In my previous blog post I mentioned I would post a video recap of Indonesia… I think the Lord had other plans because my entire video went corrupt. Nevertheless, I still have words and I’ve found when I just let the Lord speak through me amazing things happen.
Indonesia was full of adventures, big and small. My team started off the Race having to completely rely on God and boy, did he show out.
He provided a church and a house for us. He provided friends that now feel like family. He provided food and running water. He withheld no good thing from us.
In this month the Lord has revealed many things to me. I’ve found out just how weak I am, and just how strong the Lord is. I’ve watched God’s people thrive in persecution. I’ve seen miracles happen.
Zebaoth, our church home, had such great faith in the Lord. In Indonesia it is not easy to be a Christian, you really have to want a relationship with God.
Christians are surrounded by another religion that literally hates them. They’ve burned churches down and reject people from neighborhoods. The church can’t grow past what land they already have because it’s not allowed.
Yet they trust that God will provide every single thing they need.
They trust that God is who he says he is.
They called Erin, Holly, Jenny, Kimberly, Megan, and I a miracle. The fact that God would send six white girls to them was amazing.
How wonderful is our Father’s love? There is nothing he won’t do to show just how far his love goes. His love knows no bounds. He is not confined to anything and nothing can separate us from Him.
In this last month I’ve learned just how deep his love goes and how we can reflect him better. Time and time again the Christians in Indonesia would respond with love when all they received was hate. They sought to be more like Jesus, like we all should.
There’s a reason they call the World Race a pressure cooker. I think I’ve grown more in my first month than I probably would have with five months at home. God has revealed so much about who he is and who I am. All it takes is being open.
This month I’ve struggled with the Lord. I’ve cried, yelled, laughed, and sang. Indonesia was the best kind of roller coaster I’ve ever been on.
I can assure you, God would rather us fight and hash things out with him than be a limp noodle. Life is hard, there’s a lot to process. But God is bigger, and he’s already won the war. He tells us we are more than conquerors through him.
As we go into this next month in the Philippines, God has given me a renewed fighting spirit. I’m ready to fight for my family. I’m ready to fight for my team. I’m ready to fight for my squad. I’m ready to fight for myself and my identity. I’m ready to fight for God.
I want to encourage you all to become warriors for God. Even if it’s hard, even if it hurts, I can guarantee it’s worth it. Take some time with the Lord and ask him to renew your spirit. Ask him to show you what all you can be fighting for.
Don’t be limp noodles, my friends.
With great love,
Chels
