In the beginning of the trip I decided to paint something from each country of ministry. Each has some significance or story. But I’ll be sharing an excerpt from my journal about what God was doing, next to the painting. So alas, after some leg pulling I’ve put this blog together.(more blogs to come to close out the trip)
Drum roll please…
Mexico: 7/8/08“We went to a house where we sang worship, prayed and I gave a word from the Lord. He is good. He provided me with John 3:1-21 saying that Jesus makes you reborn with the Holy Spirit and gives life. I read the verses in Spanish and spoke what I was being told by God. The wife there afterwards had us pray for those in a circle who wanted to know Jesus. Each of those people prayed that Jesus would come into their hearts. Amazing. They gave us food and drink. We took of it. Those of us who think it takes years of hearing of Jesus to know Him might find this too quick, too simple. But the Gospel is simple enough to be understood by a child and the faith of a child is all He asks. It starts with a mustard seed.”
Nicaragua: 8/18/08 (after the male witch encounter)“We have a choice everyday how we are going to live our lives, what we will recognize as reality and what we’re going to live for. My challenge for you is to not allow the trivial strife for comfort or whatever the vice be, lead you down a lukewarm road of complacency and ultimately death. Rise up and live for what brings life in Christ. Be a threat to what robs like a theif in the night, and overcome evil with good.”
*Both Mexico and Nicaragua paintings are done in cafes*
Vietnam: 9/13/08
“Through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City sign after sign read in a language completely foriegn to me. When ordering hot tea and a plate of pineapple for breakfast I received hot tea with pineapple flavoring. Then upon ordering hot black coffee, I received iced expresso with chocolate flavoring. My last attempt was the lunch order of plain noodles with beef and the meal arrived drenched in thick sauce without beef. Maybe if I order the iced coffee next time, hot coffee will show up? In such stark contrast to Nicaragua, I suspect God is fix’n to use this time well to stretch me. Maybe to exhibit His strength instead of mine?”
*Buddhist temple across from the local Pho stand*
Cambodia: 10/7/08
“The sun is setting on another day in Phnom Penh. Most of this feels like a dream from which one day I’ll awake and think, what? Think myself happy because I awoke or happy because I dreamt?…I have no answers. I have absolutely nothing but the promises God gives me. How utterly broken I am! Hear the cry of my heart Lord!”
*Angkor Wat near Siem Reap*
Thailand: 11/3/08
“Today we chopped down big branches from a tree, picked and carried papayas (apparently a cow’s delight) and bananas, I learned how to make Pad Thai, and we went out into a snake ridden field/jungle to chop weeks with our machetes and sickles to clear the land for electric wire fencing. Then after dinner, we had Bible study and played cards. The mountains with the sunset and stars at night are all extraordinarily magnificant. The words don’t even adequately express this beauty.”
*God’s a better painter than I am. Plus I don’t know where my Thailand pic is.*
England: 12/18/08“It says in Hunger for Reality, ‘if we are informed, we realize that many of the young people who grow up in evangelical churches deny the faith before they are 25’. Sitting in a London Starbucks makes it easy to get comfortable and forget that the majority of people walking passed this window on Oxford street don’t know the great hope and life in Christ. During this season the cafe is playing Christmas songs but they reach most ears as another familiar sound of the season, but nothing more. They all want to be great fortresses that no one can enter, but each of them acts as a wall against the other; even though they haven’t laid a single brick. We are each other’s great masons. What a pity this is. None of us are fortresses though, not one. Psalm 46:11”
*Big Ben*
Swaziland: 1/31/09
“Sawubona, unjani? The children are precious beyond words. Many have lost their parents to AIDS and even some themselves suffer from HIV. There are Grandmas (go-gos) and children left in this land, and most everyone else have HIV or are looking for jobs but the cost for transportation is too high to go to the places to apply. So they’re stuck loafing at their homesteads. We gave shoes to kids from the care points after washing their feet and praying for them. So much need is here.”
*Shoes of Swazi orphans*
Mozambique: 1/16/09
“The goat was slaughtered and skinned about an acre away from the center of the site here, but now we have a goat stew feast. But the well is about 3km away, making it difficult to replenish water.”
“How I love you Lord, I urge my heart to say. But my mind plays the chord and I’m off on my day. How I love you God, I tell it ought not be today to know my lot and then watch it fray. How I love you Lord, I hear my heart sing. Sing about joy and sword, you’ve offered everything.”
*Indian Ocean coast*
Malawi: 2/15/09
“We sat down and slowly a group of 5 children gathered in front of me. I began playing with them and then teaching them a hand game, in return asking them to teach me. The kids were more than thrilled. I’m learning often how to laugh at myself. At this point a group of 30-40 people congregated in front and behind Steph and I. We were trying to learn the song we learned here in Nkoatakota, but couldn’t remember. I decided to sing the Mozambique song. I finished it in their language Chichewa, ‘zicom Yesu’ — thank you Jesus. They wanted to hear more singing , more songs from ME!”
*Jake Livingston tree where the slave trade ended verbally*
Romania:4/7/09
“Yesterday was a good day filled with surprises. We picked up trash from the backyard area. Also, we painted the tree trunks and did various jobs around the house. It was fun to spend time with the family and to play with the kids who tell me, ‘I much love Andrea’. So precious. I especially love the way they all live together and take care of one another. I love how the gypsies are people of passion.”
*Baby lambs are slaughtered on Easter*
Hungary: 3/26/09
“I miss everyone and all that life there entailed. Lord please bless them and encourage them. I thank you for them. I praise You for Your loving kindness and how you’ve lavished me and Shanda with such extravagance! There are no words. You are good.”
*Chain bridge in Budapest*
Moldova: 5/3/09
“We were in Slobozia village for a week where we stayed with Olga’s family. An amazing family of Godly character. I even got to help translate when Katea went to Chisinau. I learned how to plant potatoes, beans and drank strawberry campot for the first time. That time will always be with me. ‘Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints…the LORD delights in those who put their hope in his unfailing love’. Psalm 146”
*The blooming of red tulips of Slobozia*
