For my supporters and readers who like it plain, simple, and factual, I decided to compose a list of what we “accomplished” in each country:
Vidin, Bulgaria with Pastor Yavor Kostov
- Preached at, prayed over, and visited with multiple churches in gypsy communities
- Dug sandboxes for a local orphanage
- Songs, games, and puppet shows at an orphanage for disabled children
- Individual visits with each member of Pastor Yavor’s church, to share stories and encourage one another in Christ
- Home visits in local neighborhoods to offer prayer and support to those in need
- Children’s programs (songs, games, skits, Bible stories) at local gypsy communities
Targu-Mures, Romania with Pastor Zsombi
- Prayed over the city of Targu-Mures, asking for freedom, renewal, and love
- Worshiped on the streets and in the parks
- Formed friendships with the homeless, listening to them, praying for them, and inviting them to fellowship in the church
- Spent time playing with kids in a local gypsy community
- Weekly visits to a nearby gypsy village for encouragement, children’s programs, and baptisms
Ongole, India with India Christian Missions (ICM) (website)
- Two weeks sanding and repainting a two story building in Tanguturu, one of ICM’s Church Children’s Homes (CCH homes house ten orphans from the local community that are raised in a family setting by the Pastor of the church built on the second floor of the building)
- Hosted “On Fire for God” vacation bible school at five CCH homes, providing Bible stories, crafts, games, songs, and lots of fun
- Assisted in measuring the children’s feet for their very own TOMS shoes donation
Dhulikel, Nepal with Nepali Youth Ministries and Pastor Sudip (website)
- Free guitar lessons for the church youth
- Shared the Gospel at two local schools
- Fellowship events with the church youth, including racquetball
- Attended a local youth conference
- Prayer walked around and through and over the town for awakening
Nakuru, Kenya with Bliss Women & Children Project (website)
- Time spent at the Bliss school for underprivileged kids in the slum, playing games and singing songs with them during their breaks
- Put on 2 crusades and 3 revivals, adding up to 15 nights of preaching, evangelizing, worship, prayer, and fellowship
- Door to door visits each morning in the surrounding neighborhoods and slums
- Over 70 people accepted Jesus Christ as Savior over the month
Kabuga, Rwanda with Pastor John
- Taught free English classes five days a week to kids in the area
- Taught adult English classes at night
- Attended the baptism and celebration of our two Rwandan sisters
Bugiri, Uganda with Pastor Thomas
- Weekly ministry at the local men’s prison and prayer ministry at the local hospital
- Taught English classes at local schools
- Gifted students with notebooks, pencils, and suckers to encourage them in their studies
- Door to door visits to share the love of Christ
- Guest speakers at a two day conference in a nearby town
Bangkok, Thailand with Dton Naam Ministries (website)
- Bar ministry twice a week, which included praying over the red light districts and entering into bars to establish friendships with the workers based in God’s love, trust, and light
- Assisted in teaching free English classes to Dton Naam students/workers, while teammates also assisted in art, sewing, and dance classes
- Teammates assisted in combining and organizing information into a introductory packet for Dton Naam’s future volunteers
- Cleaned, painted, and varnished the upstairs deck for the coffee shop
- Participated in daily devotional and worship time with Dton Naam staff and students
Changlun, Malaysia with Lover’s of God Ministry
- Led activities during character-building programs and taught free English classes to kids in the neighborhood
- Ministered to and worshiped with a group of workers at a nearby rock quarry
- Visited a nearby orphanage and joined in with them for times of devotionals, worship, and prayer
- Guest leaders at children and youth group meetings in a nearby town
- Home visits to people in need of encouragement, including an elderly lady who recently lost a leg
- Assisted in holding a viewing of “The Passion of the Christ” for Easter
Somewhere in Cambodia with Youth With A Mission (website)
- Our teams taught a total of nine free English classes each day for local youth, five days a week
- Made house visits to share the Gospel, encourage believers, and pray for the sick
- Assisted in keeping up with (but mostly having a blast with) the youth of the church on a special trip to the water park in the capital city
Malaybalay, Mindanao in The Philippines with Kid’s International Ministries (website)
- Volunteered in various ways at a week long sports camp/tournament
- Helped provide care for, and in the process fell in love with, the eight toddlers and babies at the orphanage
- Put on a “wacky Olympics” for the kids living at KIM
- Made house visits to local people in need of encouragement, and assisted with a nearby vacation bible school
Overall, we entertained more groups of random kids with songs and games and preached at more church services than I could possibly count. We also formed incredible bonds of love and encouragement with a handful of families who blessed us by hosting us during our stay in their countries. Those were all moments not to be forgotten, as well.
But here comes the disclaimer. Although all these things are great and wonderful, and I hope it has given you a better idea of what all my year consisted of, it really doesn’t capture the purpose of my year. It misses the heart, the passion, and the love, which I would argue is far more important than a list of physical efforts.
I sit here, and it’s kind of hard for me to accept this blog.
Because my year wasn’t so much about WHAT I did,
but WHY I did it and WHO I did it for.
But I guess that just means that another blog will have to be around the corner…
