Ok so here’s the scoop on what has been happening on the Black Sea coast line in Georgia. I got a new team named Splash; amazing individuals that make up a Kingdom and a force to be reckoned with (upcoming team blog). So we have worked the last month on creating and cultivating relationships with #1 the shawarma stand where we go daily to share the love of Jesus, pour out our joy, and learn the language. #2 We pour into the keepers at the guest house that we have been able to stay with. #3 the local kids have a lot of fun playing soccer with us actually we have a lot more fun playing it with them. The women on the squad were able to share a message about jesus and help the kids to understand why we wanted to spend time with them. It was an awesome ministry to see so many kids having such a blast playing with us. Most of them have never got the chance to hang out with americans.
The first thing that we do on the daily is support this small shawarma place called Mc Donners. We were able to bless them every day by investing in the delicious food and also talking and becoming friends with one another. The business has only been open for 2 months and they are hoping to open up 2 more locations within the next year. We are praying for there success and growth as a business and as individuals. I’m thankful for the ministry God has given us here with Ramas and Taco.
The second thing that we as a team have chosen to do is take our worship to the beach so that all can hear. We then chose to serve the Kingdom in a practical way by walking along the beach and picking up trash. This was an amazing way to fully sit with the lord and practice listening prayer. On the second day of ministry we started to find needles, vials, and empty glue containers. The first day I was able to clearly process that people have a freedom to do as they will with themselves. The second day we found about 50 more needles. This crushed my heart as I was picking up needle after needle. There came a point that I started to tear up thinking of the people, the moms, and the dads.
I started to have so much hurt in my heart towards the abuse that people do to themselves and how it affects those around them. That day my heart broke finding so many broken lives within each needle. As I picked each one up my mind grew confused my heart became dark and I felt so much hopelessness towards the people that choose to throw there life into drugs. I had a hard talk with God about how I was feeling and why my heart was so impacted and heavy. I started to think about the hundreds of people that walk the beach daily. I started to think of the kids that would see them, or even worse step on them. My heart was so broken and filled with pain from human’s choice to leave needles, to recklessly throw this beautiful gift of life away, and to get a different feeling on earth. It was a hard place in my heart, knowing I came from drug abuse, it was very relevant to me. Im blessed to be adopted and not stuck in the dealings of my birth family. I started to pray for the people that sat in that very spot that laid the needle that they left behind. I found myself sitting with God mourning man’s choice in life to constantly search for joy outside His will. I can’t explain nor imagine the hurt that one must feel in their heart to resort to numbing out life. What a need for God on earth. What a blessing it is to have a community that holds us accountable for our actions. What a blessing for the family member that keeps us from diving too deep into the ways of the world.
I sat on the beach the other day watching the sun go down over the Black Sea. I sat there with my Bible reading out of (Matthew 17-20) and journaled my truth-filled emotions. I could not stop thinking of how good our Father God is; how much of a blessing it is to see the beauty of this life without the use of drugs. I started to thank the Lord for each person that I have met, each person I’ve ever gotten the chance to talk with and encourage. God is so good and He truly wants to redeem even when we feel that we are nothing or have no purpose. Be the game changer. Take action. Make a move to better those around you. It’s easy to talk about creating change, I call that a critic. It takes steps of faith through action to create change. If you know someone is struggling with drugs try to help. The more prayer they get, the more convicted one will feel. I do not know about your life choices but I do know that if I ever get the chance to change a life simply by true honest prayer to the Father. I’m holding nothing back and praying day and night.
I have a bit of understanding on drugs and alcohol. It’s mainly due to all the drug shows on tv and lots of research, and partially my past and having a birth mother that chose them over children. It takes steps of faith to enter into the darkness and not get lost. It truy is impossible to get lost if your trust is in Christ Jesus. We may feel lost but God has us where he has planned from the beginning for us to be. In this world we can easily fall into the depression of thinking God is not good. Like finding a total of over 100 drug needles on a beach or watching bad parenting, underage smoking. God is good and has opened up our eyes so that we can do something about it. I see passivity all over the Western World and I honestly am so tired of people not taking action in their own lives. It’s quite simple at times. If there is trash in front of you pick it up, and other times it’s a little more complex. If you see suspicious activity confront it and clear the air of false accusation. I knew when coming on this mission around the world that I could count on there being bad people. The world we live in tends to focus on the bad of the world instead of encouraging the good. Let’s start the new trend of walking and living a life of rejecting passivity: pick up the beach, share some water, love and consideration is a free gift that is lacking all around this world. That may be a good habit to pick up along the way.
Thanks for reading and I pray you find some light in your day
