It’s hard to believe that our time in China is already coming to a close. It’s also hard to believe how much the Lord has accomplished within our short time here. Friendships have been formed. Seeds have been planted, and even watered. Lives have been changed. God is moving in this city in big ways.
During our stay in Harbin we have shared the Gospel with people who have never heard it. We have seen Chinese Christians grow in their walk with the Lord. Sermons were preached, lessons were taught, praises were cried out. Two young men were welcomed into the family of God! Their lives will be forever changed as they walk into their new identity as sons of God. One was even baptized today!
However, those two young men were far from the only ones who experienced life change this month. I can honestly say that I am not leaving China with the same heart I entered with. I have been refreshed with a deeper intimacy with the Lord, I have been pushed, I have been loved, and I have seen far too much of God to ever be the same.
One area of growth has certainly been obedience. I’m not talking about just following the ten commandments or standing up for what I believe in. No. I’m talking real, raw, scary obedience to the Spirit of God. This process began back at training camp when I realized the magnitude of God and of the enemy. For the first time in my life, hearing from God started to become natural. He showed me things during worship and prayer. The Lord allowed me to experience Him in a plethora of new ways. Little did I know that it was just the beginning of something supernaturally beautiful.
This month I continued to hear from God. I continued to see, hear, and feel things from Him. But it didn’t end there. Each moment of experiencing God left me with an opportunity to respond; to respond with obedience or disobedience.
For example, we as a team experienced spiritual warfare this month in which God gave us an opportunity to respond. Would we put on the armor of God and stand up to fight? Or would we just pray a quick prayer from the comfort of our room – and pretend we weren’t aware of what was going on just a few floors above us? Would we follow the vision the Lord gave me all the way to the banana section of the super market? Or would we decide to just laugh it off and try to hear from Him again? Would we approach random people on the street because we felt the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Or would we decide that the language barrier was too great? Would we share with one another the darkest parts of our lives? Or would we sugar coat our testimonies?
In each moment of submission to God, each moment of surrender and obedience, our walk with Him grew stronger. Our trust in Him strengthened. Our sensitivity to the Spirit and His call on our lives was made more clear. It was hard. It was, at times, flat out weird. But oh my, it was so sweet.
What He has shown me this month, what He has done in China and my own heart this month, and how He has introduced Himself to me in new ways; these things have caused me to fall even more in love with Jesus. He is so at work in Harbin, but He is also so at work in my heart.
And while His love for me literally cannot get any stronger or more intimate, I am becoming more and more aware of that love. I am learning a little more each day what it looks like to walk into my own identity as a daughter of the King; a deeply beloved and honored daughter of the King of the universe.
So as I pack my bags before another long train ride to Beijing tomorrow, I pray for preparation. I pray for obedience even when it seems impossible; a heart that is ready to trust my Father in all circumstances. I pray that China would only be a foundation for what the Lord has in store for me and His people in Thailand.
Love,
Kara
P.S. I am still in need of about $3500 in financial support. If you feel led to join my support team you can click the link on the left that says “Support me!” to give online or for information on how to give via mail. All donations are tax deductible. 🙂
