Yesterday, two of my teammates (John and Kenia) and myself attended a church in Indonesia with a girl we met the second day we got here. Her name is JoAnna and she is amazing. Her heart is on fire for The Lord and missions. I have high hopes that one day she will be spreading the gospel throughout the nations. She has the gift of evangelism and she doesn’t even know it!
I had no idea what to expect. I have been to a church out of the country once in my life during my trip to Haiti, but Asia is way different in so many aspects, so I had no expectations going into this place. The day started with us being late to the church. Yes, this was my fault. Who is surprised by this?? Probably not many. We were told to meet JoAnna at KFC (disclaimer:everyone loves fried chicken and people here get a huge kick out of me being from Kentucky and always ask me about KFC lol) and then we would walk to church together for the 11 o’clock service. My teammates and I decided to go get breakfast first and then went to meet with JoAnna, who was nowhere to be found. There was a church beside us and we thought this had to be the church, so we were just going to walk into it and hope for the best. When we walked over to the church, John must have got a feeling it wasn’t the church we were to be at because he wanted to use a local’s phone to contact JoAnna. In that very moment, I asked The Lord for help. Seconds later, JoAnna walked up! God is good, isn’t He? Also, probably the fastest I have ever had a prayer answered, but He wanted us to be at that church service. We were now running late, but JoAnna reassured us that it was okay with her and she did not mind.
We walk to the church and the doors were shut. Worship had already started and they didn’t want us to interrupt, so they asked us to wait outside until worship was over. Kenia immediately asked if we could worship outside. Man, I love that girl’s spirit. JoAnna said yes. They had a tv outside where we could follow along. The worship was in English and they were singing “Great are You Lord”. I knew every word to this song, but the Spirit moved in me differently as I worshipped and sang to our Father along with everyone else. Note: I love music. I can literally get lost in my own little world listening to it. Especially worship music. It takes me somewhere else. But my favorite part of every single song is always the bridge. The bridge in this song is “All the earth will shout your praise, our hearts will cry, these bones will sing, great are You Lord!” I look around the room and am surrounded with people from a different country and culture than myself. Flashing before my eyes is all the places I still have to go. The Spirit was immediately all over my body singing that all the earth will shout His praise.
Worship was over and we went into the service. To our surprise, there was a guy preaching from Texas, so the service was in English, but translated to Indonesian. The first thing He spoke on was being a ‘powerhouse’. John reminded me that this is the word Keith, one of our squad coaches, gave us when we were asking why they picked us to be a team. Once again, Spirit everywhere on my body. I just love little confirmations from God. The service was over the difference between fundraising and a God ordained offering. He used two stories in Exodus to compare the two; the story of Aaron (an example of fundraising and not depending on The Lord) and of Moses. Within this service, he spoke many times over having a willing heart.
Back story: I have been wanting a tattoo for a long time now. (I really am sorry mom, dad, and granny). I know where I want this tattoo and I also knew I wanted it to be in Hebrew, but didn’t know what the word was to be. I had been praying for a word for a couple of weeks now. In the service, the man said ‘willing heart’ several times which again set my Spirit on fire. Then he went on to give us the word in Hebrew. Maybe a little presumptuous, but I feel like this is my word. Having a willing heart has been such an on going theme, lately. Especially in regards to answering my calling to missions. As I have told many, The Lord told my grandmother that I would be called to missions before I was ever born. My first trip to Haiti, my mind shifted into the mindset of “why do we do anything else?”. Being in Bandung, I still continue this mindset. Walking the streets on the second day we were here, I was overwhelmed with the feeling “this is what I was made for.. this is my soul purpose”. Don’t freak out mom, God hasn’t revealed what is next for me after the race, but I have a feeling He isn’t done with me overseas. As I was talking to my team this morning, they reminded me of me saying this and I was like yeahhhh maybe God was joking, but I know He wasn’t. His plan for my life is to always follow Him with a willing heart and I always desire to pursue that. I remember a time of preparation for this trip and the Holy Spirit impressed on me “who are you not to die for the one who gave His life for you”. Taking that too literal, I thought I was going to die on the race. Now I realize the Lord was asking me for a willing heart. He wants me to always do as He leads me to do because that is what He created me for.
Back to church, the preacher from Texas finished preaching, and then the church’s regular preacher came to stage. I have no idea what this man way saying, but again, Spirit ALL OVER ME. The Spirit is here and alive in this place. He is at work. I get very frustrated with the language barriers here and I am certain everywhere else I will go. Feeling The Spirit like I did was so reassuring that we do not have to know the language. The same God is on the move everywhere. Wow, thanks God! We ended the service by commissioning three people to go on a week long mission trip. During the preacher praying in a different language, I could tell something was different. He was praying in tongues! Ya’ll… I have been seeking this gift so strongly. I am wanting to receive my prayer language and it was so reassuring to see this man from a different country than me praying in his so boldly. Just more affirmation that the Spirit is moving in crazy, wild ways and I am here for it!
Please continue to pray for my team, my squad, and the other squads who are out on the field in different areas; including America! From what I have seen and heard, God is on the move everywhere and it is amazing. Thank you to everyone for partnering along with me on the journey!
