As I sit down to try and explain this past month to you…I just don’t know where to begin. I guess I should tell you where I went… =) My team spent the month in Laos. When God first confirmed that we would be going to Laos none of us could even tell you where it was on a map (make fun all you want, we had a rough idea!) We didn’t know anything about it other than what God had told us. Some of the specific things that God had shown me was that prayer was going to be huge, we would have to rely on Him, and He was going to intricately plan every step we took…
We learned where Laos was and that according to the U.S. government’s website it’s a closed-communist country and it’s illegal to bring religious materials into the country or to talk about God with other people…sweet, sounds like the place to go! So through lots of prayer and connections we got in touch with some amazing Christians in Laos. I really can’t tell you much more than that. For the safety of those in the country I can’t write about where we went or who we worked with, but believe me that I would love to talk to you all about it when I get back in the states!!! (Seriously, I’ll be back in 3 months…let’s plan a time and I’ll come share about this year with you or your church family!) We met some of the most amazing people, foreigners and locals, that are living out their life in obedience to God. They have given their lives to spreading His word and making sure people know the truth.
In Laos there are 149 different people groups, of those only 9 have been reached (have heard about Jesus)…the government combines them into 49 groups and of that only 4 have been reached! That’s ridiculous. People are taught to hate Christians, as they are told it’s the “foreigner’s religion” and they should have nothing to do with it. So even the locals that are Christians have to be very strategic about how they share their faith. In America, we have freedom…we don’t face persecution because of what we believe and it’s hard to imagine that happening. But in Laos, Christians are persecuted on a regular basis. There is no such thing as a lukewarm Christian in Laos, because you either believe in Christ knowing that you might go to jail because of it or you deny Christ…there’s no in-between. I wonder what would happen if we were faced with that choice in America…
So while in Laos, we spent a lot of time with God and a lot of time praying over places. We were able to see cities and villages and share more than we ever imagined. I got to share my testimony and play worship songs on the guitar, God worked out the month better than I ever imagined. It turned out to be one of the best months of the race, probably the best, and I wouldn’t trade our opportunity to follow God there for anything. It’s crazy what happens when you ask God what He wants you to do, and then you actually follow through and obey!
So while it might be illegal to be a Christian in Laos, God’s Kingdom is still there and is growing. People are rising up that will bring the Word to every people group. The harvest is ripe and the workers are growing in number! Just wait (actually, don’t wait…GO!) and see, Laos is God’s and it’s people are His…
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. ~Revelation 7:9
May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him. For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight. ~ Psalm 72:11-14
