HHEEYYOOOO!!!
Woweewow everybody. It feels like I just got here but somehow Ive only got 8 days left in Indonesia…. 8DAYS! Can you believe that?! Because your girl can not! But despite almost being in Month 11 of this 11 month journey I am killing the game. Thriving in the kingdom!
This month my team and I are in Medan which is at the northern tip of the Sumatra Island. We are working and living at a local church doing all the things. We are mainly preaching and teaching everyday. We mostly lead kids programs which includes singing songs, playing games, doing skits, telling bible stories, teaching English, just loving on the kids of Medan. Which if you know anything about me getting to hang out with kiddos all day just fills my heart to the brim! It was so so cool a few days ago my team and I went to a local church our host is friends with and led a kids program for around 80 children ranging in age from 4 to around 12 or so. We sang all the songs and played a few games and then my mate Jessica narrated a few skits while the rest of us acted them out. She told the story of the storm that hit the boat with Jesus and the disciples. At the end she talked about Jesus always being in our boat and that no matter what storm comes into our lives we can trust that Jesus is our friend and will keep us safe. She then asked the children if any of them wanted us to pray for them and ALL 80 of those kids came running to the front of the church! They got in a line and each of us prayed one by one until they were all sitting back down. It was the most amazing experience. To be able to hold these children’s tiny hands and pray to Papa for protection and provision over their lives. I’ll never forget those children, I’ll never forget their tiny hands, I’ll never forget how overwhelmed my heart felt at the opportunity to pour our Fathers love over them, and I’ll never stop thanking God that He is watching over each and every one of them. (P.S I am REALLY missing all of my sweet kiddos from Grace. So if you are reading this and you are their parent give them a HUGE hug from me! I am very excited to see all of them.)
I also had the opportunity to preach at our church two Sunday’s ago. Which was scary because I would say I fall more into the teaching category than the preaching category, but I think it went pretty swimmingly. I taught about offering up a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord. (Yes there is a blog coming soon on my journey through learning what truly being Thankful looks like… It’s been a struggle trying to put all of my thoughts together in a word document. Luckily I can just tell you all about it face to face very soon.)
We also have had the distinct pleasure of being in Medan on the same dates as Pastor Dave and his wife Francis, missionaries from South Africa. What amazing people they are. They have been missionaries for over 20 years! Their main base is in Russia, however they are frequent visitors here in Medan. We have been able to attend a few classes where Pastor Dave has spoken at and we even got to tag along with our host Pastor David and missionary Pastor Dave to Lake Toba (A really beautiful place you should look it up) where Pastor Dave preached a 2 day revival at a local church.
It has been so so nice being here while Pastor Dave and his wife are here because a lot of times on the race my team and I dont get to experience church services and be “filled” back up in that traditional sense. We are either leading Sunday school, or leading service, or the message is in a different language we cannot understand. But because Pastor David and Pastor Dave speak English every time Pastor Dave preaches we get to reap the wisdom.
This month has also been very nice because right down the road from where were staying in a place called Hermes Plaza and it has a Starbucks, a movie theater, and………….. A GYM!!! WHOOO! Okay I am not going to lie 50% of me got a membership this month because the gym has hot western showers and if I showered at the church I would have to take cold bucket showers everyday. But it has been such a luxury to be able to work out at a real gym with weights and a treadmill all month. It really enhances my thirst for all the amenities I will be able to indulge in when I get home!
Which if you watched my last blog you’ll know isn’t too far from now! (37 days) Well almost. I will be back in the US in 37 days because I am going to spend that weekend in San Francisco California to regroup myself before I fly home on Monday the 27th.
Mann..
That’s so close…..
Nope….
We’re not doing this.
37 days is going to fly by but God can do so much in that amount of time. Seriously, I know I have only been on the race for 10 months thus far, but it feels like I have gone through 5 years of spiritual growth. So I will save all of my “I CANT BELIEVE THIS IS ENDING AND IM COMING HOME” freak out for a different blog.
…..That’s gunna be a fun one to write.. hahaha
Anyway, I love you all! I am doing so well! God is so so good to me and I can wait to see you all and hug you till my arms fall off. I miss you more than I miss American Cheeseburgers! (And if you know me you’ll know thats a lot)
Love always,
Mar
P.s Blessing report: God really came through this month for me because I’m SUPER over eating rice and my host makes mashed potatoes and corn every night for dinner. You could say I am a very happy girl 🙂
