Last day of ministry
Today closes out our ministry days for all 11 months. From the first day in India this seemed so far away. On Tuesday we head to final debrief to meet up with our squad and spend the last few days as a church before we head home to start our next season of our walk with the Lord. Even though this will probably the be the last time our entire squad is together, I have made some everlasting friendships. So as we close our ministry, I wanted to take some time and review the ministries that I have been a part of the past 11 months. These 11+ ministries will always be in my prayers and encourage you to partner with me in prayer as well. These are all incredible people doing amazing work for the kingdom.
India: we worked with ICM (India Christian Ministry) and traveled to 5 different villages interviewing kids being sponsored by people in the states for a better education. They attend an after school program at the local church that teaches them about God.
Nepal: TAMI ministry does a number of things. They help girls get out of the sex trade, teach them valuable skills, and find jobs for them to make a living.
Vietnam: We worked at a preschool that doubles as a orphanage. Since Vietnam is a closed country, Christians are not allowed to run orphanages and are constantly being monitored.
Cambodia: the church that we stayed at also doubles as a dorm for local college kids. It provides them with cheap housing, a safe place to live, and college bible study groups for them to grow in community. This country is up and coming since the genocide and is full of hope, but they have a long way to go.
Thailand: we partnered with an international house of praise that was run by people from all over the world. They had several ministries, from sex trafficking prevention, to a preschool, to children’s homes. They really focus on the need of the country and try to help as much as they can by partnering with locals.
Albania: this month we worked in a number of ministries. Some days we ministered to high schoolers to try and keep them out of drugs and alcohol, others we hung out with the kids at church playing soccer and eating ice cream. Pray that the upcoming generation in this country really finds their stability in Christ.
Macedonia: This month, we did street evangelism, visited disabled homes, house visits, and did work for the church. The church is growing and is trying to grow the young adult program. They also need people to help with the logistics of the church. Pray for people to become more active in the church and growth in their young adult program.
Bulgaria: the government has recently reorganized the childcare system to simulate a more family style home situation. Each home is only allowed 15 children to give a closer community. Most of these kids’ parents live in other countries to try and earn a living to support their kids, some have siblings all over the country that they’ve never met, others are in and out of the homes due to the current condition of their parents.
Zimbabwe: Bulawayo Baptist Church is involved in countless ministries. They have 3000 chickens and try to provide an egg a day to each kid at the local schools for nutrition. College ministry, bible studies, soup kitchen, a house to rescue women and children, farms to grow vegetables and raise animals to be sold and make income to support these ministries are just some of the things they are involved in.
Swaziland: this month we partnered with the AIM base and worked at Care points that were free preschools for local kids to get a basic education. They are sponsored by people all over the world that provides basic hygiene supplies, clothes, food, and education before they start primary school.
South Africa: This month we have worked with Cross Generations church. The church is going through a lot of growth and some leadership changes (all fantastic opportunities) and could use prayer for provision and a smooth transition. They have an amazing community within the church that is involved in several different ministries.
It hasn’t quite sunk in that ministry is over for this trip, but I’m ready to see what God has in store for us next!
