I left Pittsburgh Monday morning for launch in Chicago. Danny picked a few of us up at the airport, and we went back to his house and reunited with some K squad racers, so much fun. A couple of us went into the city, which is officially now my favorite, got some deep dish pizza..(awesome) and just walked through the city. I took a train to Wheaton that night to meet my cousin, and stayed in his friends apartment for the night. The next morning I went to the cafe on campus, and had a little emotional moment reading through the gospel of Luke. Praying and asking God how he was going to use me this year, and putting myself in the shoes of the
diciples, and what He spoke to them before He sent them out. Matt and I went to chapel and it just so happens Ravi Zacharias is speaking there for 3 days! Chapel started with a sophomore girl half Indian Bhangra dancing. It was so cool to see, since I am going to India. Ravi's session was so good. He talked about our calling, and how you will never lighten a load until you feel a burden in your own soul. Whatever the burden is, thats your calling. He taught on prayer saying, three things happen when we pray.
1.) We understand His absolute sovereignty
2.) we understand our own duplicity
3.) we understand that the Grand Weaver is full filling his dream through us…..God you are the dreamer and I am your dream
After chapel I sat in on a Christian Thought class. I had an amazing day, and God taught me so much, and I thank him for his great gifts he gives to us. I was not expecting a day like that. A few more hours and I made it to launch at the Four Points Sheraton. The night was so good, worship, reuniting, praying over the parents who came to launch, and having sessions. 9:30 Blue Moon debrief at the hotel bar. NFL KICKOFF! GOD IS SO GOOD. The rest of the week was just packed with laughs, tears, sessions, debriefs, tesitmonies, walks, vending machines, the titanic pizza party in room 416, an hour out of our way train trip into the city..another deep dish…and never forget the dancing. Saturday moring went quick and we were on our way to the airport to launch out! Our travel days were as follows: 15 hr flight to Hong Kong, 5 1/2 hour layover in Honk Kong, September 9, 2012 never to be lived, 3/12 hour plane ride to Malaysia, 2 short bus trips to Kuala Lumpar, and then another 7 hr bus ride to our ministry location in Kuala Krai. Our contact is Yesudason. He has been in ministry for 30+ years, but only 9 years in this location. He was born in Malaysia, and Tamilian, and his ministry is directed to Tamilians in the area. There are 650 Indian families in this state, and Yesudason asks us to pray for them, so that is my request to you all as well. Less than 2 years ago he bought a 6,000 ft piece of land that we are currently helping him build; yes manual labor at 7:00am. He has a ton of ministry plans for us also. (Her just told me only female mosquitos bite) He has yet to tell us his personal testimony, but rumor has it he has been raised from the dead twice. Seriously.
Our living conditions are as follows: 3 bedrooms, we each get a bed, AIR CONDITIONING, American toilet with an Asian flush, HOT SHOWERS (when the water does run)
big living room for our feedback sessions, internet at the pastors house, a grocery store right across the street and laundry service down the road.
Across the street also is a Hundi temple. I have never been to one, and it was so surreal to me walking up to it. There are 4 pillars and behind each curtain is a god they go to offer food to and pray for a particular vice. They cut the wood, carve the statues with their own hands and then they worship it. I covered it with prayer.
Yesterday all but 2 of us went exploring through the town. We took a boat ride over the dirtiest river, had some fresh coconuts, walked through the shops, walked through a rubber tree forest, and ate some Durian….(Joel Strang I took a bite, and it's just as gross as I remembered)
Please keep me and my team and K sqaud in your prayers. Know that I am praying for each and everyone of you back at home…Love.
EBW: (EMOTIONAL BREAKDOWN OF THE WEEK)….I HAVE 2
My journal My Utmost For His Highest went missing at launch and I was so upset, so Danny let me cry on his chest and he prayed it out of me, the next morning I went down to the lobby to get some coffee and Noe held it up to my face, so happy!
12:15am on the airplane while I knew everyone would be sitting on their couches watching NFL opening weekend, I cried hard, I am not gonna lie, I wanted to be there
