It is crazy once again how fast this month flew by! Ministry was amazing this month. I didn’t know how it would end up, but walking away my last day from Camp Joy with tears in my eyes I know it was well spent. Relationships formed that I never would have expected. Seeing gangsters teary eyed as I left, who would have thought.
I want to share several of the stories of the guys I met this month. One man murdered 2 people in front of his mom. He also killed people and harvested them for organs for a witch doctor. A 16-year-old boy has already killed at least 10 guys. The gangs put guns in the hands of the young ones so if caught they don’t serve as much time in prison. One man stabbed and killed a guy. Many have served time in prison. Most have been drug addicts for most of their lives. There are many who were addicted to “tic” or crystal meth, buttons, mandrex, acid, and heroine. I don’t think you can come up with a group that has had a much rougher past. But when I see these guys I see friends and brothers in Christ.
People are people. We all have sin. But who is to say that we wouldn’t do the same thing they did if we grew up in those conditions. I know I am no different than them in God’s eyes. For I have killed many people and currently battle addictions in my life. They may not have the same earthly consequences, but the sin is the same. 1 John 3:15 “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”
I feel this month God has given me a new view of his grace and love. To love these men as He does, seeing only what is good and forgiving them for what is not. Many of these men’s lives are changed! They know that Jesus is the only answer and only way to be free from their pasts.
Standing in the Ocean the words from these songs came to mind and God’s grace is shown visually as I looked out over the water.
-Need to Breathe (Something Beautiful) “In your ocean I’m ankle deep I feel the waves crashing on my feet, its like I know where I need to be”
-Hillsong United (Oceans-Where Feet May Fail) “When oceans rise my soul will in your embrace for I am yours and you are mine
-David Crowder Band (How He Loves) “If His grace is an ocean we’re all sinking”
God will and has already forgiven you for every sin you have committed. It doesn’t matter what you have done or thought. He already knows. Your life can change! I have seen change and forgiveness received and given. I have experienced healing. If God’s grace is an ocean, which it is, all your sin is like a grain of sand lost in it. He loves you and just wants you to come back to him. We spent 3 of our off days at Hillsong Summer Camp! One speaker talked about when Jesus was on the cross. In Matthew 27:46 Jesus says “ My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” God turned his back on his own son Jesus when He took the sins of the world. In doing this God will never ever turn his back to you. His love and grace is waiting for you to simply accept and live for Him.
-Hillsong (Man of Sorrows) “Now my debt is paid, it is paid in full, by the precious blood that my Jesus spilt, now the curse of sin has no hold on me, whom the son sets free is free indeed!”
During ministry we also got to do fun things with the guys. We got to take them to a soccer game and also on a hike. This month I was also a DJ for our contacts wedding. Several of us went cage diving with Great White Sharks!
I also want to announce that I am FULLY- FUNDED of the trip and gear costs!!! Thank you all so much for your generosity in supporting me this year! I never thought it was possible to raise $15,500 plus the funds for my gear and preparation! But God has provided EVERY need to get me to where I am. So if any more donations are made to World Race’s website under my name they will not be helping me out anymore. So if you feel led to give send them to David Garretson 403 West R Street McCook, Nebraska 69001. These funds will be used for my personal spending and adventures. Everything thus far has been used only for ministry expense and gear/preparation.
Once again please keep me in your prayers. We will be in Thailand this month. It is Manistry month so all the guys will be together.
