For the sake of safety of our team, our host, and others in the community I am not able to share specific names, places, or certain words associated with what we are doing here on social media or public platforms. But if you have any questions, please feel free to message me on Facebook messenger and I can answer them to the best of my ability privately to you!
We are here in Bali!!! There are 2 teams at our site for this month and it’s been really cool getting to know each other more! The first few days were getting settled, being orientated by our host, and getting to explore the community around us. A couple of the biggest things people value and cherish in Bali are community and culture. It is so evident in everything they say and do. Everywhere we have gone, we have been greeted with the upmost respect and joy. They are so quick to serve and they do it with all the joy and selflessness in the world. We came to be a blessing to them, yet we are being beyond blessed by them in return. This place is incredible with the tropical island feel, beautiful in the faces of the locals, and the feeling of close community. Yet, there is a whole other side not very many people see. When we were being orientated by our host, he shared with us the reality of what is going on. He shared with us it is one of the darkest islands in the world. Jesus followers are less than .5% of all the people in Indonesia. The rest are very deeply rooted in other beliefs. Lots of demonic worship and black magic several times a day, every day. My prayer is that we can be a light in this community for Jesus and show them love like never before. For a prayer request, there has been spiritual warfare going on in our teams and it would be amazing if you could be praying for us!!
I also wanted to share what happened recently! Yesterday was Sunday so we had church in the morning. The church gathering was very small compared to what church is like for myself back home, but the passion was so powerful!! I’ve never been so moved by how the worship leaders sang and gave praise to God with all their heart. I had goosebumps the entire time basking in God’s presence and goodness. Meeting the church community was very inspiring. They shared amazing stories about what God is doing in their lives and how they have seen God move in their communities. After the church service was done, we went to have lunch with the church community where I got to have lunch with the sweetest girls. I was praying that I would have purpose here and to build connections, and it was today I finally felt like I really connected with some of the locals. It touched my heart and it made me so happy to have those new friendships. After lunch, a woman in the church invited a group of us to go out into the rice fields to pray over a little girl who became paralized and nonverbal overnight a few years back. When we got to the home of the little girl, I was immediately humbled. These people live in a house with their livestock and hardly anything, yet they were so full of joy and hospitality seeing us and showing us their home. We got to meet the little girl who became paralized as well as all the other children in their family. We played games, learned words in each other’s languages, and got to learn more about their family. Towards the end of our time there, we got to pray over the little girl and her family for healing over them. We are anxiously waiting to see how God moves in this family, but even if we don’t get to see it, I’m hoping we were able to plant seeds and show them God’s love through our words and actions. This was one of the first of many God moments and I am so honored to be a part of this.
We’ve only been here for 7 days, but we have experienced so much! If this whole year will be as crazy amazing as this first week has been, I’m so beyond excited we are doing this with Jesus! I love you all and miss you!!
