Life is short; don’t take it for
granted. Live with eternity in mind. You don’t know if you’ll have
tomorrow. How many times have we all heard these sayings and many
more, and didn’t think twice about it? We all know that we’re going
to die someday, but no one wants to think that it might be today.
Well, we really don’t know when our
last day on earth will be.
On Sunday morning in Cambodia, so
Saturday night back home, the dad of one of my teammate’s died. It
was unexpected. As a matter of fact he had just been cleared by his
doctor to resume normal activity after having had heart surgery last
month. Over the course of this year we have seen the relationship
between this father and daughter grow and develop into something
precious. She had been praying for him in different areas and had
seen major growth and changes happening in his life. They were making
plans to hang out together after the Race and were even planning the
big hugs they would give each other at the airport. Their’s was a
really special relationship. The last time they talked was before we
left for our last village in Cambodia on May 21. A few of us heard
snippets of the conversation and we laughed at how goofy they were
together. He was an amazing man, a great father and grandfather, and
most importantly he loved the Lord with all of his being.
As we have mixed up and changed teams
in preparation for separate girl’s and guy’s ministry this month we
are now having to move on without a key member of our team. I feel
like there’s a hole in my heart and I’m sure I’m not the only one who
feels that way. She’ll be back for our final debrief, but her final
month of ministry will be one that will continue after the rest of us
return home and get re-acclimated to “normal” life. Her new
“normal” is one that none of us ever thought we’d have to face.
We have left our homes and loved ones
for nearly a year of serving God overseas, trusting that He will take
care of things back home. We are under serious spiritual attack and
we haven’t even “officially” started our ministry for the month.
We will be working with men and women in the sex industry here in
Thailand: in Chiang Mai and Phuket. God has some amazing things
planned because it seems that Satan is working overtime to distract
us in any way possible, from illnesses to divorces to deaths to weird
family issues to worries about the future to anything else he can
think of.
PLEASE KEEP US ALL IN YOUR PRAYERS!! We brothers and
sisters of J Squad are all committed to pressing on through trials,
challenges, fatigue, etc. to see His Kingdom come here in Thailand
this month. We want to finish the race well but we need your help.
DON’T STOP PRAYING.
