For those of you who were not able to come over on Sunday, I had typed out a summary – as best I could- about my year. Here it is for ya:
Friends and family it’s super hard to summarize the last 11
months of my life. I thought that I would start with an overview, naming where
I was and what my team did there.
The Dominican
Republic (Azua): Here we were split between two different
communities in the Azua province. We began the first of many door to door
ministries, gave testimonies at church, helped to start a church in the Buenos
Aires Community and taught youth to play the guitar.
Ecuador (Huaticocha-
near the jungle): We lived on the outskirts of the jungle. We carried
electric poles up the mountain to a town who has never had electricity, door to
door ministry, built some amazing relationships and children’s ministry.
Peru
(Trujillo): We lived at a children’s home that was still being finished. We
made bricks for the children’s home, played with children at a daycare center
that kept them out of working in the dump, and visited the garbage dump.
Actually got to work the early morning 1st shift at the garbage dump
with some locals.
Nicaragua
(Bethel): Here we lived on the property of an organization that helped to
keep men out of the sugar cane fields. We focused on building relationships
with the community and encouraging them; we also did some dance ministry with
the youth.
El Salvador (San
Salvador & San Vincente): San Salvador is actually nick named “Little
America” and it’s amazing how many people I met who were deported from the
states. Unfortunately, many of our ministry plans fell through but we helped to
run youth services, do some street evangelism and be a part of the homeless
ministry (pan y chocolat) every week.
Thailand
(CHaing Mai): We lived at the Remember Nhu organization: a ministry that
works on preventing young girls from being sold into sex trafficking by
allowing them to live there- they have 77 girls. We focused on building a house
(which is now being used to house 7 young boys) and building relationships with
all the girls we lived with. I also had a few opportunities to teach them
guitar.
Kenya (Kachibora):
While staying here we planned many children’s ministry events, assisted with AA
type meetings, led bible studies, and door to door evangelism. At the end of
the month we also visited a town called Ahero to visit an orphanage school
(Bernard’s Vision). At the school we ran games, songs and bible stories for the
100 children that were there.
Uganda (Bugiri):
I think that this was probably one of the hardest months for our team in
general due to a lot of spiritual oppression. However, we still did door to
door evangelism, preached at church, did children’s ministry at the schools,
preached at seminars, and did hospital ministry.
Tanzania (Mwanza
City): Another month in Africa- door to door, preaching, children’s ministry
and open air meetings (setting up a stage in a public place to have worship and
share the gospel).
Thailand (Chaing
Rai): We were able to stay in a hill tribe, of the Karen tribe, and we had
an elephant farm down the block! This was a low key month we worked on painting
around the church, some people worked on a mural and we did prayer walks.
Cambodia (Svay
Rieng): This month we stayed at a house for teenagers to live so that they
are closer to school. By having this house to live in, they are able to gain an
education and significantly lower their risk of being trafficked. We built
relationships with the youth, taught English lessons, re-wired electrical
outlets and helped to make latrine molds.
A Snap shot of some
of our Adventures
Ecuador – We went on a couple hikes that resulted in us
trying many many different types of fruit. Also, there were walks through very
muddy parts of the jungle, and bathing in the river.
Peru- We were served Guinea Pig
El Salvador- I got to go rock climbing!!! I mean it was only
once, but it felt good!
Thailand- Well we got to ride elephants, go to a cultural
dinner, climb up a waterfall and ride an ostrich.
Kenya- Hiked down to a waterfall and then got stuck in the
rain.
Uganda – Went to Jinja, the Bugali Falls and went on a long
mountain bike ride that left my body hating me!!
Cambodia- Rode in the back of a truck for over an hour to
get to the Cambodia/Vietnam border
Some Memorable
Spiritual Moments
Ecuador- During door to door evangelism a young single
mother began to cry tears of relief. She had been feeling alone and our visit
reminded her that she was not and that God still did loved her.
Peru – I used my anointing oil for the first time….and it
was on myself. What an amazing night my team and I had that was full of joy .
Nicaragua – The first super intense night of spiritual
warfare on the compound where we lived. Seeing what it meant to come together
and fight not against flesh and blood as a team. Also, a boy in the next
community drowned and we prayed for the ocean to release his body, and it did!
This was a small miracle as many people drown and the bodies are usually not
found.
Kenya – The surge I felt after preaching.
Tanzania – Seeing and praying for a girl who was demon
possessed.
Lessons and
Realizations
It’s REALLY hard to live with other people ALL
the time
–
Prayer is super powerful and I’ve seen
atmospheres shift from prayers
–
The Holy Spirit is at work everywhere
–
Healings, possessions, prophecy and tongues
still exist everywhere today
–
Our words hold power
–
A relationship with Jesus is just like that of a
friend
–
It’s important to have community
–
I recharge best when I am alone
–
The Old Testament is fascinating – full of God’s
love and redemption
–
Americans are spoiled
–
I like pumpkin curry
–
The rest of the world is completely content with
the little that they have; even the ones who know that there is soo much more
out there
–
Children do not receive a Junior Holy Spirit
What’s Next?
That is a darn good question. First is making it through
December, getting re adjusted to a life that I left behind and learning how to
take everything I learned this year and integrate into my life now. As far as
my passions, I have a HUGE passion to work with youth in inner city areas. I
desire to encourage people who feel like they have no other choice but to
follow in the footsteps of less than stellar “role models”. To help the
generation coming up in the inner city to beat the odds, to bring out their
beauty for all to see, to just be there when they feel like no one else cares,
to break generational curses because they have no place here. I know they are
large passions but I believe in a big God. I have no idea how any of this will
play itself out and that’s okay. All I can do is take one day at a time. To
remember that the same God I trusted to raise my support money is the same God
that I trust to make my path for me now. I’m listening for His voice to guide
me as I look into ministries and job opportunities.
And I still love rock climbing!! And I think it will be
amazing on the day when my two passions collide!
