This past week I started my new ministry that I will be doing for the next two months and it is crazy! In the mornings I go out to Pagodas (temples) and hang out with monks and in the evenings I go and teach a bunch of boys about English and The Bible. I didn’t realize how difficult this was going to be. Going into the Pagodas at first I was unaffected, because I only focused on the monks and the people; however, once I tried to connect with God in the Pagodas, it was very different. The first day we went I felt the Holy Spirit with us the entire time, but the second day, I felt heaviness and darkness all around me. The idols no longer felt like just statues and the people did not seem as friendly. All that said, God is so much bigger than the evil found in this country and I felt His presence so much more as soon as I quieted my spirit. It is going to be a battle. I need to equip myself with prayer and scripture before I enter everyday just so I can serve out of an overflow of Him. It is crazy how real all of this is. I have had dreams that have been so real and so profound since I’ve arrived in this country too. I had a dream after I prayed for God to show me His heart and open up my emotions towards what He is emotional about. It was a dream of me hugging my grandfather and crying with Him and after I woke up from my dream I had actual tears in my eyes. That was a crazy experience for me and super cool too. Teaching has been great too. I have the opportunity to teach about 40-50 boys depending on the day. They range in age from 3-23 and some know no English while others are bilingual. It is super cool that us guys have the opportunity to teach, because not many men volunteer as teachers and we get to have an influence on these boys/ young men. They are learning a lot already and a few of them are starting to become our friends after just the first week. I am super excited for these new ministry opportunities! Please continue praying for me throughout the next two months and specifically for me and my team to be covered in the Holy Spirits while building relationships in the Pagodas. Thanks again for following along on my journey and supporting me! Love you all and God bless!
