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Below is a blog that my teammate, Amanda Howard, wrote regarding prayer and how it can actively make a difference in our world. Before you read that, I want to briefly explain some of the ministry I have done over the last three weeks.


The majority of my time has been spent digging pipe trenches for the new houses that are being built. These houses will be used as transition houses for the families whose kids have grown and they are no longer in need of the larger houses here at Caminul Felix. We have not had very much contact with the kids here but we have been able to hang out with some of the teens over the last couple of days which has been cool. We hope to continue getting to know them throughout our last week here.



Yes, it is all done by hand.  Frozen ground = hurt hands.

 

The other ministry we did relates Amanda’s blog below. We had the opportunity to deliver food and toys to people living at the local garbage dump. We essentially brought food to these people and that was it. Many of us felt like we needed to do more, but the reality is that we can’t do everything. However we can pray. Their living conditions are some of the worst I have seen in my travels (what makes it even worse is the freezing cold weather) and so we felt the need to act in the only way we can. Prayer. 

 

Amanda speaks for us all in the following:

 

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion-
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”


Isaiah 61:1-4

 

Many people believe that we must be out in the world in order to have a moving global impact. This could not be further from the truth. One of the main reasons many of us came on The World Race was to serve God’s people and spread His love around the world. People often ask why I feel like I have to travel around the world to do such things. The truth is, I don’t. However, I feel called to reach the neglected parts of the Nations that are crying out for God’s love and mercy, but I don’t doubt that we need just as much help in the U.S.

 


These past five months, we have met more people than we could count that have absolutely broken our heart. I don’t hurt for them simply because they live in poverty or have challenges in their lives. My compassion is driven from a desire to give them unending hope and joy that we can only find in the Lord.


We were given the opportunity to visit the Dump here in Romania. This is not the first time our hearts have been broken and frustrated out of compassion, and I can guarantee that it will not be the last.



The bottom line is, I am NOT satisfied to sit by and watch the world continue on in hopeless despair and destruction.


I know that I cannot alone love every orphan, feed every hungry mouth, free every captive, love every brokenhearted, give hope to every lost, and comfort all those who mourn, but that will not stop me from taking a stand.

 



The good news is that we are not alone in doing such things. The Lord calls us to take action, but He also calls us to present ALL of our requests to Him. Even if we could, as humans, end global poverty, where would that leave us? People may no longer be hungry, but would they truly be receiving a lasting impact? Would they still look to their Savior to provide? In praying for the people of the Nations, we recognize that our actions, although good and helpful, may not be sufficient. We serve a God that is MIGHTY, POWERFUL, and COMPASSIONATE! Where we cannot reach, He can move mountains!



These people are not just another statistic that can be read on the UNICEF website. They are God’s children. Each and every one of them is a unique, beautiful, and blessed individual, so I’m asking you toJOIN US in taking a stand and making a difference in their lives.


 


This Sunday (Saturday for you all in the U.S.), we will be fasting from various things (food, internet, etc.), and we will be sleeping in our tents in the field to spend a night in solitude and prayer, fighting for those in need all around the world. We encourage you to fast with us in remembrance of those in need. This is not a day/night to spend in misery or guilt, but to remember God’s promises for His children, and to ask Him to be present here in Romania, the United States, Canada, Africa, Asia, and all parts of the world! If our loving God can move mountains, then let’s ask Him to do it!

 


Check out the video for more information: