A Look Back…

“Tragically, most Christians never come to appreciate who they are in Christ. From the time of birth we are programmed by our environment and the people in our lives. We interpret the meaning of life’s expereinces through the grid of our personal orientation and react accordingly. For many who have expereinced rejection, abandonment or abuse from earliest childhood, entrenched in their belief systems have an attitude that says, “I am of no value,” “I don’t measure up,” I am unlovable.” Even those of us whose childhood seemed wholesome have been victimized in some way by the enemy’s subtle deceptions.”            – Neil Anderson from his book, “Who Am I in Christ”

 

 

 

 

Manitoba, Canada was a home to a  willing, longing heart on the eve of finding the “greater things”. Walking with what life has always been about and purposly jumping into the unknown. The start of am adventure to find personal confidence, to define that “call”, and to see the world. Nothing was too scary that lay in front. Life was about something more, and I was going to find it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tambo de Mora, Peru was the location of an 8.5 scale earthquake that left thousands homeless. This was the start of our World Race journey. As a squad we jumped into the many areas of needs such as building homes, raising awareness stateside, visiting families, listening to the unheard cries of the survivors, and bringing life to the lifeless. Time after time we met people who lost everything homes to jobs to family to a future. A once thriving place that had so much possibility and a future laid waste with no interest in rebuilding. The homelss now live on private land and have no place to call their own.  Life is a day at a time mentality here, and will be for a very long time to come.

 

 

 

Canchmana, Peru was one of those small communities that make you lay on your face and ask “why?”. A people group that has no home, no land, no fair trade partners, and probably the hardest working people I have ever met. 6 of us packed up tents, and the clothes on our backs to live among them and spend some time in their community. Everyday we would find food outside our tents, and in the evening we would spend the limited time we had listening to them. Their stories of what they lost 4 months prior in the earthquake. Their hearts reaching out to the Lord more and more. And when we left some gave their live to God!

 

 

Nauta, Peru is a small remote city located on the great Amazon River. We spent 10 amazing days pouring into the youth and children. Our daily ministry was playing with kids and purely loving on them. The youth of Nauta are constantly harrassed by the spirits of the enemy through wiji and other forms of witchcraft. Everyday there are suicides and people lost to the Devil. We went in to set captives free. Through volleyball. soccer, and diving hard into scripture we saw many young live transformed by the power of Jesus. Nauta still battles on, but we know that the Lord is at work there. He has servants who care about their lost friends and families. Victory is at hand in Nauta!

 

 

Iquitos, Peru is the gateway city to the Amazon. Our 2 weeks was working alongside a church to offer VBS, youth programming, and pastor leadership courses. Those 2 weeks captured our squad to a new level that in the end was a hard place to leave. The people were so accomodating, humble, and open. It was so much that 60 people came to the airport to send us off. There was joy, laughter, and so much hope in the eyes and voices of those we left behind in the Peruvian jungle. In our last week we presented Christ in a new way, even for me! Jesus is not a sad story we remember every year, but a true Saviour who is alive and reinging!

 

  

 

Cochabamba, Bolivia was spent serving the orphans of Bolivia. From tutoring students in their school work, to constructing an orphanage, to organizing daily outings, our ministry was to love on these little ones who have been left behind. Some of the children were pulled from the remote mountain villages and others were dropped off at the doorstep. None the less, Jesus took them in through some amazing people living in Coch. Spending those 3 weeks with the kids challenged me in my thinking of what it means to be a father.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Botswana was a month many different proportions. The month had me feeding and playing with orphans, taking pictures and shooting video for a wedding, and spending alot of time in church. I was getting my full African expereince for what an urban context could offer. This was alos our first month as a small team. So with battling through those challenges and accepting each other for who we are was the start of our iron sharpens iron aspect of the year. Sitting around a littel types table with my team is still very high on the expereinces of the year list. Thanks team Open Road for all that you have meant to me!

 

 

 

Swaziland – South Africa – Botswana – Namibia – Zambia – Malawi was our unplanned route through Southern Africa. This was a road trip with the Lord as our guide. Our expereince was nothing I had ever experienced before. With a purpose of letting the Lord move to guide us to where he wanted us to minister for this month, we ended up ministering to each other. I still believe it was His plan all along. 5 random people from all over North America driving through Africa in a little Toyota, Tazz that seats 4 for over 5000 kms for 3 weeks. Amidst all it’s frustrations, and blessings we had the oppertunity to meet many people on travels of their own and share the Love of Jesus through our company. I wouldn’t trade a month of “doing” for this month of “being” for anything.

 

Magowi, Malawi was rural Africa like I had always imagined it to be. I found myself biking to remote villages to bring the Good News and hope for the famine struck people in the region. God had a message and I was going to share it. Other ministries included alot of preaching at pastors conferences, firing up a youth program for the believers in a local private school, and teaching English and various other subjects to senior students. I got a glimpse of african soccer as well while practising with the local football club in preparation for their championship game.

 

 

 

Nkhotakota, Malawi was on of those places that is rich in history but is often unheard of. This place is the birthplace of the famous and still evident African slave trade. And with that the foothold of Islam in Africa. So our time here was walking alongside the dedicated, selfless pastors who travel to the remote areas sharing the Good News to muslims and Animists. The pastors we served with were all so unique and passionate. It was hard to not get excited for this thing we were pursuing. I was encouraged by these men of God who represented to me the Paul’s of today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A slum in Delhi, India was our home for 5 weeks in the heat of summer. Our ministries were serving at an orphanage and partnering with a local man who had a personal ministry with the unwanted, and homeless. My time with our contact was travelling to families of displaced Burmese people. Our mission was to minister to them and share the comfort and love of Jesus with them. Many of the refugees weren’t even legal there. The other half of the time was visiting university students from the far arm of Nagaland, India. We encouraged the body of believers to keep going and to keep pressing into the truths that only Christ can bring to their lives. Lives were changed in India and Kingdom is being brought there.

 

 

 

 

 

Thailand was a beautiful starting point for me in Asia. Our fist order of business was to head up into the remote villages of the highlands. We travelled to villages to share the Gospel, repair churches, and visit Buddhist schools to share the Good News. Those first 2 weeks were full of adventure and of course alot of fun! I was priviledged to meet some true dedicated Christ followers. As many people are fleeing from Burma into Thailand, there are many people who have nothing. They lost it all; homes, families, and futures. They live on the run. They live in hiding. So it was alot of listening and praying for these lost people of the Kingdom.

 

 

 

Burma is the country I have stayed in the shortest this year but has made the most impact on my heart. I stepped foot into Burma for a grand total of 1 hour. Our mission was to go to a local church just accross the border and pray! To be obedient and pray for what the Lord laid on our hearts to pray about. My heart conmtinued to break for months after for the government, the refugees, and the future of that nation. From India to Thailand I met Burmese people who are in love with their Saviour and have a glimpse of hope. I seemed to have everything I ever needed and took a look back into my walk and saw what I was missing…a radical life with my saviour!

 

 

 

Vietnam was one of those places that you long to go back to. Ho Chi Minh City was the only stop for us this time, but has captured me. Our time was spent sharing hope and spurring on the youth of the nation. There is a hunger for God in Vietnam and the youth need to be encouraged. In that closed country it’s easy to be shut up and discouraged. We went to open up doors and restore hope to those we met. May the Lord reign forever in that place! Vietnam’s history of the war is only a slice of the pie that is Vietnam’s struggle. They are a very patriotic nation. Imagine they were all souled out for the Lord? I have a hope!

 

 

Cambodia was the last stop on this crazy adventure. The Lord took me to a place where it all began 4 years ago for me. A place so deep in my heart to want to “go” for him. He led me to the garbage city dwellers to show me more of his lost children. I don’t know what this means, but I do know he wants me to go and be that ray of hope for the hopeless. To bring a message that many have never heard. He wants me to bring Kingdom where the kingdoms of this world send their garbage!