Hey! This is my final Life lately blog, and I am writing it from my bedroom in Greenville, IL! How weird is that? Somehow this year has been achingly slow and rapid-fire fast all at once. Anywayyyyyy, not including life since returning to the States, here is a bit about life lately…
Host
For sake of protecting her witness, I will not share her name, but our host (and friend and caretaker and discipler) this month is an incredible woman. My teamies and I could not stop talking about her because we love her so much. Our friend is bold, confident, servant-hearted, kind, compassionate, humble, joyful, and truly one of the most admirable humans I have ever known. She ushers in Holy Spirit so wholeheartedly that to sit in her presence feels like you are sitting at the feet of Jesus. She pursues him with her whole heart and is a vessel that is constantly overflowing with his love.
Example: I was sick toward the end of the month, and sweet friend cared for me so, so well. She made me tea with lemongrass picked from the garden. She massaged my back and played with my hair. She found multiple rolls of toilet paper so I could blow my nose all night long. She stayed awake with me to make sure I was okay. She brought me food and water and made sure I was eating and hydrated. She heated up water on the stove so that I could take a warm shower. She gave up the comfy couch to help me sleep better. She is so kind. So tenderhearted. So, so loving and good.
Ministry
Ministry in Indonesia was super relational. During our first full day, my teamie and I got to go with our host to her friend’s house, where she made her friend some soup to help her sick tummy. We didn’t know it then, but that day was pretty similar to what ministry would look like for the rest of the month. We simply joined our host as she visited friends in their homes, served them, fellowshipped with them, and prayed for them.
We also got to learn about contextual ministry – meeting people where they are, learning about what they believe, and allowing Holy Spirit to guide the conversation as you enter into their world as a Kingdom ambassador. We learned about words that are safe to use and which words will lead to conversation shutting down. We sat in on classes that teach how to effectively share the gospel in a largely Muslim nation. We kept warm around a campfire as our host creatively and boldly used Al-Quran to share the gospel with a group of boys who asked if they could come share the warmth of the fire with us, and who wanted her to keep talking even after the fire died and the night grew colder. We saw Paul’s words on freedom come to life in a way we never had before.
Final Debrief
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
^^a lot of what took up my brain space as final debrief approached
Okay. Actual words.
Final debrief was good. It was a time of processing, repenting, forgiving, connecting, resting, worshipping, and preparing for transition home. It was sunshine, free time, family time, and time to tell each other ways we have been changed by Holy Spirit working through one another. It was laughing at silly moments along the way, addressing moments of hurt and failure, and giving all the glory of this year to our Father.
It was good.
Praises
ALL. THE. PRAISES.
Amazing hosts
Amazing squad
Amazing teamies
Amazing leadership
Amazing loves back home
Amazing cultures
Amazing learning opportunities
Amazing provision
Amazing healings
Amazing year
Amazing God
Prayer Requests
Transition. Transition transition transition. Please pray this this will be a season of authenticity, peace, trust and dependence on the Lord
