As I heard the wheels from the plane come out announcing that we would soon be landing, I decided to put in my head phones. I had the window seat right next to the wing. My favorite spot by the way. It was late at night and the lights radiated from below, as I looked out over Jordan I pressed shuffle and in my head phones I heard…
There’s no other name
There’s no other name like Yours
J3sus
Every knee will bow
Every tongue confess
The Name of J3sus
I started praying about the lost souls and how soon everyone will know the truth. They will confess J3sus and before that time comes, L0rd I want this month in Jordan for people to confess the name of J3sus. This country needs J3sus and L0rd how can I help? What can I do? Use me L0rd.
It’s “little” moments like that where G0d is with you and you just know. You don’t forget. It is not by coincidence but ordained from our heavenly father. I am sure you have had those “little” moments that stick with you. Also, there have been multiple things I look back on and in the moment thinking “what the heck is going on God?” and then years later (now) I’m laughing with G0d about them. Example, I played ball at little ole’ university in Waxahachie Texas that no one knew about but was one of the most m1ssion-minded schools in America. Not knowing 6 years later I would be a m1ssionary traveling around the world experiencing only what I thought I would hear there. I went because the coach was relentless… or Maybe it was G0d ;). Another example, buying a house at the age of 23. Thinking I was an amazing human and living out the “American dream” not knowing that in 5 years G0d would tell me to sell that home and in that be able to pay off all my student loans/ debt so I could do what he has made me to do. “Little things” you know? And this would be no different, the story I am about to tell you. Those “little” moments that G0d makes all of us look back at and see WHERE we were and then shows us WHERE we are now even 2 years later.
Jordan, a country that has received more than 2.7 million refugees. At one point they were receiving 2,000 people a day! They are the top hosting country in the world for refugees with more than a quarter of their population being those from outside their country, which in reality makes for an entirely different country. There are several refugee camps here but Za’atari is one of the largest refugee camps in the world with a population of 80,000 people. EIGHTY THOUSAND. That is an entire new city y’all! And I just so happen to find myself here in a city right next to Za’atari.
Truthfully, I didn’t think I knew any of this information before my arrival in this country but little did I know. This will be my third time working with refugees and up until now, I have only met a handful of Syrian refugees. I had been “looking” for them since France. In my mind I continued to wonder why I didn’t know there were plenty of other refugees running from war and also why I knew about Syrians only? Was it the news? Had I heard stories about them? Did I come across information about them and it just stuck? As I continued to do some researching and reminiscing, I soon discovered why this particular people group stuck with me.
Many of you know my testimony of emptiness, frustration, longing for more, fearful and confused. I was looking for something to “fullfill” my emptiness and knew there was something more for me. One night about two years ago I remember trying to fill that emptiness with netflix. You are laughing but you know many of you do that right? So, I did what any American does and I googled “Best Netflix documentary overseas” or something like. “Salam Neighbor” caught my eye. It was an insane, sad and heart breaking documentary of these two guys who went into a refugee camp, lived with the refuges and befriended many of them. People who were broken, lost, needing more and desperately wanting “normalcy”. I found myself through out the film trying to live vicariously through them. So, I put in an application to Samaritans Purse for the DART team. Hey! It was the only thing that I had slightly heard about! That didn’t work out for me obviously, but he was most certainly setting the scene for something. But Again the frustration would start, because it was just a dream right? Dreams that were placed in my heart but there is no way I could be going around the world and helping the most desperate people on the earth? False.
That night, in bed as I watched that documentary, it was just another “little” moment in my life but so memorable. I felt him then just like I did 3 nights ago when I put in my headphones on the plane while looking down at Jordan. 2 years ago I did not know that God would be sending to that same camp, Za’atari. The same refugee camp those two guys were living in. The same camp my heart broke for and tears were shed as I watched it on a TV screen. The same people my heart wanted to help but couldn’t. In that moment I did not know that in 2 years from then, I wouldn’t just be living vicariously through them, I would actually be there.
The Documentary is called “Salam Neighbor”. Watch it, It will also help you kind of understand what I am seeing and hearing.
Never doubt “little” moments. Never doubt G0d’s plan for you in the mist of a dessert, in a storm, in the rain or in the hurt. Never feel like your dream is TOO big for G0d. G0d’s plan will prevail, even 6 years later…even 2 years later. I know I am here for a reason. I know that G0d has called me to this place thousands of miles from my bed where I once watched Salam Neighbor and cried wanting to be there. I know that G0d has ordained this and is still ordaining things right outside my door step. Something that is taking place 10 minutes from where I am living, I saw 2 years ago seeking what I thought was just a cool documentary that came across my Netflix account.
J3sus, I know it took me a while to get here. I know you were showing it to me two years ago stirring my heart for this people group. Show me what is here for me! Guide me and help me! Help us! show us people to share the truth with. They are in desperate need to hear it because…
There’s no other name
There’s no other name like Yours
J3sus
Every knee will bow
Every tongue confess
The Name of J3sus
Amen.
