Its crazy to believe that I’m half way through my missions trip! This trip has not been what I expected, I came thinking I was here to help others. I never thought that God would do so much work in me. Thinking back 6 months ago I almost didn’t come on the race because of financial roadblocks, career opportunities, and thinking I wasn’t equipped enough to spread the word of God. I’m glad I didn’t let those become a distraction in God’s plan.
I want to give you an overview of my race so far and what the Lord has done in my life while being on the race.
China: Month one was ATL (ask the Lord), we didn’t have a ministry contact. Each day we would ask the Lord to direct us to where he wants us to go and He showed up in mighty ways. We would be walking down the street and people would come up to us wanting to talk and that gave us opportunities to pray with people. One of our conversations lead us to a local art school that needed help building their bathroom and patio area. We were able to help them with that project the last week we were in China.
The first month I felt like I was still in an infancy stage in my walk with God. With the help of my first team, I was able to grow stronger in my faith. They made it a point to pour into me and walk along side of me in my struggles. In the first month,God revealed to me a part of my past I thought I had gotten healing from and walked me through that healing process.
Mongolia: Month two was really hard for me physically, it was freezing cold and we were sleeping on the floor of a church that didn’t have a proper running bathroom or shower. In the mornings, we would go out into the city to get people to come to the church and in the evenings we hosted different activities each night. My highlight of the month was doing ministry at a local prison.
This month was another month of healing. I tried to convince myself that I was alredy healed, but God knows the desires of our heart and he knows when full healing is needed. He revealed to me another area I desperately needed healing in. It wasn’t the ideal time to go through this healing process but I’m glad I had an amazing team to support me.
Japan: Month three was one of my favorite months, we stayed with a host family. Our ministry was teaching English to the local school, helping with afterschool programs and pouring into our host families.
I fell in love with Japan’s culture and because we were in a developed country it reminded me a lot of home. I was comfortable physically but I was spiritually disconnected. I was distracted by the comforts of my surrounding. It made me think, when I get back home how much I’m going to have to fight to stay connected to God. During this month was the first time I really started to miss my family too. It could have been that it had been three months since being home or because it was Thanksgiving and I was so far away from my familly.
Nepal: Month four was another month of discomforts; it was cold and we didn’t have heaters, gas or hot water. During the month we worked with a local ministry to teach English to local women and minister to women working in the sex trafficking business. It was hard to see first hand the conditions they worked in, but it was so rewarding to see the joy on their faces when we came to visit.
This month put into perspective the power of prayer. I had never experienced spiritual warfare like I did in Nepal, we had to pray against the enemy daily and be intentional with our prayers. This month showed me the reality that we are facing with spiritual warfare and why we need more people to reach out to the 10-40 window.
India: This month was really good for me, I fell in love with the kids at the ministry and the country we were in. We worked at an orphanage that housed kids with disabilities; their ages ranged from 8-18. With the help of my supporters, we were able to take them to the beach, dam and park. Seeing their little faces light up when we would take them out made it all worth the struggles of getting them to each destination.
During the month, I felt God telling me to embrace the little things in life. I felt myself finding joy in the smallest of things. I remember one day I was sitting in the girls’ room, they were asleep so I decided to paint them scriptures to put on the wall. I’m sitting there painting with one of my teammates getting to know her on a more personal level with the cool breeze of the Indian wind flowing through the room, I was content.
Malaysia: This month we are working at a Christian organization that is a home for the blind while giving them opportunities to learn a trade and work, their ages range from 6-80. I work in the finance department counting donations given, making calls and any other miscellaneous things they need. I don’t have much contact with the people living here during ministry hours but there is one lady in particular that I work with that is dear to my heart. She calls me “ray of sunshine from California”. I went with her one day to run errands and she made me feel like I was with my grandmother. I loved getting to know her kind and loving spirit as we walked and talked.
While working with kids with disabilities last month and now working/living in a facility where I’m surrounded by blind people, it has made me appreciate everything that I have. When I see the limitations these people have but they still push through to do the simple tasks on a daily basis, it makes me realize what I take for granted each day.
When I look back on the ups a downs of this trip: a 27 hour train ride, 2 days of travel, sleeping on the floor all month, lack of heat, lack of showers, lack of hot water, being away from my family, and mosquito bites, it doesnt seem that bad. All the discomforts have brought me closer to God.
Fundraising update: I am $4,626 away from being fully funded, God has brought me a long way and I have faith He will get me all the way. After doing some calculations I broke it down, if:
30 people gave $100
22 people gave $50
21 people gave $25
I would be fully funded! Your support would go towards funding my lodging, travel fare, contribute to my food costs and support activities we do within our ministry. If you’re unable to partner with me financially would you please keep me in your prayers that God will provide for me financially? Thank you and God bless!
Also I realize I didn’t include any pictures in this blog, its hard to post pictures in my blogs from my tablet, if you want to see more of my trip you can visit my instagram page at Raylove7.
