11 testimonies that I never blogged about:
India:
Every evening in India our team would get into our host’s car and drive for about thirty minutes to a different village and preach. Each night was different, but the evenings usually consisted of us being invited into someone’s home, given snacks and soda, preaching there, being fed dinner, taking many pictures and then leaving. On occasion we were asked to dance and sing. Those nights were always the most memorable. There was one particular evening when it was my teammate Kyle’s turn to preach. We were packed in like sardines, sitting on the floor of this home. I remember being squished sitting cross legged against the wall as I watched every spot possible on the floor get filled with someone. More people crowded at the door of the home and some poked their faces around the corner to be able to see what was going on. It was Rahul’s family’s home. Rahul was one of the boys who lived in Pastor Samson’s (our host’s) home with us due to his father’s passing. After Kyle preached the gospel in the corner of that tiny home, Rahul brought his grandmother to our team. We found out that she wanted to accept Christ. We prayed over her and she accepted Christ. Many tears and hugs were shared. It was so beautiful seeing a nine year old boy grab his grandmother by the hand and lead her to us. A nine year old boy who lives in middle of nowhere India, where people are persecuted for evangelizing, knew the joy of knowing Jesus and wanted to share it with his grandma. Amazing. Seeing Jesus impact the hearts of the people in those villages was incredible.
Nepal:
Nepal was our all squad month. Ministry varied from day to day. The last week we were there we split up and a group of us got the opportunity to serve at a Prayer Tower started by Pastor Narayan. Pastor Narayan rescues disabled adults and gives them a sustainable life at the tower. These adults now had work, food, shelter and a family to be a part of. Not only that, but Narayan invited them to participate in the rotation of 24/7 prayer that took place at the tower. They had been praying there for 17 years straight. It was amazing. The last day we were there we prayed over each of the adults. As we prayed, a lot of us were led to tears. Praying over prayer warriors was a moment that felt as if the Holy Spirit’s power was collapsing on itself and multiplying. We prayed healing and health over each of the adults. Some of the adults understood what was happening and were also led to tears. Others that suffered from mental disabilities stared back at us with wide, curious eyes. It was cool to see the Holy Spirit in their eyes even with the disability. We could see the Lord moving in their hearts. The beauty of those moments are indescribable. We saw the Lord move and trust that our prayers multiplied in that place.
Thailand:
Our village in Thailand rescued refugees from Burma (the neighboring country). Therefore, the border was so close to where we were staying. Our hosts took us to the border one day and told us that they would try to get us across it. They walked up and talked to the security guards and before we knew it we were were walking on Burma soil! We were in awe that it was that simple. There must be purpose behind this! We walked down the hill past the border until we came upon a small village. We began to ask the Lord to reveal one person to us that he wants us to impact during our time there. We walked around for while and came across this small woman. She invited us into her home and we prayed for health, prosperity and protection. Spending time in Burma was such an unexpected adventure, we knew the Lord had purpose in it. The Lord had just taught me to have faith that He can move in even the shortest, smallest moments. We knew that he divinely appointed that encounter with that woman. We were honored to be able to impact one more country than we anticipated.
Cambodia:
For those of you who follow my blog, remember Leon from Thailand? He was a tired, lonely, 50 year old traveler from Germany that came to our village in Thailand. After a long conversation about his life, mine, Jesus, and hope, we became friends. He actually came back on my birthday to have dinner with my team and I. Both times as he was getting ready to leave, I felt an urge to give him my Bible. The first time he refused to take it. The second time, I decided not to because I felt in my gut that he would get one soon. I thought it was going to be a German bible that we both discussed that he needed to buy, but the Lord had something different in mind. I was eating tacos in the middle of Siem Reap, Cambodia, a month later, when Kyle came to a screeching halt on his bike near the entrance. He yelled down the taco shop, “Kim! Leon is here!” I dropped my taco, hopped on my bike and followed him a couple blocks away to where he last saw Leon, sharing a beer with some Cambodians at a random shop down the street. Leon hugged me so tight and laughed a jubilant laugh at the amazing coincidence. We were both were aware however, that it was no coincidence at all. We met for lunch the next day and I brought him a Bible that was extra from the guest house our team was staying at for the month. When I presented him with the Bible, he began to cry. I highlighted his favorite verse and read it to him. It was a beautiful moment where we both saw how God can weave his love in and out of the stories of people’s hearts, even across countries. I was in awe. What are the chances that we would run into each other again? Leon did not want to leave and wanted to see me again. I assured him that it is the love of God that will follow him all the days of his life, not myself. We parted ways, both more aware of how recklessly the Lord pursues.
Vietnam:
It was very illegal to evangelize in Vietnam. Our ministry was teaching English, practicing English and building relationships at a Christian coffee shop called Vision Cafe. We were told that policemen come into Vision Cafe about once a month. With this in mind, it was difficult to have intentional conversations with the people in the cafe. Our very first day there, a young man named Michael came in to practice English. He sat down at the table in the corner and appeared very reserved. Andre (my team leader and partner for ministry that week) and I approached him asking if he wanted to play Jenga. Within minutes we had him laughing. Michael became one of our very best friends that month. We got to hear his story and his take on Christianity. He was not entirely interested in it, but also not entirely opposed to it. As the weeks went on, he became more and more invested in Vision Cafe. He came everyday and spent hours and hours with our team. He participated in all of the errands we had to run, volunteered his help whenever needed and went on adventures with us. We loved him so much, but could not get a good understanding of where he was spiritually. We diligently prayed for him. He came to church with us every week and began to show more and more of his personality. We saw that by feeling loved, his heart felt free to live, laugh and love in return. He came alive that month. It was difficult to say goodbye to him and we were afraid that he would not remain plugged in with the community at Vision Cafe. We were so pleased to hear that he has continued to attend church, still socializes frequently at Vision Cafe, and still has that life and joy in him that we saw during our time there. The Lord’s love and work is irreversible. We are overjoyed and know that the Lord is after his heart!
Ethiopia:
Ethiopia was a whole month of testimonies of God’s work in relationships. As a squad, we ended up raising money for one of our hosts named Mangay to be able to continue studying theology which was a dream of his. Each member of the squad developed a love for one, two or all twenty four orphans we lived with that month. The last night we were there we set up chairs outside on the porch and all of the children started worshipping on their own accord. About ten or more African orphans began singing, clapping, jumping and praising the Lord with their entire hearts. It was a beautiful thing to be a part of and watch.
Rwanda:
Rwanda was one of my favorite months. We spent a lot of time at church in Rwanda. Church that month was underneath a white tent in the middle of the village. They held a church service every evening in an effort to increase its numbers. We were asked to preach every church service and I was up first. I preached on the five loaves and two fish out of Matthew and ended with a short gospel presentation. I asked the crowd to listen to their heart and see if they felt the Lord nudging them to make a decision. I prayed for the crowed and sat back down. Pastor John (the pastor of the church and our host for the month) took over the pulpit and continued to ask the crowd about the decision to follow Jesus. Before I knew it, there were five people in front of the pulpit, both men and women, making the decision to follow Jesus for the first time in their lives. As a team we surrounded them, laid hands on them, prayed for them and celebrated with them. It was incredible. We saw God change five people’s hearts our very first day in Rwanda. I was so humbled to have been given the opportunity to preach that day. I was so blown away and filled with joy at the willingness of that crowd. God was always so present in that white tent. What a time.
Bolivia:
Bolivia was a challenging month. We were sent to a village where no teams had ever been before. The conditions were the tough. Lots of bugs with no refuge, limited drinkable water, dirt floors and a hot climate. The list goes on. Despite the difficulty of it, it was beautiful. It was beautiful to see a way a life that is so different than my own. It was beautiful to be completely out of place, but still find ways to connect to people. It was beautiful being completely reliant on the Lord in every moment for strength and endurance. It was also beautiful living in the unknown. The unknown of where we were exactly, why we were there and what our purpose was. We talked to God a lot that month. It forced us to trust God. Trust that he does not make mistakes, that everything is known to him and He is moving even when we do not always understand or see how. There were some issues with communication between our host, who ended up not being able to go with us, and the people of the village, which left us trying to serve the people on our own. I saw the Lord in ways I would have never expected to that month. One afternoon the mayor’s assistant called us into the office, sat all seven of us down and basically asked us, “Why are you here?” In that moment, Andre explained all about the world race, our intentions and drive for serving. He was curious about us, but also said that he would help find ways that we could serve the community. After that day, he began to include us in different things around the village. We helped mark the roads with posts that indicated where the telephone poles would go. He shared that this would be the first time ever this village would have electricity. We believe the Lord began a good work in that village when we had that conversation with the mayor’s assistant. We carried on in faith knowing that the Lord carries every good work to completion. Our prayer is that the gospel would be preached to the people of the village through the radio, once the electricity works.
Peru:
Our last week in Peru, myself and a couple of my teammates traveled to a jungle town to bring Jesus to the people during a three day free medical clinic. We came ready to serve food, play with the children, hand out wheelchairs and share the gospel. Our first night there, an eleven year old girl named Sarai sat down next to me with her two year old bother in her lap. She was so still beside me I barely noticed her at first. We became friends that night over short conversations, a couple of volleyball games, chasing after her younger brother and a bag of popcorn. Sarai started taking care of her brother after her mom passed when she was little. When she told me her mom passed, her face became still and she looked forward. I asked a friend to translate for me and assured her that even though her mom is not here anymore she has a heavenly Father who is always looking after her. I asked her if she knew who Jesus and she said kind of. I shared the gospel with her and she said she actually had heard the story before. I assured her the God is looking out for her and her brother. The next couple of days we spent more time together. I painted her face, she taught me all the colors in Spanish and she introduced me to her friends. On our last night she wrote me a note that read,
My friend Kinverlin (close enough). I will miss you so much, you are like my sister. Thank you for the bracelet. It is very nice and also thank you for helping me understand that God is always with me and all of us. I miss you so much, thank you for everything I hope you have a great trip. I have never known a friend like you, thank you. I love you, Kinberlin.
When I read the note my heart exploded. God is so cool. The fact that He can impact a young heart through one small conversation, through a language barrier and with small acts of love is a-maz-ing. I wish I could have done life with her and encouraged her as she grew older, but I trust God’s protective love. I pray for her beautiful heart all the time.
Ecuador:
Each testimony in Ecuador always took place in the new church location that we helped renovate and prepare. Opening Sunday was full of testimonies as we watched a group of believers come together and commit themselves to God. We also participated in a women’s bible study every Thursday night. We studied scripture together as women of the church and exchanged testimonies. As a team, we also ran a youth group every Friday. We played games, shared testimonies and preached from God’s word. It was awesome to see some of the youth return week after week, engaged in the message.
Colombia:
This month we are at a YWAM base, living and working in an orphanage of about thirty boys and girls. There are 11 staff members who live here from all over the world. There is one staff member here named Jakob (pictured below in the middle). He is 23, from Sweden and has the sweetest spirit. We were told at first that he does not know the Lord. We found out later that he has given his life to Jesus, but wants to grow in relationship with Him. Since we have been here, he has been on all of our hearts. We were supposed to go on a four day trip to serve in a remote part of Colombia, but the roads were too dangerous and the trip got cancelled. My teammate prayed over the canceled trip and heard the named Jakob. As a team we continued to pray for him. We were pleased when we heard that he was coming to church with us one Sunday and during the service the Lord put him heavily on our hearts. He did not participate in communion, but sat off to the side seeming heavy and confused. During communion, he went over to another staff member and friend of ours, Joel, and started asking questions. I was holding my small portion of bread and small cup of juice and felt a huge urge to pray for him. I dedicated this specific communion to Jakob in prayer. I asked the Lord to lead him to brokenness, just as Jesus’s body was broken for us, so that he may feel his need for a savior. I asked that Jesus’s blood would pour out over him as I sipped the juice out of the small red cup. Lastly, I prayed over the dream I had about him the other night. I asked God if there was something he wanted me to tell Jakob. I felt God reply, tell him I want to know him. I prayed and prayed for his heart during the song and eventually opened my eyes. I noticed that Jo, who was once beside me was gone and looked around to find her. I found her to my left, along with most of my teammates and Joel laying hands on Jakob, praying for him as he cried holding his face in his hands. My heart leaped and I walked over to pray for him as well. I was overcome with how God answered that prayer right as I was praying it. My eyes filled with tears. That moment brought me to my knees. Watching the Lord change a heart is the best thing. Later that day, I shared the message that God wanted to know him with Jakob and he said that is exactly what he felt in that moment in church. Go Holy Spirit, GO.
