February 2010 Darwin, Australia
Darwin your so hot was the theme in February; of course Darwin Australia was experiencing their hottest February on record. But Darwin was a hard learning month. God taught me that my own strength isn’t good enough.
While in Darwin we spent time working with Christian Outreach Center and they had just made a new addition, a hostel, and they needed help with gardening. Yes that is right to add to my list of things I learned on the world race is gardening. Anyway we met a man by the name of Gardner, changed to protect identity, who was not a Christian but was traveling Australia for two years on a work visa; which means he had to have a job so he wandered upon this place.
Every day I got up at 8am and worked till 5pm with Gardner. I laid mulch and planted trees, learned how to lay a watering system and how to plant grass. It was fun, days spent out in the sun working with Gardner and it gave us ample time to talk about God.
We talked about the stars and how the trees where created and I asked him what kept him from believing in something more. I pushed every day and dug into his past looking for a glimmer of hope. I pushed in hopes that I could find out how to convince him. I pushed myself physically and mentally so that I may show him that I cared for him. Nothing I did was good enough to convince him that he needed the Lord.
It wasn’t until a few months later that I started to understand that even though my intentions where good that I was relying completely on me. That I wanted to work hard enough so that Gardner would see Jesus in me and that he would know that I loved him and would be able to understand why I wanted him to know this God I spoke of but my works could not save him.
I have met so many people around the world that tell me that they must work to earn salvation and I can understand why. They see Christians and all we do at times is work. Instead of being still and listening to God, I was busy and listened to Tash.
I am still in touch with Gardner and he still does not believe in God but I pray for him often and know that God can still move in his heart.
Please consider supporting me I have 1,000 dollars left to raise by the end of August, so that God can continue to grow me and change my heart for the those in this world. Five, Ten, Fifteen dollars can help me get one step closer. Thank you to all who have supported me and have prayed for me. I must thank you for getting me to this point.
Much Love
Natasha
