*I tried to fix the missing photos in this blog, hopefully they are visible now!*
Travel day was crazy, but we made it to month 9!
Here’s an update on our ministry this month. I have a few personal blogs coming up too, and am excited to share the awesome stuff God’s been doing. We’re all really tired, 9 months going non-stop has taken its toll. However, God’s given us this new, exciting strength. We’re all ready for the next few months and are soaking in every moment.
So this month we are working with Pastor Yesu and in his Indian church and community. Malaysia is kind of the melting pot of Asia, and has a huge Indian community. I love it, it brings back memories of my favorite month on the race!
This morning Lauren, Jon, Wes and I headed out with Pastor to do house visits while Morgan, Jenny, Emily and Matt taught English and Math.
After driving past many houses in the mountains, we stopped at this one and went in the door on the right.
We went inside and met Salama, a beautiful, kind lady who patted the seat next to her for me to sit in.
Pastor explained about the pain in her knee and how it hurt to walk up the stairs to the local church. He told us she was Hindu and had been contemplating accepting Christ for quite some time, but was never ready. We talked to her for a little bit, and Lauren shared the gospel with her.
As Lauren spoke, Salama had tears in her eyes and looked worried.
It seemed like she was about to make the scariest decision of her life.
After a few more words, she nodded. Pastor explained that she was finally ready. She told him she was ready to accept Jesus this time, and we as he translated to us we gathered around her in prayer. Pastor lead her in a prayer and we prayed over her for healing and peace.
It was so exciting to see God speak through Lauren and our team! She got up to make us some hot tea, and Pastor told us how he had made many many visits to her himself, and had brought past world race teams to see her.
But today was the day she was ready.
What a privilege it was to be there for it.
We kept talking and laughing with her and shared encouraging words as we drank our Chai.
We headed on to the next home, and on the way Pastor had us stop to pray over sections of land, temples, shrines, and people along the road.
Pastor is obsessed with praying. It’s really challenging to me. He asks the team every morning how much time we spent in prayer that day, and usually I’m like…uh…5 minutes? But he wants us to pray at least an hour a day! He says “4 hours in the morning with God=1 minute with man”….I take that as meaning that being filled up in the morning with love and expectation allows the spirit to work so much more throughout the day.
So this morning I spent a whole 30 MINUTES praying! That's a lot for me, k? 😛
It really did help me feel ready for the day. I know I won’t start every day this way, it’s definitely a challenge to get up extra early. But I had already seen how the team’s prayers affected Salama, so I was expectant for the rest of the day.
The next house we entered was the Amani home.
The woman in the middle recently lost her husband, and her son on the right is deaf.
Pastor explained that Auntie Amani is also Hindu, but with the recent passing of her husband she only feels peace at church, which she doesn’t often attend.
This time I shared the gospel while Pastor translated. I contrasted how Jesus dying was the ultimate sacrifice, and there’s no need to make and sacrifices to and shrines, idols, or gods or God. I explained how Jesus wants to be her friend and fill the empty spot her husband left. She was listening so intently.
Pastor smiled at us and said “she is ready too!” So as he lead her in a prayer, we gathered around her again, laying hands on her, and praying for her heart, land, home, and family. It was so sweet.
Before we left, we prayed for healing over her son’s ears. They thanked us as we headed out.
God worked so strongly and gently that day in each of these ladies hearts.
On the way home we picked up the rest of the team and some of the kids from school to drop them off at home. The little girl next to me was obsessed with playing with my phone and she snapped this picture of me while we were driving. So here ya go, a pretty recent depiction of what I’m looking like lately!
Goodness, month 9. That means only 2 months left on this crazy, challenging, life changing trip.
I really really miss you all a ton, and can’t wait to be back to my family, boyfriend, friends, church, bedroom and home.
I should be back in SC by December 4th, and will probably spend a week resting and eating every chocolate chip cookie in sight!
Until then,
Love,
Rach
