This is the picture of majestic glory that I wake up to every morning, high up in the mountains of Peru.
I wake up around 5:30 am most mornings to spend a few hours alone with God. This time with my Heavenly Daddy is priceless to me, no cup of java can even compare to the aroma of Heaven first thing in the morning.
Around 8:30 am the team gathers for breakfast together.
“Every day they continued meeting together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
(Acts 2:46-47)
Then we head out for a 30 minute hike to Tumpa each day.
God has used us here, he has allowed us to be his mouth, his hands, and his feet to bring the Gospel to the mountain villages of Mushu and Tumpa. After just two weeks here we have had the privilege of welcoming over
30 new brothers and sisters in Christ into the Kingdom of Heaven. We have are learning more and more how to depend on God for everything.
I remember at the beginning of the race often being frustrated and saying to God,
“where are you”,
“why aren’t you moving here”, “why aren’t you helping us build your Kingdom”. Read that again, can you see how silly that was of me?
“God, why aren’t YOU helping US build YOUR Kingdom?”
It is God’s Kingdom, we are His children. And He
loves us, each one of us, every single man, woman, and child in Peru. Did I not realize that he wants to see His children enter the Kingdom of heaven so much more so than I could even imagine.
My question to the Lord today, is a bit different.
“Lord, thank you for allowing us to be a part of your majestic plan, thank you for using us, thank you for calling us to this life of adventure. Jesus, keep showing us where you are moving, and how we can come along side of you. Father, how can we help YOU build YOUR Kingdom? What is your will?”
“And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to HIS purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
To all of my supporters, prayer partners and friends – thank you for helping me to live the life that God has called me to. My prayer is that I learn more and more each day of God’s purpose, and that I may live a life worthy of Christ dying for as I seek to follow Jesus with all my heart.
“Seek my and you will find me, when you seek me with ALL of your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)
And what a blessing to know that although we are far away from each other,
“there is ONE body and ONE spirit.” (Ephesians 4:4) As I have been called to the nations, know that we are ONE and that as I hope to pour out the love of Christ to these people, they are being loved BY YOU through me as well!
Please continue to pray for the World Race, for continued support, for the people in Mushu and Tumpa, Peru. Your prayers are the most important thing that you could do for the World Racers, for these people of Peru, for the Kingdom of Heaven.
“Fix our eyes on not what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen in temporary, but what is unseen in eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
My friends, though you may never meet any of the people of Peru in this life, your love, support, and prayers ARE having an impact on eternity!
Just imagine, the reunion we will all have as we walk the streets of gold and embrace our brothers and sisters from around the world for the first time.
Many of these people have never left this village. Here they live in small houses with dirt floors, no heat or AC. Most times not even a door, as husband wife and children all live in one room together. Most of the children share a bed, or sleep on the floor. They wash their clothes in the nearby rivers. They cook over open fires. They use a hole in the ground outside for a bathroom. They don’t have TV’s or fancy toys, definitely no X-Box! In fact, here the children have to work 7 days a week in the fields harvesting the family’s crops to take to market for enough money to buy food and clothing.
Yet, look at the smiles on their faces. They have never had much, thus they don’t want for much. They are happy. But, oh can you imagine their faces when they see the city of Heaven!
The construction of its wall is of jasper; and the city is pure gold, like clear glass. The walls of the city are adorned with all kinds of precious stones: jasper, sapphire, emerald, topaz, amethyst. The gates made of pearls. And the street of the city is pure gold, like transparent glass.” (Revelation 21)
Imagine seeing emeralds and sapphire for the first time, precious jewels that we spend money on just to wear around our necks will be used to build the walls of heaven!
I believe that as your prayers are recorded in Heaven, that you will know the faces of those whom you prayed for, those for whom your prayers made an impact in eternity! Imagine the joy to your soul, imagine the feasting table, imagine the laughter, imagine the hugs, imagine your family reunion along the streets of gold in Paradise!
Will you be there? Do you know Jesus Christ, have you asked him into your heart to be your Lord and Savior? I know the names of many of you reading this have been written in Heaven. Who will be there with you? Will you go to your knees in prayer, will you ask your Father in heaven send out invitations to your loved ones? Are you willing to BE the invitation your self? Will you pray for the millions among the nations who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Who will be at your reunion in Paradise?
