The Village:
Earlier this month I spoke about planting a church in our village and God has grown the dream there into something much bigger, a church planting college! Building we were helping with will be a place where locals who are wanting to become preachers, missionaries, and church planters, will be trained and then sent all throughout Southeast Asia to do some awesome kingdom work for years to come! We got to simply dig out a hillside and build relationships as we physically/ spiritually partnered with the Lord and Sunshine Church in laying the foundation for this future ministry!
The Event at the University:
In my first blog post I said:
“In my weakness He is strong! I get to experience what the Apostle Paul spoke about when He presented the gospel, ‘My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.’ – 1 Cor. 2:4-5”
And from my other post Calling Boys to Men, I experienced just how powerfully the Spirit broke down walls and brought about a vulnerability not common among men in groups. All this being said I have never been more humbled and joyful at the same time, than partnering with God in this event at the university West Negros STI.
My squad and I presented the same message 12 different times as new groups rotated through the day camp like event. We had a lot of odds stacked against us this month to try and prevent this ministry from happening. Some of us lived in tent around 45 minutes away with difficult means of transportation (think 6 adult Americans stacked on a single motorcycle with a sidecar). Some worked 12 hour days meeting with students, organizing/ planning the event, the list of busyness goes on and on. My squad poured our all into this month, pushing often to the point of total exhaustion each day as we were often torn in many different directions covering a wide variety of ministries.
We made it through the month not only having survived, but thriving. How did we do something so well against such odds?
2 Things: The grace and power of God working in all our hearts, and SAYING YES.
The attitudes of all my squadmates were often tested, and especially my own. However, as God gave exactly what we needed each day we all were faced with a choice, to coast and just go through the motions… or to simply say YES LORD to experiencing this ministry with Him.
I learned such a valuable lesson this month about looking to God for only what I need that day, and letting go of my desire to always know the plans for the future.
So, step-by-step God led us all on an amazing journey this month as we finish up our time in Asia. Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and now the Philippines, every step along the way. Healing, processing, growing, and sealing each of us in sometimes painful, yet powerful lessons of discipleship.
WE MADE IT THROUGH.
Now we just finished a couple days at debrief* near Manila before we embark on the next leg of the journey to Africa today!!! I hope to write another post soon about the painful, yet powerful journey in my heart so far.
So keep an eye out and pray for the Lord to pave the way in Zimbabwe!
Yours in Christ,
Andy
*debrief- Once about every 3 months we get together as a squad of 30 something people to take a few days to rest, reflect and prepare for the next leg of the journey on the race. Sometimes we get great rates for our group size and can stay at a beachside resort or hostel near cool areas. These are all much needed breaks from the constant state of travelling that can happen on the race.
