A Plethora of Answers
Wow! Where do I begin in writing about the prayers that have been answered in just the last few days?? I'm not really sure where to start, so I guess I'll start from when we got back to Georgetown!
First, we are back at the Broadway Budget Hotel (freakin' best service EVER!!) and that in itself is the first answered prayer for our team. Second, we have been able to grow stronger together as a team in just this week alone and God's got some cards up His sleeve for more (I know this because I hold one of them lol).
Then, on Monday, we didn't have plans, so we had some individual one-on-one time with teammates, which I actually had a plan formulate for my time spent with Ashley (if you know me, then that's not common haha…). Anyways, we hopped on a bus and headed to a floating mosque, where we both prayed and prophesied that it would be a church one day. After this, we walked along the beach to cut some time in the walk to the Toy Museum (over 100,000 action figures collected since 1973) and I was blown away by how awesome it was! I mean, I grew up watching cartoons and loving every second of it (I would say that that is unfortunate, but it was my life and I loved it so yeah). So many memories of my childhood flooded my mind, not to mention all the memories from the last 11 years, since there were a LOT of figures from this period as well. 😀
Ash and Joker (plus other creepy creature I just saw)…Superman, Iron Man, and MAN OF GOD!! BAM!
On Tuesday, we had some praise and worship at PenHOP (Penang House of Prayer), which was totally filling. We had a great day of relaxation and getting things done we needed to. I personally, went and walked around the city, especially to Fort Cornwallis and prayed over the places I walked. On that night, we journeyed to an old time church with a gazebo outside during a humongous rainstorm and we prayed over one another and spoke life into each other. I needed that personally! Finally, we went to pray for the city, stood in a circle backwards facing out, held hands and prayed with a passion and unity that we have longed for! Again, epicness in the making!
Wednesday was filled with ministry, as three of us went to the hospital with Greg's team and the other three went to the Kawan Center with Mary's team. Dex and I oversaw the shower area in Kawan and got to hang out and talk pretty much, worshipped, and I did a few Sudoku puzzles, then let Dex try his hand at it, since he had never done so before. On Wednesday night we went back to Kawan for they were having a street church, which consisted of three teams (one for the service, multiple groups to go out and pray and talk to people on the streets, and one for intersession and prayer). This night was full of ANSWERED prayers!!
The first one was for me. You see, beginning this trip, I talked with God telling Him that I would NOT cut my hair or shave my beard these 11 months of the Race; however, many of my squadmates have been talking to me and asking me to do so. With that I have been struggling with my commitment to God and whether or not it mattered if I followed through with it. I almost did go to a barber one time to get it all lopped off, but I didn't, thank goodness! So, I've been praying to God for His will in this manner and well He answered in an AMAZING way on Wednesday night. I got to Kawan and was just standing there not sure what to do at that moment as we were waiting for instructions, when a guy named Matthew on his OR with YWAM came up to me all excited saying he HAD to meet me and compliment me on my beard…I must say I was taken aback, but as I thought about it and what not, God totally gave me a sense of peace that He was pleased with my decision and proud that I would sacrifice looking civilized for His Kingdom. My heart wept for this answer!
After this, I met some other guys with YWAM and they're pretty awesome (Robert and Brad)! I mention them, because I joined the intersession and prayer team for the night along with Mary, Becca, Amy (YWAM) and Hannah (also from YWAM). We weren't sure what to do at the beginning because Hannah wasn't yet with us, but as we were upstairs in Kawan, Brad said he didn't really know a lot about prayer, but felt that we should pray in new ways. As we went along, we just prayed for the rain to stop and that the teams wouldn't get wet as they walked the city, that healing would take place, that the teams would be met by others, by open hearts, by receptive hearts, that the teams would be guided and led by God and His Spirit, that Holy Spirit would just flow through the city! It was powerful and in that upper floor, the presence of God was THICK!! When Hannah had joined us, she brought a guitar and so Becca started playing worship music as we prayed and we prayed in new ways. Becca even began playing 'He Won't Relent' and we got loud…even to the point that someone from downstairs had to come up and tell us to quiet down, so as to not disrupt the happenings downstairs. Anyways, fast forward to the debrief session after everyone got back to Kawan and we sat there and learned that everything, yes EVERYTHING, we had prayed and asked God for had come to pass in some way or another, even to where Paul healed someone's leg! Awesome!! I was speechless!!
During our prayer and intersession time, God gave me words for my new friend Brad, (got a man hug from him and Robert to seal the prayer time…awesome!) and I actually operated in boldness and TOLD him. Basically, God needed me to tell him that his prayers, his words and conversations with God were true, powerful and effective and that it doesn't matter how it looks, and he needn't worry about whether or not how much he knows about prayer. You're probably wondering why I say this part, and I say it because it's an answered prayer. You see, I've been praying to walk in boldness and courage for a long time now and this night I can definitely say that I did so WITHOUT hesitation and just operated in the Spirit!
Alright, now finally, today. How do I describe about today?
Well, I got up and went to find Bringham (from my last team…Lionheart), for I needed to go on a quest for a new camera, plus I missed her and needed to hang out with her. First, I again operated in that boldness and answered prayer by pursuing the time to spend with her. Second, I also had been talking to my current team of how I haven't been able to hang out with my last team as much, because it just felt off and not the same as before, even though I love them dearly. Today, however, I made the choice to have Bringham be the one to accompany me and it was AWESOME to get to walk and talk with her about stuff, esp. my sister and the new baby! To cap it off, God TOTALLY provided me with a new camera within the limit I had set for myself and it's an epic new camera!
Angela Bringham and I!
After this time, I went to the Penang National Park with three member of Team En Gedi and had a blast! We went on a canopy tour and hiked to a beach and lake that were awesome! Though we didn't see any sea turtles, God still showed up through His creation all around us and the great fellowship with each other. I had also been fretting that I didn't quite have 4 RMs for the bus ride back and well God showed up…I walked across a bridge on the trail and on the other side was 2 RM bills just laying there…I HAD the bus fare now! Go God!!
The canopy walkway…me holding on….Keryn…Becca and Greg the Pirate
(didn't realize the second two were sideways…oops)
His Glorious Creation!!
Finally, to wrap this all up, I have been praying incessantly for my family back home with a lot of stuff going on. The main thing being my sister on bed rest and not doing well healthwise while being pregnant; however, as of two nights ago or so my sister has had her baby girl, Jordan, (6lbs 2oz.) and everyone back home is doing well! I have even been able to be in contact with one of my nephews after a lot of drama occurred, which has taken a GREAT weight off of my shoulders from worrying about him and what not.
So, through this week alone, God has answered and re-answered questions, prayers, and even just random thoughts along the way. I have learned much in this time alone and have grown closer with my team and am excited that tomorrow I get to search out the Lord for my team with what the special card is up His sleeve! 😀
Stay tuned for the next blog…maybe or maybe not about mantles. 😉
