as this. We have to put on the full armor of God in order to take a stand. In order to fight. In order to grow. We can't just have the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit. We can't pick and choose our armor. No. We need all of it. Each piece hold signicance in battle. And if we want the victory, we have to go to battle prepared.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God
so that you can take stand against the devil's schemes.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers,
against the powers of the dark world and
against the spiritless forces of evil in the heavenly realm
Therefore put on the full armor of God,
so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground,
and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then,
with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and
with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,
with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests."
- to make inspired declarations of what is to come
Speaking life into one another.
Since being with new team, Unveiled Pursuit, I have learned a lot about the power of words. What it means to speak life into one another. And to make inspired declarations of what is to come - to prophesy. We have Christ living inside of us and it's time to speak it out. (Something that I didn't do before the race)
Within the last two months, I have been told three different times that fear is holding me back, and its time to step out. Fear is getting in the way of what is ahead and what God has planned for me. Do not be afriad, let go and be free.
With prophesy, you take it or you leave it. Not every word come from the Lord or resignates with you. But it's your choice whether to take it or leave it.
One time, my team was at a large charismatic church in Tiraspol, Tansnistria. The church wanted the team to come up on stage and pray over us. Afterwards, an elderly lady with a few gold teeth came up to me and told me not to let fear hold me back. God has incredible plans for my life and my future, but fear was getting in the way. She said - Do not fear, because God is with you. When I heard this, I figured she could have said it to any of my teammates but she picked me. Then I thought, I am on this World Race trip traveling to 11 different countries - there is no fear in me. And then I thought - of course God is going to do great things in and through me- I am his daughter. So I left this prophesy.... And didn't think twice of it.
"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Then... My teammate told me one night in feedback that fear was getting in the way of finding my voice. I have Christ in me. I have the power of prayer in me. And God speaks to me through Scripture. Don't let fear get in the way and hold me back from what God has for me. Don't be afraid to speak up and step out in our team, our ministry, and in prayer. This resignated more with me because I am quiet in my prayer life. And many of my teammates have a strong voice and the gift of intercession and prayer, so many times I sit back and let them pray. But I still didn't consider it fear that was holding me back.
"I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears." Psalms 34:4
Finally... Last night one of my squad leaders spoke over me and told me - fear was holding me back and it's time to be bold. Be bold in my faith, be bold in my prayers, be bold in my actions. I have inside me, but fear was getting in the way. It's time to act. It's time to be bold... Stop holding back. Stop letting fear get in the way. Finally I was starting to understand... Fear.... And then freedom. It only took me three different times and three different ways to hear it.
"So don't worry because I am with you.
Don't be afraid because I am your God.
I will make you strong and I will help you.
I will uphold you with my right hand that saves you."
- Isaiah 41:10
*More Blog Post to come of my current ministy in Maputo, Mozambique.
Soularium, have you ever heard of it??? Probably not. This month I was working with university students and one of our evangelism tools that we used was this thing called Soularium.
Soularium is a dialogue of pictures.
I am a visual person and I like visual pictures. I was an art major in college and I saw the importance of art through everyday life. We live in a visual culture where students are bombarded with images everyday. Soularium is a series of 50 different photographs that you lay out over a table or you can do it individually by flipping through them. This gets the students thinking. What are these photographs? What do they mean?
Through a series of questions, students begin to open up. Students begin to talk. And you can start having deeper conversations with your students. Learning about themselves, their views, and their beliefs.
Soooo how does Soularium actually work….
Well there are a series of 5 questions, but you can basically ask any questions in accordance to what you want to talk about. So for me, I came up the questions to get my students thinking and to lead into the lesson on relationships and love. So…
Pick 3 pictures that describe your life right now…
Pick 3 pictures to describe friendships in your life…
Pick 2 pictures to describe love…
Pick 2 pictures to describe God’s love toward us….
OR you can ask Pick 2 pictures to describe God.
Pick 2 pictures to describe your spiritual experience.
Etc.
Once you ask the questions, students had about 3 minutes to look through the photographs and pick the best ones for themselves. We then went around the room and the students had to explain why they picked that picture.
This was such a great way to get my students talking and there are all sorts of questions you can ask. I had never seen this envangelism tool used before… but I loved it. My students were able to get into some deep conversations on what they thought. And there was such a variety of photographs that students were always able to find one that described them or their beliefs.
This was a thought-provoking evangelism tool. And I loved using it and wanted to share it with you!
So currently I am at debrief. Which basically means processing and down time between continents (Europe and Africa). A few days to prepare and spend time all together as a squad.
I head to Mozambique on Thursday (May 10). We drive from Chisinau to Bucharest on a overnight bus ride. Then get on a plane and go to Istanbul then to South Africa. Once arriving in South Africa we drive to Mozambique. We will not be at our ministry site until Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Please pray for all our travels and crossing borders.
My team will be working with an organization called Beacon of Hope. It’s a boy home, trade school, and bible school. We will be going out in the bush one week also for ministry.
Soooo some of my teammates are in need of finance support in order for them to stay through all of Africa. The deadline in July 1st and the internet in Mozambique is not always reliable. Soooo I wanted to share with you know so you can be praying and possible supporting them. Dania is in need of 3,100; Matt is right under $2,000 and Tyler is about $2,500. Please consider supporting them either through finances or through prayer. I couldn’t imagine them not being on my team and growing in the Lord. Thanks!
This month has been incredible, but crazy at the same time. We have had three different ministries throughout the month and moved every week. My favorite was our last two weeks we spent in Chisinua, Moldova. My team had the opportunity to work with CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) at the local university. Here they call CRU, the Boom Club for the local university students. We went into the local high schools to teach English, built relationships with university students, had a picnic, Boom Club, and taught English Club, plus a graduation party. It was a crazy time. But God is at work in this place and it is incredible to see.
I want to share my last two weeks with you in pictures!!!
Here are the English students and my team. Our students took us on a tour of the town. Showing us different statues, musuems, and parks. I learned lots about Moldova and its history that day. :-)
Picnic in the Park! Uno is the most popular game in all of Moldova.... we played it soo much. But there are different rules here.
This is my personal awesome English class. Each class met for a lesson in the park on the day of our picnic... always working to improve/learn more English.
My students took me for a boat ride! So much fun!
One night after English club. My team and the CRU staff being silly.
Graduation Party! Aren't we beautiful?
My English Class!!! They are awesome and I love them! Each of us had to teach our own class. I had the biggest and best class.
Me and some of my students! :-)
Yay! We all graduated from English CLub and got diplomas! Yay! This was the entire English club group and all the classes combined. It was an incredible week!
This was probably one of my favority ministry sites on the race so far. It was a challenging month, but so rewarding. So many relationsips were built and my faith was challenged. This was ministry where I had the opportunity to share the gospel everyday. Most of my students were not Christians. Most of my students were searching for answers. Most of my students were seeking the meaning of life. And although I do not know if any lives were changed. I know that I planted a seed. I got them thinking. I got them asking questions. I got them searching.... searching for more.... searching for the hope that I have in Jesus Christ.
Meet my new team! After the first three months we have switched teams! New faces, new challenges, new relationships..... Growth, Pursuit, Freedom. My new team leader is Rebecca Burger, then my team is Micheal, Matt, Tyler, Dania and Me. 3 boys and 3 girls. And I love them!
After church on Sunday in Moldova ~ Becca, Matt, Tyler, Micheal, me, and Dania.
English Club!
Easter party with the children at the church (first week in Transnistria)
Eating Easter Cake! Yum!
At the Black Sea in Odessa, UK! Weekend Trip.
And thats my AwEsOme new team!
So on one of the first days together, we went to a coffee shop and had some good conversation. Sharing about ourselves, our lives, and our wants and desires. Here are some of our wants and desires for the next three to four months together.
I want us to become a family. I want us to prusue one another within this team.
I want to grow.
I want to hear God's voice. I want for God to prophesy over me and us as a team.
I want to pursue God daily.
I want to heal the sick.
I want for God's love to be unveiled to me.
I want to preach to many people.
I want God to speak through me.
I want to lead as Jesus led.
I want to unveil God's love to people all over the world.
I want people to see the freedom they have in Christ.
I want to learn. I want to have a spiritual discipline.
I want for this to be a new season in my life of growth and development.
This is what we shared. We then created our team name Unveiled Pursuit. All of us are in pursuit of something. Some goal. Something in mind. And we all want to grow in Christ and in each other. We want and know that God is prusueing us. And God is unveiling new things to us each day.
A few day later, we discovered this verse :"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who of the Lord unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:17 What a powerful verse! There is freedom!
*All pictures are taken by Rebecca Burger! Thanks Becca!
What has God given you? Moses had a stick. David had a slingshot, and Paul had a pen. Mother Teresa possessed a love for the poor; Billy Graham, a gift for preaching; and Joni Erickson Tada, a disability. What did they have in common? A willingness to let God use whatever they had, even when it didn't seem very useful.
What has God given you? What is your vision for your life?
This week we are working with a large charismatic church of Tiraspol. On Sunday we met with our new pastor and he asked us, "What has God given you? What is your vision for this trip and for your life?". Many of the past contacts, missionaries, and pastors have asked "What countries are you going to? What kind of trip is this? How do you get money for it?" Basic questions... But this pastor dug deeper, wanting to know us and our desires. It got me thinking.
What has God given me? What is my vision for my life? What do I really want?
I want to further God's Kingdom... I want to bring God all the glory, honor, and power...
I want to live in a third world country... I want to be a long term missionary....
I want a loving husband and a family...
I want to use my love for art... I want to be a ceramic artisan...
I want to empower women of the world... I want to show love to the widowed and orphaned...
My conclusion was that if I could do anything in the world, I would.... work with local women artisans. Sharing the love of Christ, teaching them an art trade, and living with people in a third world country.
I honestly don't know what my future holds. I don't have it all planned out. I am leaving it all up to God and trusting him. But I know that God is going to use my gifts and abilities. He is going to plant those desires in my heart. It's going to be amazing.
One thing that I have learned on this trip and with different ministries is: "Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world." -Joel Barker
So the question is What is your vision? What do you want to do with your life? What kind of gifts and abilities has God given you to further His kingdom?
Transnistria, a country stripped of color and hope. A country that no one has heard of or traveled to. A country that has the strongholds of communism.
Have you heard of Transnistria? Probably not.
No country in the world recognizes Transnistria diplomatically. It's a region in Eastern Europe that has declared independence from Moldova. It maintains a functional autonomy with military and other support from Russia. Transnistria has its own passports, car license plates, currency, and flag. (Although none of these are valid outside of Transnistria.). There is also a police force, army, and even modern-day KGB in the form of the Ministry of State Security. There is an intense border crossing, but if you have a Russian speaker in the car it is much easier to enter. The national language here is Russian. But you will also hear some Moldavian, Romanian, Bulgurian, and Ukrainian, but Never any English.
There are military everywhere.
There are statues of Stalin and Lenin throughout the city.
They play music over the loud speakers on the roads.
(As if to say this is the music you should listen too.)
Public schools have numbers not names. We went to school 17 today.
People dress to impress. Only wearing heels and dresses, suits and dress shoes.
The average salary is 200 to 300 dollars a month.
People don't drive. Public transport is more crowded than the DR.
There is very limited religious freedom here. Everyone is Eastern Orthodox.
No one ever comes to visit this country. It's a closed country. So when we go walking down the road or get on public transport people stop and stare. People ask to take our picture. People ask why are we here. It is rare for Americans to be in this country. We are celebrities here.
We stand out here...
We stand out for our dress.
We stand out for speaking English.
We stand out for our hope and joy.
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15
In just one week of being here, my heart has fallen in love. This is a place that is hungry for the good news. This is a place that is thirsty to know more. This is a place that needs hope. This week we are living in Tiraspol, Transnistria. We are working with CRU and with the local university. During the mornings we go to the public school and teach English class to 7th through 10th graders. Every day we have a different class. Then in the afternoons we go to the university. At the university, we 'evangelize' and invite students to English Club. Our main ministry is at night, and it is teaching English Club. There are three different clubs. English Zerro, English Light, and English Hard. Through the different levels, we are better able to teach the students. I have loved this week. Getting to know the people, teaching English, and building relationships. But sadly every week we are working with a new church and a new ministry. I thought goodbyes once a month were rough.... Now it's every week. I am already starting to dread saying good bye to my students/friends from the university this Sunday.
Through this one week, I have seen a place that is stripped of color... But I have also seen a place that is very slowly beginning to add color back into this life. There is a hope that needs to be shared with these people. Please join me in praying for this nation.
More blogs and pictures are coming soon. So much is happening.
This month we were living in Sistarvat, Romania (near Arad). We were working with a camp, fixing up the place with painting and yard work. We were also farming and working the land to get ready for spring planting. Two teams lived together us (Team Agape) and Team Naphash in a cottage.
The girls of the month! Wow! We look sooo normal and American. Yay for second-hand stores and real showers. Christina, Becca, Candance, Grace, Me, Dania, Maria.
The guys of the months! Soooo manly. Micheal, Brett, Ben, and Ben John
Yay for cinamon rolls... Yum!!!
Iced Coffee Drinks in Arad at the mall. Me and Dania.
How many people can you fit in the back of a small truck???
Chillin in the park. :-)
It gets a little cold in Romania. Getting ready to go to the store.
Working hard in the fields.... good ole plowing. Me and Becca.
Examining the freshly killed sheep and trying to eat it.
Good ole ice cream. Yum! And straight hair!!! It was a good day.
One last family photo before team changes! Ben John, Grace, Ben, Dania, me, Candance.
Yay for one last month as a team. Romania was amazing!!!
Today I took the day off... I went away... A day of fasting and in prayer. Going into the World Race, I thought I would never, ever get alone time and that scared me. I need alone time. But I have learned that this is my race... If it means getting up before everyone wakes up in the morning to have Jesus time, then that's what I need to do. If it means staying up at night to journal and reflect, then that's what I need to do. But it's my race. And today I felt God calling me to spend the day fasting and in prayer. I have never fasted before and I have never spent the entire day focused on God and prayer... It was so good.... So peaceful... So quiet.
But sometimes the simplicity and the quiet can be overwhelming. I went to 'the cabin' that has rocking chairs on the porch. Settled in with a blanket and warm clothes, and began to listen. Ok God, I am here... Listening... Speak to me.
But silence.
Ok God. I have taken the entire day off just for you.... And I got nothing... I hear nothing... Why? Most of my life I struggled with the vague notion that God wanted to talk to me and I just wasn't listening hard enough. The God I read about in the Bible regularly interacts not only with mankind, but with specific men and women.
"David inquired of God... God answered him." 1 Chronicles 14:14-16 Heavenly Father, where did David get this habit of asking you questions? Why is it that you want us to ask you questions? What do you want to show me about this Scripture?
I quickly learned that God wants a two-way conversation. He doesn't want just me saying prayers each morning and he doesn't want me to just be silent on my day off... He desires a two way conversation. God created us to be relational beings. Two way communication is important for everyday relationships, and therefore it is also important with our relationship with God. He created me to be relational.
From the book: The Art of Listening Prayer by Seth Barnes (paraphrased)
God expects us to initiate dialogue, just as we would in any personal relationship. Matthew 7:7 says, "Ask and it will be given to you.". We have to ask God a question first. And God wants to answer our question; he doesn't want to exasperate us. Too often, however, after posing a question, we lack the faith or patience to wait for God's response. Or we doubt that he will answer us. (James 1:5-8) We have to be still, in order to hear God's response. Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God.". Being still in this sense means more than physical inactivity, it implies a stillness of mind and spirit.
God speaks. But first I have to initiate the conversation.... I have to have faith that He will speak and that He does speak.... And I have to be still enough to listen to His still and quiet voice. Through this morning, I was reminded of when the Lord appeared to Elijah:
"The Lord said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.' Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper..." 1 Kings 19:11-12
God sometimes speaks through a gentle whisper, but I have to be still enough to hear his voice. Today was just what I needed. I am in a state of constantly learning.... Learning to be still... Learning to listen... Learning to ask questions.
"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you.". Jeremiah 29:12-13
Lord God, I confess that I don't call nearly enough, listen hard enough, and too often, I seek you half-heartedly. What does it mean to seek you with all my heart?
My prayer today is this:
"teach me your ways, O Lord,
And I will walk in your truth;
Give me an undivided heart,
That I may fear your name."
-Psalms 86:11
As this month is coming to an end, I feel like I am coming to a dead-end in the road that I am traveling on... But not in a bad way, just a sense of mystery and unknown. Have you ever played the game 'Imagine If....'? Ohhh it's an excellent game to play in a large group. Sooo let's imagine if... Imagine if you were driving on this road out in the middle of nowhere. It's a beautiful day, upper 70s and sunshine. You are jamming to the music having a marvelous time, and then you pass a dead-end road sign... You know the road is going to end but you don't want to turn around.. Not yet. This journey can't be over, you still have so much more to explore. As you continue to drive you come to a cul-de-sac with five very distinct houses and a gate that says "Do Not Enter". None of the houses match, in fact, you wonder how they all came to be in this one place.
So let's continue with this game: imagine if _________ were a house, which house would he/she be?
A. Beach Condo in California
B. Mountain Cottage with possible tree house
C. Standard Ideal 2-story American Home
D. Simply, yet large home in Uganda
E. Modern home in Switzerland
For the last three months, I have had five amazing teammates. And I want to share a little bit about them, their personality, and which house I think they would live in...
The first house you would see is a large Ugandan home with several children playing outside. There would be black kids, mixed kids, and possibly a little Chinese girl. Lots of flat land for the children to run around and play. This would be Grace's home. Grace has a fitting name, because she is full of grace and love. Created for the international mission field, her face lights up when playing with the local children in a foreign country. A person who loves building relationships and pouring into others. A person who has the heart to love.
Right beside the Ugandan home, you would see a beach condo. You would do a double-take and wonder how can these houses be side by side. The beach condo from California would be in bright colors with a balcony on the second floor. This would be Candace's house. Candace is full of life which is why you would see a brightly colored house. She is also full of gentleness and grace. A person who would sit on the balcony with her bible and white hot chocolate watching the waves crash against the shore. A person who has a love for hospitality and quality time with people. Her home built for having people over.
Then there would be a standard 2-story ideal American home. Bricked with a red door and a fenced-in back yard. This would be Ben John's home. He is an all-American kid. A person who enjoys working with his hands and accomplishing goals. He is the calm amidst the storm, an EMT, who is good in chaotic situations. A person who is a servant, with a servant heart. And a Mr. Fix-It when it comes to electronics.
The mountain cottage would be next. This would be log cabin/cottage. In the back yard, there would be a tree house full of adventure. The mountains would be a place to explore. This would be Ben's house. A place of exploration yet peacefulness. There would be a simplicity to the house, not crowded with material things. He is a man after God's own heart. A person who loves adventure and the mountains, who will go to the mountain top to listen to God's voice.
The final house you would see is a fun, modern home in Switzerland. This would be Dania's home. Modern and sophisticated in the current business world. She is full of wisdom and courage. Life experiences building her into the person she has become with a courageous heart. A person who desires to learn and is constantly growing. A person who wants to travel the world and all that God has created. Someone of growth.
How in the world can these five houses all come together in one cul-de-sac. None of them match. None of them go together. It's not a perfect neighbor like you would expect. In fact, it's nothing you would expect. But that's my team.
At training camp when they announced the teams some people started crying because we are all so different. We couldn't see how all these different personalities could come together as one. At the time, we couldn't see past our differences. But as the World Race started in January... We started to get to know each other. We share our testimonies and learned from one another's experiences. Yes, it took time. Yes, it took effort. But, it's through our differences that brought unity to our team. Now, we have a bond, we have a trust, we have an honesty. I am really not sure what I will do without my five teammates. But it's all in God's hands.
At the end of this month, we are switching up teams. There will be new squad leaders and team leaders raised up. There will be people going home. It's going to be a hard transition. But, God never intended this journey to be easy. Remember at the beginning of the blog I said there were 5 houses and a gate that said 'Do Not Enter'... Well that gate is for me. Who knows what I will discover on the other side but this journey isn't over. These relationships I have built aren't over but continually growing. God is going to teach me so much during this transition, I simply have to trust in Him. For God is good and he knows what is best.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
