QUICK UPDATE & COOL STORY:
I am still currently in Mongolia with my team. This Wednesday and Friday everyone on my team should know whether or not we have been approved for our Chinese visas. The process to get a Chinese visa is extremely tedious, and definitely not easy to say the least. Hopefully, if we are all approved we will be headed to China before the weekend is up!! I will personally know my visa was approved Wednesday evening, so be praying for the rest my team, please!
Although our time in Mongolia has been longer than expected I feel as though my team and I have done our best to make the absolute most of it. This time of waiting for our visas has presented us with meeting the most fascinating people. Whether it be in our hostel or in the streets. I have spent the past couple of days reflecting on how God has moved even in the midst of not having any “organized ministry.” We have held our own church services on Sundays in the hostel basement and yesterday we had three strangers join in on worship with us. It was awesome. We have met atheists, shamans, universalists, and so many others. Each one being extremely open to all my prodding, questioning, and long conversations.
This time of waiting has presented me with the ability to stretch my evangelism skills. I have dug into the depths of my knowledge of other religions, and sharing the Gospel in context that matters to the person I get to speak with. I think we often put high expectations on these encounters which is what makes sharing the Gospel daunting to some. It seems as if we don’t see manna falling from heaven then we must be doing it wrong. When, in reality, God moves in ordinary conversations and in our day to day routines. I do believe, that these seemingly “mundane” conversations are supernatural. I believe that pointing people to Jesus, provoking thoughts of Holy Spirit, and sharing about our Father in heaven is never something to take lightly. Finding someone who believes completely different than me, but is willing to take time out of their day to listen to what I have to say, is pretty supernatural.
Last week I felt the Lord drop an idea into my heart to do some intentional street ministry. I told a few of my team members about it and decided to wait and see when the Lord would have us act. We always plan our week out before it comes, so the schedule didn’t seem to have room for the vision I had. However, this week we had more wiggle room since our embassy journeys are coming to a close. Monday half of our team had appointments at the embassy and the other half of us decided we would practice “asking the Lord” for what he wanted us to do with our day. I felt in my spirit my assignment for the day was to execute the vision I was given.
I envisioned purchasing some balloons, walking around the city, and giving the balloons away for free. There is one condition to it, you have to let the balloon go. The purpose of this is to be able to have a conversation starter with people. This conversation happened either in English or through Google Translate. It works on people of ALL ages. So we walked and waited until we felt led to someone. When we found a person who was willing to engage us, we simply asked if they wanted a free balloon. Following their excitement (because who doesn’t love a good, brightly colored balloon) I would ask them if they ever feel weighed down or sad. Everyone says yes, of course, and I then told them about how Jesus wants us to cast those things on Him (1 Peter 5:7), and let them go. Sensing their understanding I would hand them a sharpie and a balloon and have them write what weighs them down or saddens them, and we released them. Every time they released the balloon we asked to pray for them and whatever they released and each person said yes.
This was so simple, joyful, and so meaningful. It was so fun to see people have joy in understanding that we CAN release our worries. It was even better to relay that “Eycy” (Jesus) loves them and wants them to walk in freedom from these things. From an elderly woman, a little girl, a teenage couple, a young woman, and some girls who were just released from school, Jesus was present. It was not awkward or weird, but genuine and engaging. Monday part of my team and I helped several people become aware of the freedom the Jesus has for them by a simple balloon. It burdens my heart and makes me want to share creatively, simply, and intentionally more often. We won’t get to follow up on these people, but we are now written in their story, and can prayerfully remember the things that were “let go of” today. Hey, maybe you need a balloon!
Leaders Don’t Quit,
Jordan
