This week has been a week of challenges in my personal life, and of construction in our ministry.
We spent most if this week at an old persons home painting. I felt it was a good team bonding experience and we really got a lot done, whilst in our breaks we had Narnia adventures and explored the sights of India. I was also sick for a couple of days, which wasn't good, but I really used it as an opportunity to seek God on a lot of things and read and then hear from God. I'm so happy I serve a living God who speaks and excites and dreams with me. And then he reminds me that I am a partner with Him and these big, strange, scary things hes showing me will not be done alone but he has given us His spirit to go out and do amazing things.
I've been reading the book of Acts, and got inspired by the things the early apostles did. But then I got to wondering, why don't we see that any more? And more importantly, why shouldn't we?
I believe God wants to do greater things through us than what the apostles did. We have the same Spirit, the same power in us. The only difference is that they were willing to give of their all.
I read a book this week about the Chinese church and the Back to Jerusalem movement. It got me stirred up inside. Why do we fear our message of the gospel being rejected, and our feeling ashamed, when it is nothing compared to prison, torture or death that the chinese believers, and the early apostles went through.
I am challenged to be different. To not sit back and wait for "others" to do something. God wants to partner with you. He will be with you in everything you do, if you are serving Him. And if you empty yourself, amazing things will happen when God is able to fill you..
I'm going to make this a public declaration that I don't want to live a comfortable life. I don't want to be complacent. I want to grasp the fact that people are lost, dying and hurt and WE have been charged with saving them, and that persecution only means the enemy is upset with us because we're building the Kingdom of God. I want to see God work miracles of salvation in people the world would see as hopeless. I want to have God work powerfully in this world, and if thats through me, then good, and if not I'm fine with that too.
Our God is with us always, and all we need to do is let Him work. But He can't do that if we have our own agendas. Plus, I can guarantee, Gods agenda for you is infinitely more exciting than what you can dream of, after all, He is the one who invented imagination, and ours is only a shadow of what he can dream.
I love you all, and look forward to seeing you soon!!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Hallelujah (hallelujah)
My time in India is drawing to a close, we're now past the halfway point. I am looking forward to going home and seeing everyone, but I know this is an amazing opportunity here. Although I'm certain not the only opportunity ;)
This week we got to see a few cool touristy things amongst our ministry. We helped at yet another VBS on the monday, and met and prayed for the pastors. We did a few prayer walks around our local community as well as the fisherman village. We even got to play cricket with some of the kids. On Wednesday we also got to go and see an old temple from the time when India still had kings. We saw the old Kings bath, stone wall carvings and a giant rock that they claim the "Butter God" sat on.
From Friday to Sunday we have been helping out at a local crusade. Its pretty cool. They have a giant open air stage and they sing funny high energy Tamil songs interspersed with prayer by guest pastors. Then they have a guy speak for a (long) while, and usually we leave partway through because its late. Apparently he performs miracles though, which is sweet. We got to perform one of our skits on the stage, in front of I dont know how many people. We invested a lot of prayer into the services and I know they were effective. I just hope anyone saved can truly walk in Gods grace and know their life is changed.
On Saturday we also got to go and visit the supposed tomb of St Thomas the Apostle, one of the 12 disciples who was the very first missionary to India and was martyred there. There were a lot of Catholic relics there, and it was really interesting to see. And Kyle even bought some holy water for 30 rupees!! Now we can really bless people :)
It was a good, although kind of disorganised week because a lot of things were cancelled and moved around. I'm hoping this week we might get to visit a leper and gypsy colony which we were supposed to go to this week.
As always, I thank you for your prayers and ask you continue to pray for us as were over here. Whether you believe, see or know it or not, your prayers are making a difference!!
This week we got to see a few cool touristy things amongst our ministry. We helped at yet another VBS on the monday, and met and prayed for the pastors. We did a few prayer walks around our local community as well as the fisherman village. We even got to play cricket with some of the kids. On Wednesday we also got to go and see an old temple from the time when India still had kings. We saw the old Kings bath, stone wall carvings and a giant rock that they claim the "Butter God" sat on.
From Friday to Sunday we have been helping out at a local crusade. Its pretty cool. They have a giant open air stage and they sing funny high energy Tamil songs interspersed with prayer by guest pastors. Then they have a guy speak for a (long) while, and usually we leave partway through because its late. Apparently he performs miracles though, which is sweet. We got to perform one of our skits on the stage, in front of I dont know how many people. We invested a lot of prayer into the services and I know they were effective. I just hope anyone saved can truly walk in Gods grace and know their life is changed.
On Saturday we also got to go and visit the supposed tomb of St Thomas the Apostle, one of the 12 disciples who was the very first missionary to India and was martyred there. There were a lot of Catholic relics there, and it was really interesting to see. And Kyle even bought some holy water for 30 rupees!! Now we can really bless people :)
It was a good, although kind of disorganised week because a lot of things were cancelled and moved around. I'm hoping this week we might get to visit a leper and gypsy colony which we were supposed to go to this week.
As always, I thank you for your prayers and ask you continue to pray for us as were over here. Whether you believe, see or know it or not, your prayers are making a difference!!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Neil Diamond
This week was a good week. A ridiculously sweaty, dirty, but good week.
We went back to the old person/mental home all this week and spent our time doing hard physical labour, as well as some not so hard physical labour. We cleaned out rooms whilst dodging wasps nests, threw sharp metal sheets off the 2nd floor, narrowly missing motorbikes and people and in the meantime met some awesome people. And it was good. Like Elizabeth, who runs the school there, the school which started with 60 kids and now has 600. And Maxwell Vincent aka "Love from above" who was a dementia patient there who told amazing stories and serenaded us with John Denver and Neil Diamond tunes, the latter of which he says has the best voice ever. Australia represent.
Then we helped build a road. Without asphalt, or tools. It involved us sorting through large rock piles to create an even rock surface which they will cover with sand. In the Indian heat. Ive never beaded so much in my life. But it was good.
Then we helped prepare their prayer room for painting by sandpapering the walls. Then we actually did the forementioned painting. And as always happens when painting with other people, we got it all over ourselves. And it was all good.
So in summary, blessing others is good. Especially others who have devoted time, effort, money and their lives to helping the "least of these." Pray for the home here, that God can provide more money and staff and a continued passion to serve for everyone there. Also pray for our team that we can continue to bless people in our ministry.
Oh, and a P.S, it was my birthday Friday!! It was a good day, I got some sweet books to read, we went out for subway for dinner and I got slightly awkwardly but warm-on-the-inside affirmed. Thanks Team, and everyone at home for your wishes, and prayers!!
We went back to the old person/mental home all this week and spent our time doing hard physical labour, as well as some not so hard physical labour. We cleaned out rooms whilst dodging wasps nests, threw sharp metal sheets off the 2nd floor, narrowly missing motorbikes and people and in the meantime met some awesome people. And it was good. Like Elizabeth, who runs the school there, the school which started with 60 kids and now has 600. And Maxwell Vincent aka "Love from above" who was a dementia patient there who told amazing stories and serenaded us with John Denver and Neil Diamond tunes, the latter of which he says has the best voice ever. Australia represent.
Then we helped build a road. Without asphalt, or tools. It involved us sorting through large rock piles to create an even rock surface which they will cover with sand. In the Indian heat. Ive never beaded so much in my life. But it was good.
Then we helped prepare their prayer room for painting by sandpapering the walls. Then we actually did the forementioned painting. And as always happens when painting with other people, we got it all over ourselves. And it was all good.
So in summary, blessing others is good. Especially others who have devoted time, effort, money and their lives to helping the "least of these." Pray for the home here, that God can provide more money and staff and a continued passion to serve for everyone there. Also pray for our team that we can continue to bless people in our ministry.
Oh, and a P.S, it was my birthday Friday!! It was a good day, I got some sweet books to read, we went out for subway for dinner and I got slightly awkwardly but warm-on-the-inside affirmed. Thanks Team, and everyone at home for your wishes, and prayers!!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Serving Love
Three weeks have passed us by already. It's gone so quickly, I know that before I even realise we'll be heading home. Which is a sad thought because I'm really loving it here and I want to make the most of my time here.
India is such a strangely beautiful place. Its colourful and vibrant, the buildings are tall, twisting and usually brightly colored. The people are also energetic and friendly and in a sense they too, are colourful. The food is a lot of the same, rice, rice and rice, but with enough difference in curries and sauces to make it delicious and exciting to see what we get to eat each day.
This week was a hodge-podge week of minstry. On tuesday we went to an old person/mental home. Initially when we walked in and I saw the conditions I was a little worried about what I might see. Indian homes are a lot different to western ones. We were shown to a dorm-room where some mentally challenged ladies stayed. It was a bit awkward at first, but it turned out to be really fulfilling. The ladies were so friendly and funny and I know they were genuinely blessed by our presence. I know some of the team got to pray with some of the ladies towards the end.
On Wednesday we had some meetings, which is nothing exciting to talk about..
Friday ans and Saturday we helped out with some other VBS's. They were Tamil speaking, so it was interesting to say the least. When we arrived we almost caused a riot as the kids would jump up and swarm us for hand shakes, high fives and even autographs. It was difficult to get them to pay attention to what we were saying and not imitating us or shaking our hands. The kids were so funny though, the leaders would put some music on and the kids would immediately get up and start grooving. It was hectic.
Yesterday we went to yet another church. We performed another skit, (The clincher) led worship, and Kyle spoke a sermon on radical love. Then we sat in on their Tamil service which was, to be frank, a little boring when you don't speak the language.
This week will be another week of unknowns, but I'm excited to do more of Gods will, and show more of His love. Thinking of you back home in the cold.
India is such a strangely beautiful place. Its colourful and vibrant, the buildings are tall, twisting and usually brightly colored. The people are also energetic and friendly and in a sense they too, are colourful. The food is a lot of the same, rice, rice and rice, but with enough difference in curries and sauces to make it delicious and exciting to see what we get to eat each day.
This week was a hodge-podge week of minstry. On tuesday we went to an old person/mental home. Initially when we walked in and I saw the conditions I was a little worried about what I might see. Indian homes are a lot different to western ones. We were shown to a dorm-room where some mentally challenged ladies stayed. It was a bit awkward at first, but it turned out to be really fulfilling. The ladies were so friendly and funny and I know they were genuinely blessed by our presence. I know some of the team got to pray with some of the ladies towards the end.
On Wednesday we had some meetings, which is nothing exciting to talk about..
Friday ans and Saturday we helped out with some other VBS's. They were Tamil speaking, so it was interesting to say the least. When we arrived we almost caused a riot as the kids would jump up and swarm us for hand shakes, high fives and even autographs. It was difficult to get them to pay attention to what we were saying and not imitating us or shaking our hands. The kids were so funny though, the leaders would put some music on and the kids would immediately get up and start grooving. It was hectic.
Yesterday we went to yet another church. We performed another skit, (The clincher) led worship, and Kyle spoke a sermon on radical love. Then we sat in on their Tamil service which was, to be frank, a little boring when you don't speak the language.
This week will be another week of unknowns, but I'm excited to do more of Gods will, and show more of His love. Thinking of you back home in the cold.
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