First of all, sorry for being the worst at updates. This month a goal is to be a better blogger so we’ll see how it goes. Have grace on me.
Basically, the purpose of this specific blog is to answer the question “what happened?” and give you a look back at my first month in Indonesia (more to come soon to let you into what I’ll be up to this month in Thailand!).
Actually, the last place I left was Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – an awesome metropolis city with rich Hindu culture, but also lots of western influence, too.
We were here for a little over a week, with our whole squad debriefing our first month on the field. Our squad coaches and mentors also flew out to meet us to help facilitate Debrief, and it was a great week of rest and reflection of last month as well as preparing for this next month of ministry.
Looking back at my first month in Indonesia, here’s some big ways that God started changing my perspective and aligning it with His:
• my view of Muslims
“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27.
If we truly believe this verse to be true, every single person on this planet reflects parts of God’s holy and beautiful image, has inherent value and is loved by Him. However, it’s far too easy to stereotype and judge others, especially people that are different from us. Also, admit it or not, it’s part of the American complex to look at other cultures and only see how they could operate better, or what we could offer them.
But here’s the thing: as Christians, our goal is not to westernize the rest of the world. Our goal is not to prove “our side” of the argument. And our goal definitely is not to force the peoples of this world that are made in His image into a box that they were not meant to be put in. Our goal is to help people see that true life, freedom and love are given to them in Christ Jesus.
All the Muslim people that we encountered this month in Indonesia, the place of the largest concentrations of Muslims in the world, were kind, hospitable, honest, servant-hearted, devoted, inclusive, and treated us like we were part of the family.
My team had so many conversations that were focused on inter-faith dialogue, with topics such as gratitude, family, love and forgiveness, changing the world – our humanity. They invited us to sing karaoke, to the largest mosque in Southeast Asia, to the movies, to their homes – even more, they invited us into their lives.
These loving people reflected their Creator without even knowing they were doing it. Obviously, from our culture and beliefs to even the way we dress is so, so different. Yet it surprised me how easily those differences faded. Because loving people, even Muslim people, does not, and is not, quite as hard as we try and make it to be.
• my view of myself
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.” Romans 8:15-17.
I could talk about this for a long time, but pretty much, God’s been rocking my view of what it actually means to be His daughter and the freedom and love that has been given to me through Him. He’s faithfully and gently showed up and revealed things in my heart, mind and soul that are from and of Him and His kingdom, and the things that are from this world and my own flesh. It’s been a month of allowing Him to come in and point out these things, prune them, and begin to restore my heart to how He intended it to be. What I’ve learned about myself this month? I’m more loved than I can comprehend and He’s got life and life to the fullest ready for me. It’s awesome y’all.
• my view of God
“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26.
Overall, the last month I’ve seen firsthand how the power of God is active and that Jesus is still alive and working to redeem hearts back to wholeness in Him. He is a good Father who gives His children good gifts to them give those gifts to others. He heals hearts, he heals bodies, He does not leave us broken, He speaks to His children, He meets us where we are at. He loves us first. He works mysteriously. He cannot be put into a box, He can be experienced in the seemingly smallest way or through a supernatural miracle. He’s powerful, and loving. And He shares that power, love and grace with people like you and me – and all you have to do is ask.
This month in Indonesia, He used exped squad to share the Gospel, to heal the sick, to befriend refugees, to pray, to meet with powerful leaders of Islamic religious sects, to build relationships, to plant and water seeds and just to love the people He placed in front of us. Frankly, there are countless stories that my squad mates have told better than I could, so please look into and follow along with their blogs, too.
THANK YOU, for your support, love and prayers. Until next time!
All my love,
Ace
