We were standing on a wall looking out over the farm fields and wildflowers, rocking back and forth to the rhythm of our words:
“Thank you Jesus that your love is going to break down the internal walls that are still in people’s hearts from communism.”
Then Jen, my teammate spoke up:
“Thank you Jesus for the continued freedom that the women on this team are walking in and will continue to walk in.”
And back and forth we went as the Holy Spirit revealed different things that He was doing or wanting to do in our lives, the lives of the Bulgarians or the church in general. It was a beautiful kaleidoscope of prayers, of enjoying the Presence and work of God. It was intimate, but so public in the way we sang out our words in this huge open field. As the thankfulness continued, the joy increased. I mean, we couldn’t stand still we were so full of head to toe joy.
God is moving. If someone tells you that the Church is dead, that the next generation of Christians is failing or even non-existent, then that person isn’t praying. Why is prayer so important? Well, obedience to God, developing your relationship with Him, serving the people and needs around you, and it works are all excellent reasons to pray, but yesterday, I realized another reason why we need to be a praying people. Prayer restores hope. As I prayed, I realized that God is working in my life, the life of my team, Bulgarians, the Church, Romas, and the lives of our hosts. When I feel and see how these things are coming together, woven in and out and around one another, I am filled with hope.
Right now the poppies are in full bloom, filling the fields with their cheerful, bright red presence. As we prayed, I realized how the poppies bloomed throughout communism here in this country and outlasted it, how they bloomed as the country violently pulled away from the Turkish Empire and even today they continue to bloom in the face of vast racism towards the Roma Gypsy population here in Bulgaria. Through the poppies, I see that God is grander than the greatest problems that face us. He is not phased by ideologies that have rocked the world. The iron curtain did not overwhelm Him. The crisis in the Middle East does not intimidate Him. The Lord has not given up on humanity and He never will. There is no place or event that He is not aware of, that He is not moving in. The scandalous thing is, that we are part of the Lord working. God trusts us with His work, involves us in what He is doing and gives us the opportunity to be influencers and kingdom bringers. That is scandalous, but what exceeds even this purpose from the Father is that the way that we were designed to be influencers and kingdom bringers is through a deep relationship with Jesus. HIS SPIRIT LITERALLY DWELLS IN US!
Jesus is so good to me! He literally sits with me and encourages me even as I write this blog. Thanks for your patience as I have been getting back into the rhythm of having wifi and blogging regularly. It has been a bit of a culture shock being in an Eastern European culture instead of the Latin American one that I have been in these last several months. Please be praying for the church in Bulgaria, that those churches that do exist will continue to press on and be filled to overflowing with the love of God. Pray for unity across denominations and across ethnicities.
Life Update:
I have been discovering…oil pastels. Turns out I love art journaling and our host, Gail, has a beautiful craft room that we have been given full access to
I have been reading…Mr. God, This is Anna. Woah! This book has shown me some unique ways that God makes Himself known in our world. He doesn’t fit in any box!
I have been listening to…not much because I left my ipod on a bus in Chile? This has been rough for me
I have enjoyed…the opportunity to experience summer at the same time that I would in the States. Kids are all out of school, there are fresh cherries in the farmers’ markets and most of our time is spent out of doors in the sunshine.
