This is an update to my previous blogs, starting with “Raising the Dead (Your Prayer Is Needed)” If you haven’t already read them, please check them out before continuing.
I believe some of you witnessed the power of prayer through Matko’s story. I know God used many of you to be a vital part of it. You need to know that we see the fruit of your prayers every day. Not only are we touched by your comments, e-mails, and messages, but also by your silent prayers behind closed doors. Moreover, I have met my financial deadline for the month and am no longer in danger of being sent home early. 😉 I really don’t think I can thank you enough.
I have a lot on my heart, but before I write about what comes next, I want to share a few pictures from the weekend.
On Saturday, we took Matko cliff diving.
On Sunday, Matko came to church for the first time in his six years here. It was absolute pure joy seeing him walk through those doors. Tim preached from Hebrews 13. He said he felt like God was speaking directly to him. When Tim spoke about angels (or messengers from foreign lands) bringing good news from God, Matko put his hand on my knee and couldn’t stop smiling.
After church, we started planning our last week in Europe, so here’s what’s going on now. God has really been laying Bosnia on the heart of my teammate, Joel. It’s very important to him, and I’ve decided to support him and go along. We are traveling six hours by bus to Gornji Vakuf, the war-torn town where, in the 1990s, the Bosnian war began. Joel really has no plan beyond following the LORD there. We consider this an ATL (ask the LORD) style ministry. We have no contacts in Bosnia, and a very limited budget. This means we’re bringing our tents.
And the reason I include our Bosnia trip in this blog about Matko is because Matko is coming with us. We spent the evening together, and I’ve been including him in making our arrangements. He’s been calling bus stations, preparing food, and praying. I committed to discipling him, and I can’t think of a better way to do it than to bring him out on the mission field so he can witness firsthand what it’s like to follow God and live by faith. I think it will be awesome to show him how God directs us, provides for us, and empowers us. Matko is on fire right now, and I want to encourage his passion by giving him his first opportunity for missions. I do expect our time to be intense, and as in anything, there is potential for harm. I really just want to ask for your prayers to cover the three of us as we leave for Bosnia tomorrow morning. We really need the Holy Spirit to go before us and cover us in all we do. I’m praying that we grow closer both to each other and to God through this trip. I’m praying that Joel and I can have the wisdom and strength to be positive examples for Matko. I’m praying that we can discern God’s will for us in Bosnia. I’m praying that we can bring worship, hope, praise, and love to a land of division, war, and despair. I’m praying we have divine appointments. I’m praying we find a place to sleep at night. And I’m praying especially that God uses Matko to accomplish beautiful things through his newly found and God-given zeal, obedience, and willingness. Here we go!
