Prepping for Summer 2012

I am constantly reminded how great God is and how faithful He is when we are obedient. It has been so great to see how the Lord has given people a vision for Global Journey this year!

For the first time ever we will be running two trips around the world. Right now each team will consist of 8 people, but there are a few more spots left open for guys (I’m at max capacity with girls). It has been so fun planning both these teams, and it gets me excited to see where God will take GJ next!

Not only am I thankful for being able to send twice as many people around the world for a life changing experience, but I’m also excited to help further the kingdom in twice as many places. I can’t wait to develop new relationships with missionaries in new places.

Please be praying for all the logistics that have to happen between now and June 1st when the teams come together for training. Twice as many people and trips means twice as many visas, plane tickets, set up countries, etc. Pray that I trust that God is in complete control and that I spend time seeking Him for who He is. Please also pray for God to provide the funding to make Global Journey my full time job. I am so passionate about where the Lord has lead me in this and would love to find a way to get paid for all the hours I put into it.

Thanks so much for all of you who are my consistent prayer warriors and supports! Thank you for being a part of what the Lord is doing in my life!

Costa Rica Pictures

Below are some pictures for our time in Costa Rica. Below those is a post about what we did there

Pura Vida

That’s the phrase that you hear and see all over Costa Rica.  It means ”pure life.”  While Costa Rica is a beautiful country, covered with green mountains and beautiful beaches, it is a nation filled with prostitution, orphans, drug addicts, and many broken and hurting people.  My time spent in Costa Rica reminded me how pure life is only available through Jesus Christ.

Our experience in Costa Rica was a whirlwind.  We were blessed to experience many different ministries and different ways the Lord is working here.  We started off in Jaco, a smaller town on the beach.  While in Jaco we painted a local church for a couple days and saw God provide the money for the paint through several different people.  We also had the chance to visit a school and share the gospel with all the kids there.

From Jaco we travelled back to San Jose, the capital city, and joined up with many other ministries.  The first night back there we partnered with YWAM and their street prayer ministry.  That night we went down to a corner across the street from a brothel.  Prostitution is legal in Costa Rica and “Hotel Del Rey” has embraced this industry.  This was my first encounter with anything like this. 

As I stood on the corner, I prayed for men going into the brothel, men on the street corner selling drugs, men high on drugs, homeless men and women, girls caught in prostitution (some of which are there because of sex trafficing), and for the nation of Costa Rica.  I was so overwhelmed by the brokeness and hopelessness I saw.  It was almost too much to handle as I made eye contact with one girl and whispered God bless you.  The hopelessness in her eyes brought me to tears.

As I was standing on that corner I thought about how Jesus came for these people.  I was reminded of Luke 5:31-32: Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”  It dawned on me that Jesus would be hanging out with the people surrounding me.  He would be right in the middle of that street corner telling them how much He loved him.  I was challenged to think about my own life, and how so often I let fear get in the way of ministering to those that desperately need to know Jesus.  I also thought about how I am no less of a sinner than the men and women in and around that brothel, yet I have a Savior who has forgiven my sins and given me hope, joy, and satisfaction beyond anything the world can give.

A few other ministries we were blessed to be a part of were joining with a children’s mobile ministry, visiting a government orphanage, planting trees in a park, running Sunday school classes, and finally visiting a handicap orphanage.  At many of these places we got to jump in, play games with the kids, do skits, and share the gospel.  The ministry that impacted me the most deeply from these was visiting the orphanage for handicap children. 

Most of the kids at the orphanage had some form of neurologicial damage either from birth or from abuse by their parents.  Many of them were abandoned at hospitals when their parents found out they weren’t “normal.”  My heart broke here for the sweet kids that just wanted to be loved and held.  I spent most of my time with a 6 month old baby named Ashley.  The nurse told me that she probably wouldn’t live past 2 years old because of some heart, lung, and intestinal problems.  It broke my heart knowing she would never grow up, but as I was sitting singing “Amazing Grace” to her while she was fed through a tube in her nose, I had a peace knowing that she will get to experience the Lord’s amazing grace and be in a better place!

Overall I came away from Costa Rica aware of the needs of this broken and hurting world.  There are so many people who need to know the joy of the Lord, so many orphans that need to be held, so many addicts that need to know true satisfaction that comes from the Lord, and so many prostitutes who need to know their worth in the Lord.  I’m overwhelmed by the fact that I can’t fix the problems of the world, but I’m thankful that the Lord trusts me and calls me to play a part in sharing Jesus with the world.  My prayer is that all those who know the life changing love of Jesus will share the hope they have found with those around them…the world is crying out for this hope and the Pura Vida that comes only through knowing Jesus!

France Pictures

We have arrived in Costa Rica…which I will update you on soon.  Here are a few pictures from Nice, France.  The cute kids are the Arnold kids…the family Katherine and I stayed with while there. 

Nice!

Our time in Nice, France has been incredible!  I am so excited to be back working the International Baptist Church again! We have been so busy that I haven’t had much time to update yall on what we are doing, but here are a few highlights.

France is a tough mission field.  Pastor James Arnold shared with us the first day about how dry the country spiritually and how they say it takes about 100 contacts with the Gospel before someone will go from agnostic to following Jesus.  We also learned that there is a high suicide rate.  These people have everything materially they want, but lack the one thing they actually need…Jesus!  I love that the Lord is working though the International Baptist Church and the missionaries here who have come to bring hope to a place filled with hopelessness.

Katherine and I have been blessed to stay with James and Jen Arnold and their 5 kids.  I have loved spending time with them again and have been encouraged by their willingness to go where the Lord calls them.  They are an incredible family, and the Lord is using them in mighty ways!

A few things we have been a part of in our time here include the following. Our first day here we participated in the Youth Group Night. Saturday we climbed up on a chateau that overlooks the city of Nice and spent some time in praise and worship and praying for the city of Nice.  It was pretty incredible singing “God of this City” as a prayer for Nice.

Sunday we were responsible for both the youth and kids’ Sunday schools.  Monday we cut down the lots of bamboo to decorate the church with for their upcoming Bilingual VBS camp.  Tuesday Blake and I had the opportunity to work with the News Release Basketball camp.  I had a lot of fun working the pain station.  At the end of the camp we did a skit for the kids, shared what we were doing on our trip, and Blake had the chance to lay out the gospel for the kids…some of which have probably never hear d it before! 

Wednesday was our last full day in Nice.  We worked all day at the church decorating for the Pandamania themed VBS with the bamboo we cut down.  Then Thursday we said our goodbyes and flew out.  What the team didn’t know till a couple days before we left was that I found a cheaper flight out of Rome than Nice to get us to Costa Rica.

 So we are now in Rome spending a couple days doing debrief and visiting some of the historical sites with the intention of learning about early church history.  I’ve also challenged the team to be intentional with all the people we come across.  I was quickly reminded that we are never off duty from ministry!  On the way to Rome the Lord sat me next to a young German girl.  She was very friendly, and we talked the whole flight.  I prayed the whole time that the Lord would open the door for me to share the Gospel with her. 

Sure enough…God answered my prayer and the last 30 minutes of the flight I shared with her about how Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life!  I don’t know that she was jumping out of her chair to follow Jesus just yet, but she was receptive in listening to me.  I told her I would continue to pray for her and find her on facebook.  Please keep praying for the Lord to work on her heart!

That is all I have for now.  We are flying to Costa Rica on Sunday!  I’m excited to see my good friend Erica and spend some quality time with her.  Please be praying for us to finish strong and enjoy every moment of our last country!  Miss yall!

Uganda Pictures

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road…

I’m convinced this joke must have started in Uganda!  They are brave little suckers taking their chances crossing the pot-holed roads in Mbale.  Some of them are lucky that they made it to the other side!

So Uganda…what an incredible 10 days.  It definitely flew by very fast!  I enjoyed every moment of our time at Lulwanda Children’s Home and with my dear friend Natalie Rolfe.  We had the opportunity to repaint the rooms of the boy’s and girl’s dormatories and some of the new nursury buildings.  When we weren’t painting we enjoyed playing with all the kids.  They are precious!

I’m amazed at how the Lord is continually blessing Lulwanda.  Every time I visit they have added something on.  This year they have ushered in 20 more kids, putting them at 110 total!  Many of these new kids still need sponsors to help support their necessities and pay for their schooling.  If you are interested in supporting one of them…let me know, and I’ll set you up with how to do so . 

I love what the Lord is doing in Uganda and through my friend Natalie.  She is a true picture of a woman surrendered to God’s call for her life.  She has had a huge impact on our team and was an incredible servant to us all.  Not to mention she fed us very well!  Please keep praying for Natalie as she serves faithfully loving the Lord’s children in Uganda.

We have made it to France, and hopefully I’ll be able to get some posts up here since the internet is a little quicker.  I also will try to get up some Uganda pictures soon.  Tonight we are helping with the youth night at the church so I’ve gotta get going for that!  Hopefully I’ll be writing soon…like N’sync always said, “Bye Bye Bye!”

Africa!

We arrived in Mbale, Uganda on Monday. It is so great to be here where there is so much more religious freedom than there has been in the past couple places we went. Not to mention that but the weather is so much cooler and the country so much greener. It is beautiful here! And the best part about being here is getting to hang out with my good friend Natalie Rolfe!

The past couple days we have been painting at Lulwanda Children’s Home, where Natalie works. At Lulwanda there are 110 orphans who have lost 1 or both parents to AIDS. It is incredible to see how the Lord continues to bless the ministry of this children’s home. Everytime I visit God has provided financially for some sort of improvement!

We are blessed to be a part of the improvements as we have been painting several buildings at the home. Natalie shared with us that it is very expensive to hire a painter to come in a do the work so we are saving them money that they can put towards other things for the children.

I love seeing how the Lord definitely cares for orphans around the world and how He provides for their needs. I am constantly reminded on this trip how much the Lord loves each one of us!

As far as other things go…Katherine’s Sweet 16 (plus 10 ) Birthday is coming up on July 4th…so bombard her with comments, emails, and facebook birthday wishes if you get the chance! I’ll keep you posted on other happenings in Uganda as we hopefully will get to internet again sometime soon .

Peace out foo’s

Jesus is the Winner Man

Those are the words to one of my favorite songs the kids sing.  Our last few days in India have been so great!  I’m going to be really sad to leave and going to miss hearing the kids sing 3 times a day.  These kids have such a special place in my heart and have taught me so much!  Here are a couple things that have been going on lately in India.

One of the boys that was in my group the first time I ever visited India is still at the orphanage.  Deepak is now 10 years old and was so excited to see me.  One of my favorite things about this trip was just sitting and talking with Deepak.   This time his English was good enough for me to ask him about his testimony.  He told me that before he came to the orphanage he grew up Hindu and had lots of Hindu idols around his house (where his grandmother lived).  When he was 5 years old and our team first visited the orphanage he became a Christian.  The next time he went to his home he destroyed all the Hindu idols in his house.  I was amazed at the boldness of a 5 year old.  I pray that I can be that bold when faced with idols in my life!

Surgrive, one of my other kids from my first trip, is also still at the orphanage.  Deepak told me that he had a big cyst on his back and that if you touch anywhere near it he will cry.  I asked to see the cyst, which was definitely huge (bigger than a golf ball for sure).  Surgrive cried just at us pulling his shirt up.  My heart broke at the pain he was in.  We then talked to the head of the orphanage to see if we could do something for him.  The next day Luke and I went with him to the doctor.  We prayed for him before he left that he wouldn’t be in pain.  The doctor didn’t do much and the facility was by no means clean, but the Lord definitely did some healing through it.  After the visit the Surgrive was like a different kid.  He was smiling and playing where as before he was withdrawn and didn’t want anyone to touch him.  Please be praying for the Lord to continually heal him because it will definitely take God’s healing touch for him to be completely healed.

Today we went to the TajMahal.  It was my 4^th trip to this incredible building.  I am always blown away by the intricacy of the Taj.  This mausoleum was built by a man for his wife who died.  It was built over a period of 22 years by 20,000 men working 24 hours a day.  When you visit you can definitely tell how much this man loved his wife!  Every time I visit I’m always reminded how much more the Lord loves me!

Alright well tonight we are debriefing and then driving back to the orphanage tomorrow to say goodbye, pick up our luggage, and head to the airport.  I am definitely going to miss being in a place where the joy of the Lord is so apparent and where I truly experience God’s unconditional love.  Be praying for our travels to Uganda!  Thanks so much for your prayers and support!  I can’t believe 2 countries have already gone by!

India Pictures

Here are some pictures from our time here so far.  I also posted 2 blogs below that you can check out if you have some time .