This month has not been the most exciting as far as ‘things’ happening and ‘stories’ to be told. I did break my wrist, I did accidentally get shaved (basically bald) by the barber who misunderstood what I was asking for, and we did have a lot of moments as a team that were funny and laughable around a campfire setting. However, I am talking about the real stories. I am talking about the calling and desire that brought us here in the first place. I am talking about the stories that show how God showed up and showed out. Unfortunately I don’t have a lot from this month that I will be able to relate into a speech or sermon one day. But looking back, I am so proud of this month as a whole.
One guy may or may not have accepted Jesus, and several people came to church for the first time and appeared as if they showed genuine interest (which is awesome). People often told me no when I asked if I could pray for them in the name of Jesus. My wrist did not get healed when I was believing that it would. But we grinded, and I am so proud of that. We were bold, intentional, and persistent! Even though we did not see much fruit or tangible difference, which can easily lead to discouragement, we talked about it and just trusted that our obedience would not be in vain. And that we might be plowing the soil or watering the seed that could later grow although we may never see it or know about it. I was recently encouraged by one of the close friends with the scripture
Ezekiel 2:5-8 “And whether they listen or fail to listen-for they are a rebellious people-they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”
Yes it is exciting to see fruit, and I am naturally very performance based. So if I do not see results in something that I am doing it is easy for me to lose heart quickly. This month has truly been a month of praying, speaking, and evangelizing even though people seemed as if they didn’t care and did not listen. But I will continue to pursue the heart of God for Him and Him alone. And I will be broken off from the concern of what other people think, do, or how they react. When Jesus entered a place, people either believed in Him and gave up everything to surrender and follow Him, or they hated Him and wanted to kill Him. There really was no in between. I am aiming to walk in that same confidence, knowing that I am a son of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and I will see revival happen all over the earth. I will pray in tears for this, I will travel the earth for this, and I will die for this.
In the words of our host Zoltan, when asked how he lives here as pastor of a Christian church not seeing much fruit and battling in such a spiritually oppressed city and tough ministry environment, “Ethan, I am not emotionally unattached because I do care about the people and the families here. But my ‘well’ from which I get my joy from is Jesus and no one or nothing else. Because everything else is going to let me down and would not have satisfied me anyway. I have to keep Jesus as my well, that’s how I do it”.
This quote alone from a man with a great sense of humor, tough work ethic, and compassionate heart, was worth the trip alone for me.
As we are traveling to Romania this next month, my team and I will continue to press in and say YES to anything Jesus asks us to do. Even if we don’t understand it or see the benefits of it.
Galatians 6:9- “And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up”.
Prayer request. that we will be hungry more than ever before.
Matthew 5:6- “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled”.
