It’s hard to believe 2019 is coming to an end already. This year I set out on an incredible journey to share LOVE and JESUS across the world. Throughout January 6th to November 22nd, my feet have stepped in 20 different countries. From Kansas to California, then China, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Botswana, South Africa, Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Vatican City, France, Spain, Morocco, Peru, Ecuador, and finally Colombia.
When I thought I was going out to “Love God and Love People”, I found out how much more I am loved BY God and BY people from all over the world. I will never forget this year and all that it taught me about the world, people, cultures, and religions. It’s all just about LOVE… and GOD is LOVE.
This past month of December has been a restful yet productive time for me. A time to hear God’s voice in where He is calling me next. The missions will continue into 2020 as I have applied and was accepted into a YWAM (Youth with a Mission) Discipleship Training School! It’s also a dance internship and it will be located in Brussels, Belgium with opportunity for missions outreach performing our dances in Paris and then in London for the month of April and May. I am so excited to continue in biblical teachings and gain further intimacy with God along with learning new skills in the area of dance, something that has been a dream of mine for a long time.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
– Psalms 37:4
And now, here are some ministry highlights from each country followed by a video I made that shows one second from each day of my journey!! All 330 Days!!
Please enjoy~
Cambodia:
-Interacting with beautiful little girls on the streets of Phnom Penh during our time at training camp.
-Working with missionaries from the Philippines Pastor Phillip and his wife Armie at their church and Grace Bible School in Battambang.
-Visiting an orphanage and the YWAM base in Battambang and seeing all the ministry opportunities they have there.
-Street Ministry and evangelism with fellow travelers in Siem Reap.
Thailand:
-Meeting Brice from France and Pascal from Germany, building relationships with them and sharing the love of Jesus at Living Space Hostel in Chiang Mai.
-Handing out tracts and sharing Jesus in the tourist markets of Pai, Thailand.
-Meeting Mon and having the opportunity to teach English to some of her students.
Malaysia:
-Meeting Amir in Penang at a restaurant and we connected discussing mental health, met again with him at a coffee shop and he accepted Jesus into his heart and life!
-Meeting Rodrigo from Brazil who was seeking more about Buddhism but open to hearing more about the gospel of Jesus and provided him with a book on world religions.
-Meeting with Ben who I connected with before the trip. He is a Christian and we went to his church SIBKL several times connecting with people there.
-Working with the Myanmar refugee children at the United Learning Center in KL.
Singapore:
-Visiting the International House of Prayer in Singapore where they were having a night of prophetic worship and a massive prayer intersession for China. It was powerful.
-Volunteering a day at the Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen packing bread and filling rice bins.
Indonesia:
-A time for girls month ministry meeting our dear friend Yosi who is a Christian in a predominantly Muslim country. We were able to love her and encourage her in her faith.
-Attending three different churches with Yosi and her family was very memorable for me.
Botswana:
-Seeing God’s provision with meeting Sally and Doug as they let us stay in their home when we had no where else to stay upon first arriving there.
-Working with missionaries Clark and Hazel and doing Sunday School teachings with the children and women in the Mochudi village.
-Learning about the history and “Honor/Shame” culture of Botswana from missionaries Andrew and Sandra, while staying with Arista, Estelle, and Simone.
-A day for “Market Ministry” meeting and helping Thuto take pictures for her new small clothing business, one of my favorite encounters of the whole trip!
South Africa:
-Partnered with Global Leadership Academy in Jeffreys Bay for ministry work at Beats and Books for the month.
-Getting to know Wendy at the missions house and hearing her story of a recent tragedy. Able to be there and support her during a difficult time.
-Serving at Fathers House Church as greeters and also at their sister church in Port Elizabeth helping the youth team set up decorations for children’s week.
Europe:
–Bulgaria: A time of team transitions and planning our way toward Spain.
–Greece: Following the Apostle Paul’s Journey and his teachings in Athens/Corinth.
–Italy: Seeing the burial site of the Apostle Paul in Rome and visiting the Vatican Church.
–France: 10 days on the Camino drawing near to God and sharing Jesus, 18 days camping.
–Spain: Healing Prayer at debrief in Mijas
Morocco:
-Sharing Jesus with Said from Morocco but he now lives in Denmark. We met on the ferry and he shared with me some of his life. I had the chance to pray for him and he gave me a gift in return which was traditional Moroccan Argon soap and paper money from Denmark to remember him by.
Peru:
-Ministering to and encouraging Maritza, Arnold, and Brandon at Brothers Hostel in Cusco.
-Meeting 82 year old Miguel on the street and sharing life stories and Jesus with him.
-Enjoying Gods creation at Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, and of course my beloved alpacas.
Ecuador:
-Spending time with a teammates family members learning more about Ecuador.
-Seeing the good during the time of protests there where we had the opportunity to help several people on the streets buying them food and meals.
Colombia:
-Took part in starting the Daniel Diet for six weeks while reading the book of Daniel.
-More time of sharing Jesus and making connections with fellow travelers.
-Spending a day with Alberto, a frail homeless man in Santa Marta. I sat next to him on the street one afternoon and we shared beautiful conversation and friendship despite my less than perfect Spanish. Alberto really touched my heart.
-Finished the year off with the best final debrief session in colorful Cartagena, Colombia!
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who preach the gospel of peace, who brings news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
– Isaiah 52:7
Looking forward to this next year and new decade and excited to see all what God will do. Wishing Everyone a Blessed and Happy New Year!!!
