10. Malaria Medicine
People who take doxy end up with burning flesh from the sun: awesome
9. 24 hour camp fire
because we had to literally prepare and make all of our food, we always seemed to have a campfire going so we could cook
8. shower in the river (no explanation needed)
7. 115 degrees during the day, seeing your breath by the time it was dark
6. Africa = BO
5. KLIM
powdered milk that someone cleverly thought the call KLIM (milk backwards)
4. 4x6ft mobil homes
our tents came in handy as we set them up and took them down at least 4 times during the month
3. naked worship
don't be too shocked....it just means that we didn't have instruments or an assigned person to do worship, anyone started a song when they were feeling lead to
2. corn field
nature was our best friend this month, so naturally going to the bathroom meant in the field. When one of the guys was pooping in a corn field, an old lady started throwing rocks at him to get him out of there!
1. electric slide performed to "Trading My Sorrows" :big hit with the African's, they LOVED it!
We are back from Mozambique and are finishing up debrief before heading to our next ministry location.
This past month was a bit crazy. To start out, transportation wasn't working out to get to Nelspruit, S. Africa from Johannesburg, S. Africa. So, we stayed a couple of days in Jo-burg waiting. Once we got to Nelspruit, we were unable to get transportation because it was the weekend or it was booked. While we were there, a lady came by because the Lord told her that we would be there and that we needed a message. She talked to the squad leaders before knowing what was going on with us or what we were about. This woman said that we were in Nelspuit for the next 3 days for a reason. She went on saying that we weren't unified as a family and that before we go out into Mozambique, we needed to get unified. We cannot leave a soldier behind to get attacked. We needed to make sure that we are one with one another.
This really took me aback. I knew that I needed to change my attitude. I thought that maybe it was because of me that we were unable to move forward. God showed me some things in my life and some things from my month in Laos with my team that really made me sink in my chair. I had been horrible to my team. I was putting myself and my agony before anyone else. Yes, I was dealing with wanting to go home, not fitting in on my team and on H- Squad, a family member passing away, my grandma in and out of ICU, my brother preparing to go back to Iraq and so on and so forth. I was overwhelmed. I wasn't letting God take my burdens so that I could go and comfort and be near my team. I pushed them away so that I could deal with things on my own. They didn't know how to respond to me and I should have let them know. This is a work in progress, but I know that it is something that I am overcoming.
During our extra few days at the Betor House in Nelspruit, I really took time to pray into all of these things. When I asked God about it, He told me that I needed to forgive... Not just saying "I forgive you", but to really truly mean it and let them each know. I prayed about it for a while longer and knew how to approach this. I wrote out 9 steps that I needed to follow. One of them saying that forgiveness doesn't always mean reconciliation. (In this case it has to) It took me a little while to grasp that concept. I felt like I could do that easy. That I didn't have to reconcile with these people. Boy, was I wrong. There was no way that I couldn't reconcile with them, we have to live with one another for the next 5 months. I can't just write them off and go on with my life. I did tell my team that it might take a while for me to get to that point and they understood.
Each month God puts a song in my heart that helps me through whatever situation I am going through. In Laos, it was a song that a friend sang in 2001 for me. Here are the lyrics...
"I won't stop running, until I've run the race. I won't stop prayin', ‘til I see His blessed face. I will not settle for a life of compromise, I'll just keep pressin' towards the prize, until I see Him in the skies."
I laughed at God. I am unsure why He wants me to finish, but I know that this is what He has called me to. He keeps revealing that to me. So, I have to go through this forgiveness and reconciliation phase daily if I want to grow with my team. I don't want to me a soldier left behind.
Team Manna (my team) will be headed to Vilankulos, Mozambique to our ministry site today. It is a 20 hour bus ride, so, today will be a very long day.
My team will be working with an orphanage and evangelizing with the Jesus Film. Our money is tight this month because of the transportation costs, so please, please please, keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
I won't be able to call anyone this month. So, I would like to say congratulations to all of you who are getting married AND Happy birthday Mom (June 12th) , Happy Fathers Day (June 21th), and Happy Birthday to me(June 17th)!
I love you all and I thank you for all of your support!
"Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
(Joh 16:32-33)
I was given this passage of scripture to read by one of our contacts in Dominican Republic. He writes to our team every other week or so. Well, I was given this scripture a few weeks ago, but didn't know what to do with it. Last night I read it again. This time, it hit me.
"Behold, the hour is coming when you will be scattered..."
Here is an example that came to mind.
Imagine a hand full of marbles.
The handful of marbles is what you know to be comfortable. (Home, friends, family, things in your circle of life that you hold dear) Then, all of a sudden, the hand drops all of the marbles. The marbles are scattered. Each marble being a different area of your life that you need to be released from. At the beginning of the World Race, we were told to let go of the things that we were holding onto in life. What was holding me from my destiny? What am I being called to? What is my destiny and why am I so afraid of it? I am trying my hardest to collect those marbles, but they are so far away.
"Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me..."
I feel alone sometimes in this Race, but I know that Christ is with me. I know that I need to feel alone sometimes. I need to know that HE is the only one that can set me apart from the other 'marbles' in life. Sometimes things suck and are hard, "In the world you will have tribulation", But, we know that the battle is won, we know that HE has "overcome the world". As a marble, you cannot move on your own, you have to be moved by someone bigger. God is playing marbles with us and he is making us uncomfortable in a comfortable world!
For the month of May, we were in a closed country. I am not able to give much information about what we did there, because I want to protect the ministry.
May was our 1st ATL (Ask the Lord) month and we felt that God was leading us to this closed country in Asia. We were working with men of different ages that were having a difficult time in life. Before we arrived in La0$, we prayed for a long time for God to give us a contact. Through multiple emails and whatnot, we were all directed to the same guy. Him and his family work with these men, trying to get them put on the right path. Because this was an ATL month, we had a smaller budget than other months. God really showed up in that area. We were blessed way beyond what we could have ever imagined. We were able to live for free for 2 out of the 4 weeks, our lunch was free Monday through Friday, our transportation was free during the month as well. It was so great to see how much God provides when we are obedient.
"Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly delightful." Song of Sol. 1:16
It has taken me a long time to write this blog. It has really taken me a long time to process my month in Phuket, Thailand. This month was a bit different than any other month that we have had. The leadership team prayed about the 7 spots available at the SHE ministry and chose 7 girls from 6 different teams. Each person had a different personality and different way of doing things. We were each used to our teams and the way things were done. We had to piece each person in and find out how each person deals with certain situations. It was learning about this new team all together.
SHE is a ministry that rescues women from trafficking and gives them a new life making jewelry, chocolates, and now baked goods. Trades they can all use after their time at SHE. Everyday the women get a bible teaching and/or a testimony from members of teams that come in. In order to get the word out, volunteers go and prayer walk the streets at Patong Beach. Then go from bar to bar meeting the women and building a relationship with them, which in turn builds trust. There are approximately 2000 girls on one street.
During our time in Phuket, we prayer walked around the street and really felt called to certain areas. We split up into 2 teams, so that we wouldn't overwhelm those in the bars with the 7 of us. Rachel, Kim and I went to a few different bars each night. One bar, we felt really called to. We walked down the street and noticed how empty the girls there looked. No matter how many guys were there, their eyes looked like empty pools of grey
.
Son 4:9 "You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes,"
We noticed how their hearts were searching for so much more, but didn't know how to get that. We stopped by almost every night to see these girls, and their excitement to see us. It was so great to see how much color filled their eyes, when they saw HOPE coming. They could tell that we had something that they wanted. We had something that they had been searching for, for way too long.
Psalms 63:1 "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."
One of the girls wanted to see where we were staying and how she could do that instead of doing the bar work. We showed her around one afternoon and she really enjoyed it. We planted that seed and are waiting for God to water it and watch that grow. I am excited to see what HE does in her life. She is not living at the house right now, but the bible says...
Php 1:6 "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
There is one woman who moved in while we were there and was just baptized this last month while the Gentle Warriors were there. AMEN!
I believe that God will finish this work!
If you want to know more information about SHE, please go to
Http://www.SHEThailand.org . If you feel led to support this ministry, there is a link on the site. You may also buy some jewelry from the site as well. All of the money goes to support the girls.
They also have a Facebook group that you can join and tell all of your friends about. Please pass this blog around and share this great information. Please keep this ministry in your prayers. There are millions of sex tourists that come and visit each year to Phuket. The men are usually very lonely and over 50% commit suicide before returning home. It is very sad to see their faces as well.
Hey, I wanted to tell you about an amazing way you can help this year. I know that Tax refunds are coming back and you are all curious as to how to spend it. I have a GREAT tax- free way to spend AND help out a dear friend of mine finish her race with ease.
Amanda Hamilton is my teammate and she is in dire need of financial help to stay on this World Race. Amanda is still about $4,000 shy of meeting her goal of $14,000 that we had to raise for the year. The deadline that she has is July 1st.
I know that God has put her on this race to help me grow and for her to grow. She has been a great blessing to me and I would like for you all to prayerfully consider helping her and my team out by supporting her. Team Manna would not be the same without Amanda. If you can even donate $5, that would be a great help. ClickHERE to donate to Amanda. IF the link does not work, please follow the link on the left hand side of Amanda's page. If you would like to read some of her blogs, her link is http://Amandahamilton.theworldrace.org
Thank you for all of your prayers and support. You have been so great!
P.S.- I am doing fine and I am excited to tell you all about it... Just not yet!! :)
I wanted to let you know that during the month of May, I will not have much (IF any) internet access. Plus my computer is broken. But, I will send an update when I can. I would love for you to continue sending your encouragement because it does help out a lot. Thank you for your prayers and all that you do!
I have been learning lately a lot on faithfulness. You may think that it is an easy thing to learn, but, I doubt that 100%. Let me start by giving the definition of faithfulness.
Faithfulness- Firmness in keeping promises.
devotion to a person, a cause, obligations, or duties: allegiance, constancy, fidelity, loyalty, steadfastness.
Now lets get some examples from the bible.
We know that God demonstrates His faithfulness throughout the entire bible. Deuteronomy 7:9 says, "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands."
To me, that means that God wants that faithful marriage like relationship with us. Going into any relationship, you don't sit and think "Oh, I think I want my Boyfriend/Girlfriend/spouse to be unfaithful. I would LOVE to find an unfaithful person to spend time with." Never. He is faithful to us, we should be faithful to Him. Giving Him everything that we have to him. Trusting Him with it all. That is where I struggle. I know that He is faithful, I know that He is (to take form the definition) loyal, and constant. I have nothing to worry about. I know that He is always there for me. But, I still have a hard time with it. God gives me his Loyalty, fidelity, allegiance, but, I give Him little pieces at a time. Psalm 33:4 says that God is "faithful in all he does." The bible also tells us that faith is both believing and doing (James 2:17). Easier said than done really. "God I will never turn my back on you, I will always draw close to you, no matter the circumstance." I can't say that with confidence. I really want to, but, in ALL circumstances? Are you serious? Much easier said than done. I am not trying have a pity party. I just suck at being a cookie cutter Christian. I am learning to be faithful, and it is tough stuff. I am also not saying that I don't have faith, because, I have faith. It is just how to show that. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we are able to show faithfulness. This is why Faithfulness is one of the fruits of the spirit.
1Th 5:23 And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Th 5:24 Faithful is he that calls you, who will also do it.
Personally, I don't have that mustard seed like faith they describe is Luke 17. It may be faith like an avocado seed right now. But, I am asking for more faith. I am asking God to reveal to me what I need to do, how I can change. I pray that my avocado seed with become a mustard seed. I want to be that perfect bride of Christ that is faithful through and through. I pray that God would teach me to be faithful so that my life is changed, so that people can see that something is different about me. That they would be changed because I have been changed.
I have recently been told that I was faithful and in their Hebrews 11 friend because of following the call of God and coming on the World Race. I don't want to compare myself to the people in Hebrews 11. I hear the stories there and know that I have a really long way to go with my faithfulness. Coming on the World Race doesn't take too much faith in my opinion. It is more of just answering God and He will reveal SO much during the race. (like this)
"
God, I pray that you make me more like the Hebrews 11 bible characters. Make me have that faith like a mustard seed so that I can become a better, faithful bride of Christ. I want others to be able to see what you are doing in my life so that they can ask questions about You. Show me what I need to do to change. Show me how to be faithful, not only to you, but to the people around me. I love you and thank you for your perfect example. Be patient with me as I squish this Avocado seed into the mustard seed. (There will be a lot of trimming)
I have been learning lately a lot on faithfulness. You may think that it is an easy thing to learn, but, I doubt that 100%. Let me start by giving the definition of faithfulness.
Faithfulness- Firmness in keeping promises.
devotion to a person, a cause, obligations, or duties: allegiance, constancy, fidelity, loyalty, steadfastness.
Now lets get some examples from the bible.
We know that God demonstrates His faithfulness throughout the entire bible. Deuteronomy 7:9 says, "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands."
To me, that means that God wants that faithful marriage like relationship with us. Going into any relationship, you don't sit and think "Oh, I think I want my Boyfriend/Girlfriend/spouse to be unfaithful. I would LOVE to find an unfaithful person to spend time with." Never. He is faithful to us, we should be faithful to Him. Giving Him everything that we have to him. Trusting Him with it all. That is where I struggle. I know that He is faithful, I know that He is (to take form the definition) loyal, and constant. I have nothing to worry about. I know that He is always there for me. But, I still have a hard time with it. God gives me his Loyalty, fidelity, allegiance, but, I give Him little pieces at a time. Psalm 33:4 says that God is "faithful in all he does." The bible also tells us that faith is both believing and doing (James 2:17). Easier said than done really. "God I will never turn my back on you, I will always draw close to you, no matter the circumstance." I can't say that with confidence. I really want to, but, in ALL circumstances? Are you serious? Much easier said than done. I am not trying have a pity party. I just suck at being a cookie cutter Christian. I am learning to be faithful, and it is tough stuff. I am also not saying that I don't have faith, because, I have faith. It is just how to show that. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we are able to show faithfulness. This is why Faithfulness is one of the fruits of the spirit.
1Th 5:23 And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Th 5:24 Faithful is he that calls you, who will also do it.
Personally, I don't have that mustard seed like faith they describe is Luke 17. It may be faith like an avocado seed right now. But, I am asking for more faith. I am asking God to reveal to me what I need to do, how I can change. I pray that my avocado seed with become a mustard seed. I want to be that perfect bride of Christ that is faithful through and through. I pray that God would teach me to be faithful so that my life is changed, so that people can see that something is different about me. That they would be changed because I have been changed.
I have recently been told that I was faithful and in their Hebrews 11 friend because of following the call of God and coming on the World Race. I don't want to compare myself to the people in Hebrews 11. I hear the stories there and know that I have a really long way to go with my faithfulness. Coming on the World Race doesn't take too much faith in my opinion. It is more of just answering God and He will reveal SO much during the race. (like this)
"
God, I pray that you make me more like the Hebrews 11 bible characters. Make me have that faith like a mustard seed so that I can become a better, faithful bride of Christ. I want others to be able to see what you are doing in my life so that they can ask questions about You. Show me what I need to do to change. Show me how to be faithful, not only to you, but to the people around me. I love you and thank you for your perfect example. Be patient with me as I squish this Avocado seed into the mustard seed. (There will be a lot of trimming)
