It has already been 3 month on this crazy journey called life on the World Race and right now I am sitting at a local coffee place called Borderline in Mae Sot, Thailand. This cute little town borders right into Burma, which has had its share of cruelty and human rights violations. But that is a topic for another blogpost.
God has been faithful and so good. Reflecting on the last month in Cambodia, I am amazed by the seeds He planted in people’s lives and how He used me to be part of His Kingdom building. How humbling and fulfilling, it is like God blesses me with joy and spontaneous situations, for His glory and peoples redemption.
Nothing is as satisfying as pursuing God and being His vessel to His chosen people.
It is like the life you always chased after, the hole in your heart that so desperately was longing for more is finally filled. You are pouring out Love left and right, to all the nations, not because you have too, but because you can’t help yourself but tell everyone about His Great Love and the freedom that comes with Christ. Freedom that you can’t buy!
Last month in Cambodia I was running the Race and filled my time with value and integrity. God reminded me why I signed up for this trip in the first place. I never wanted to travel the world (even though that is a huge bonus), I never wanted adventure, I wanted the Creator of the universe, with my whole heart and I wanted to pursue His creation with every breathe I have. My gifts, talents and passions needed to be used, after all that is why God gave them to me in the first place.
It is very easy to be on the World Race and get comfortable and stagnant. We have wireless access very often, so far we had beds to sleep in and comfort food is available more often than I ever thought. The most challenging thing for me is to push myself outside of the comfort, because I left home to be extremely uncomfortable. Ministry to me is a 24/7 calling, not a service that I only do when I am on “the job” that has been assigned to me every month. Ministry goes beyond the must do, it should sink deep into your heart, consuming every part of your mind, body and soul!
Ministry is not what you do, it is who you are! Your ministry is telling people about this awesome, faithful, holy, perfect God that loves us even when we are dirty, filthy, lazy and a big stinking, hot mess.
No matter if you grew up knowing the Lord, or if you just met Him 2 weeks ago, you have a story to tell. You don’t have to be a missionary to fulfill your calling. In fact, I don’t like the way some people are using the term missionary. A missionary is someone who is on a mission, wether that be in Cambodia or in Snover, Michigan makes no difference. Lost and hurting people are everywhere. If you know Jesus, you have a mission to fulfill.
The Great Commission
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this, I Am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
Go and make new crazy, radical followers of Jesus! How?! Just love them. Love them in their mess, love them even if they are wasted or mean. Love them even if they don’t love themselves. Pray for them and then pray some more. Love them in such a mind blowing and unexplainable way, that Jesus is the only explainable answer. Love the people that God placed right in front of you! You know, that whole love your neighbor thing, it is real, it means everyone, especially the ones that are not easy to love. God never told us to scream the “fire and brimstone” message from the rooftops, the world is hearing enough of that.
How about we will be finally known by the way we Love! How about we start fighting to actually look more like an image of Jesus!
God has send broken girls, that hardly spoke a word of English into my life this month. They were selling their bodies to the white men aka tourists in the streets of Cambodia. He made a way for me to communicate with them. Where there is God there is a way.
He send a street boy named John into my life, who was angry, crazy, sad, loving and sweet at the same time. He couldn’t be more than nine years old. At first he cursed us and didn’t want anything to do with us. After the Holy Spirit loved him, despite his mess, he wanted prayer daily and even made me a little cross out of paper. That is how Jesus works.
God send a guy named Kip from Australia to Pub Street in Cambodia, hooked on prescription drugs and running from life. He is eighteen years old. I had dinner with him one night and shared my story and the gospel with him. I encouraged him to be the man God created him to be, the power that he carries and that he was made for more than just selling pub crawls to foreigners every night. The choice is his.
I could tell you tons of more stories on how God planted seeds this month. He used me and my teammate, not because we are anything special, but because we were willing to love like Jesus. We went into shady bars, massage parlors and outside of our comfort zone because Jesus said so. Because EVERYONE needs to hear about his great love and freedom.
Ministry is life and life is ministry
As we were driving into Bangkok, Thailand a couple of days ago, I was overwhelmed with the gigantic, bright neon massage/entertainment signs on skyscrapers that showed up on every street corner. Those buildings have nothing to do with fun and freedom, they are a trap for millions of girls that are slaves to a sex industry that has been devouring souls and killing dreams.
I felt God saying. “I send you here! There is work to do.”
I answered, “Yes Lord send me.”
And off to work I am.
Love Jen
