Picture it....a Turkish guy, a Kazakhstani girl and me walking around our Ukrainian city seeking God's heart for the homeless. Praying. Listening to God's voice. Obeying Him. None of us at this point have worked with the homeless in Ternopil yet. Only one of us can speak Russian, the second can speak enough Russian to translate between me and the non-English speaking team mate. Talk about learning to work together - he he! We are on a "spiritual scouting" mission.
Holy Spirit leads us to the train station. There are people everywhere and we ask a lady that has a booth to sell food and drinks outside if she knows where the homeless people "hang out". (I use that term loosely...they aren't really hanging out - they have no where else to go!) This lady tells us that they are around, we just need to find them and they usually don't come to the train station until later in the evening. She gave us a hint, however. All homeless people in Ternopil wear scarves! She told us to look for the scarves.
We decid to continue praying, seeking God and we enter the train station, just to walk around and pray for the homeless people that would be going there in a few hours. We pray for the ministries that minister and reach out to the homeless people and we sit down on some benches where most of them are full of people waiting for their trains to wherever they are going.
Right across from us is a lady with a long coat and a red scarf. She is sleeping. Our Turkish teammate says, "Hey, maybe she is homeless." I respond with laughter, because by this point this team member has thought that at least 5 people that we have seen have been homeless (most of which were seniors - babushkas - from the village). We talk about how just because someone might look "homeless" in our opinion, does not mean that they are homeless. Assumption.
This lady sitting next to us, "wakes up" and we realize that she is totally plastered drunk. And yes, she is homeless. We decide just to sit where we are and pray for her. She mocks us, even though we are not talking to her or anything, and acting up and then she gets up, stumbles around and approaches a lady for some money. This woman in the red scarf has very little physical control at this point and she gets quite close to the woman and invades her space.
To our surprise, the woman screams at the lady in the red scarf, hits and kicks her and pushes her to the ground with great anger and violence. We, seeing the entire thing, reacted right away and ran to the lady who is now prostrate on the ground and clearly in pain, felt or not due to her intoxication. We help her up and lead her to another seat to sit down. THE ENTIRE SECOND FLOOR WAITING ROOM JUST SITS AND WATCHES THE ENTIRE TIME AND MANY PEOPLE ARE LAUGHING. After we help the lady up, the people are laughing at us too, not to mention giving us that cold eastern European GLARE filled with shame!
We give the woman tissues to clean her bleeding cut on her brow from her fall. As we sit with her, all we can do is pray and she welcomes our prayer. As our one Russian speaking team member prays out loud, tears stream down the woman's face. From our point of view, we are helpless in serving this woman, as all we can offer her is Jesus through our prayer. Yet, with confidence we know that Jesus cares so deeply for this one and He is touching her through us in this short moment.
We go and buy her some bread to eat and just as we do the "police" or security show up. Now it is getting interesting! At this moment we realize that we need to go. We have done everything we feel that God sent us there to do. We get up and move, still staying in the train station to see how the police deal with this woman. Another hard situation to witness, but the reality of this woman. The police act very rudely and they call for one of the cleaners to come and "remove" her. They very obviously did not want to touch her or smell her. They are holding their coat collars up to their noses in a very demonstrative fashion to prove the point that this woman stinks.
We watch as they drag her out of the train station, forgetting her bread behind on the bench. Just as we go to get the bread to give to the lady, the woman appointed to remove the lady in the red scarf comes and retrieves the bread.
As we walk home, we pray for the lady in the red scarf, for the police, for the many bystanders and scoffers. We talk together and realize that we were not prepared to see and experience what we just saw and experienced. But it happened and it was an eye opener to how we can so easily judge, especially those despised and outcast, and how they need the same love and care that Jesus offers to us all so freely. Only if we are willing to identify with them in their humiliation and stand for them.
God's love in us and communicated through us for these ones (and all people) must outweigh our desire to retain any kind of reputation. I have re-learned again that all I have to offer of any lasting value to anyone, to society, is Jesus Christ. If there are things that stand in my way from sharing Jesus' life with others then it is rooted in my own pride to save myself and my reputation. Remembering what Jesus said, "Whoever saves their life, they will lose it; but whoever gives up their life for my sake and the sake of the gospel will find it."
I pray and believe God with all my heart that the lady in the red scarf will lose her present life of bondage and sin in Christ and find the life that He has planned for her. The power of the new creation.
We will see the lady in the red scarf tomorrow night again when we return to the train station with a local church outreach team to feed the homeless. What would I rather do this Christmas eve.....NOTHING!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
How Many Christmases are there really??
So...it is Christmas time! Yay Jesus - I do enjoy this time of the year, although this year has been very different than any other year already. Firstly, I am living in Ukraine and they celebrate Christmas on January 7th and in a very different way than we "North Americans" are accustomed to. (I have resorted to calling myself "North American" because people here call us all American, whether we are Canadian or American and when I try to correct them, they say, "It's all North America!" - he he!)
This year I am in charge of the planning and running of "North American" Christmas, which is in two days. Then we will celebrate New Years, which in this part of the world is the very important holiday (a remnant of Soviet times when Christmas was not celebrated...). So - for New Years people set up a tree and decorate it, say up all night, watch ritualistic Russian movies, eat a lot of chocolate and special dishes and give gifts. Our team leader, who is Russian, is in charge of carrying out a real "Russian New Year"!
After that...we have another Christmas - Ukrainian Christmas, on the 7th of January. This entails people going from house to house singing Ukrainian carols and of course a big, traditional meal. Our team has been asked to plan and carry out the program for the Ukrainian Christmas celebration for the missionaries and ministers of YWAM Ternopil. We have been learning Ukrainian Carols....and beginning to prepare, but we have two big celebrations to get through before that :)
For this year, I will be privileged to celebrate the birth of Jesus (which really, the day isn't important, but the remembrance and celebration of Christ's first coming IS...) with brothers and sisters in Christ from 6 plus nations. We have received a new team member, who also had trouble with her visa to Egypt so she came to be with us, from Kazakhstan. She is from the Ugur (spelling??) people group, who are originally from Northern China. She is definitely a Christmas gift from God to us all bringing a new dynamic to our family and allowing us to learn about her, her people, and Kazakhstan as well.
Just this morning we were having a time of worship that was focused on the Cross of Christ....and we shared in communion together and there were 6 nations standing together eating the body of Jesus and drinking the blood. Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kenya and Canada... as if that is not the miracle of the cross at work! Every tribe and every tongue!
So - Christmas time....rejoice in the Lord and all He has done by coming, living as a man and being tempted in every way as we, yet without sin, and then giving Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, conquering death, hell and the grave and rising again to bring us back into a loving relationship with the Father through the Holy Spirit, and giving us an assignment to go and teach all nations all that He has and is teaching us!
Hmmmm - this is all wrapped up in the fullness of why we celebrate Christmas....it's so much greater than anything that might be under our trees this year! Jesus - He is the greatest gift - living, breathing and changing lives this Christmas season!
С Рождеством!!! (Merry Christmas!)
This year I am in charge of the planning and running of "North American" Christmas, which is in two days. Then we will celebrate New Years, which in this part of the world is the very important holiday (a remnant of Soviet times when Christmas was not celebrated...). So - for New Years people set up a tree and decorate it, say up all night, watch ritualistic Russian movies, eat a lot of chocolate and special dishes and give gifts. Our team leader, who is Russian, is in charge of carrying out a real "Russian New Year"!
After that...we have another Christmas - Ukrainian Christmas, on the 7th of January. This entails people going from house to house singing Ukrainian carols and of course a big, traditional meal. Our team has been asked to plan and carry out the program for the Ukrainian Christmas celebration for the missionaries and ministers of YWAM Ternopil. We have been learning Ukrainian Carols....and beginning to prepare, but we have two big celebrations to get through before that :)
For this year, I will be privileged to celebrate the birth of Jesus (which really, the day isn't important, but the remembrance and celebration of Christ's first coming IS...) with brothers and sisters in Christ from 6 plus nations. We have received a new team member, who also had trouble with her visa to Egypt so she came to be with us, from Kazakhstan. She is from the Ugur (spelling??) people group, who are originally from Northern China. She is definitely a Christmas gift from God to us all bringing a new dynamic to our family and allowing us to learn about her, her people, and Kazakhstan as well.
Just this morning we were having a time of worship that was focused on the Cross of Christ....and we shared in communion together and there were 6 nations standing together eating the body of Jesus and drinking the blood. Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kenya and Canada... as if that is not the miracle of the cross at work! Every tribe and every tongue!
So - Christmas time....rejoice in the Lord and all He has done by coming, living as a man and being tempted in every way as we, yet without sin, and then giving Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, conquering death, hell and the grave and rising again to bring us back into a loving relationship with the Father through the Holy Spirit, and giving us an assignment to go and teach all nations all that He has and is teaching us!
Hmmmm - this is all wrapped up in the fullness of why we celebrate Christmas....it's so much greater than anything that might be under our trees this year! Jesus - He is the greatest gift - living, breathing and changing lives this Christmas season!
С Рождеством!!! (Merry Christmas!)
Sunday, December 12, 2010
While I'm Waiting!
So - here we are...on outreach...still at the base in Ternopil!
No. This is not a joke. How is it possible that 4 of the 5 team members "suddenly" get colds? As a result we had to postpone our ten day outreach to the village. Then, in the midst of waiting and resting, we get word from our team mates headed to Ethiopia that they were not able to board their flight in Turkey because of some unclear visa information. They were "stuck" in Istanbul, needing to get to Ankara, where the Ethiopian Embassy is. It just so happens that one of our team members, Riza, is from Ankara. He was able to help our friends, by instructing them to get onto the right bus and by having his sister and brother in law host them in Ankara. What an interesting turn of events!
We could not have anticipated this. Nor could we have known that our "delay" turned out to work for the good of the team and served a greater purpose than just resting and recovering! We are learning the truth that "All things work together for good, to those that love God and are called according to His purposes" Romans 8:28.
For some of us, we have been in great awe of the Lord. At His sovereignty. To think...all of the chain of events that caused our Indian visas not to work out, then the formation of a new team, then the delay to the village....all lead to us being in the right place at the right time to serve our brothers and sisters stuck in another country. How interconnected and tied together we all are in Christ. WOW!
How important it is to continue to seek the face of Jesus in every circumstance. Even when we are still receiving the answers....the goodness of God is going before us and working all things together for good!
Jesus is amazing!
No. This is not a joke. How is it possible that 4 of the 5 team members "suddenly" get colds? As a result we had to postpone our ten day outreach to the village. Then, in the midst of waiting and resting, we get word from our team mates headed to Ethiopia that they were not able to board their flight in Turkey because of some unclear visa information. They were "stuck" in Istanbul, needing to get to Ankara, where the Ethiopian Embassy is. It just so happens that one of our team members, Riza, is from Ankara. He was able to help our friends, by instructing them to get onto the right bus and by having his sister and brother in law host them in Ankara. What an interesting turn of events!
We could not have anticipated this. Nor could we have known that our "delay" turned out to work for the good of the team and served a greater purpose than just resting and recovering! We are learning the truth that "All things work together for good, to those that love God and are called according to His purposes" Romans 8:28.
For some of us, we have been in great awe of the Lord. At His sovereignty. To think...all of the chain of events that caused our Indian visas not to work out, then the formation of a new team, then the delay to the village....all lead to us being in the right place at the right time to serve our brothers and sisters stuck in another country. How interconnected and tied together we all are in Christ. WOW!
How important it is to continue to seek the face of Jesus in every circumstance. Even when we are still receiving the answers....the goodness of God is going before us and working all things together for good!
Jesus is amazing!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Chortkiv, Ukraine - 3 day outreach and quest!
Two weeks ago we had two days of our lectures devoted to “team time”. This was time where both teams, India and Ethiopia, were to spend together building relationships and learning together as preparation for the 3 month outreach phase.
Our team, Team India, had the opportunity to travel 70 km south of Ternopil to a city call Chortkiv. This city is quite a bit smaller than our present home, with about 30,000 people. It was nice to be in such a “small city” and we really felt it in the three days we were there. We saw the same people on the streets at least twice – he he he!! We went to serve and work with a local church there in Chortkiv with whom our school staff have good relationships. In our time there we spoke, sang and did drama at the young adult group of the church. I was really blessed to connect with a few of the English speakers and we had some great conversation and I was able to encourage them in God’s plans and goodness for them. A young family from the church gave us their one room apartment to stay in...which was certainly a gift! They took their two young kids and stayed at a friends for the two nights we stayed. So...there we were...8 girls sleeping in the living room and bedroom....cooking together, cleaning together – ha ha ha! An interesting fact that was a surprise to us all.... the shower was in the kitchen if you can picture it!
Our first day, we had a "Quest", which was basically a big scavenger hunt to find people and information in a city we had never been to - in 2 hours. This was a GREAT cultural learning experience....by the end we were all agitated...and when we debriefed we realized that we all had different goals when we were given the tasks. To the North Americans - we could not believe that people wanted to stop and take pictures everywhere we went - we were on a time deadline - 2 hours and 6 people we had never met to find, interview,etc. To the Ukranians we were pushy and rude because we were not taking advantage of the opportunity to see the sights at the same time...and hey, we better get groceries for supper because we are walking by possibly the only large supermarket! Ha ha ha - LESSON LEARNED - COMMUNICATE THE VISION AND PURPOSE OF THE TASK - WITH TRANSLATION....so everyone is working together!
The second day we had a time devoted to focused worship and prayer...so we hiked up a hill on the warm sunny morning, found a good spot overlooking the city and sang praises and gave worship to God. It was an amazing time for us as a team – our first time to just rest and worship together simply because Jesus is worthy to receive our praise and worship! In the afternoon we met up with some of the local believers and led them in some street ministry and evangelism. This was tonnes of fun! We met many people during this time and had some really great conversations with people. The people of Chortkiv were VERY friendly and so open to talk and share and pray with us. It was refreshing!
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| Two team mates blessing a dear lady we met She is from Poland and was so encouraged and blessed us as well! |
Saturday night was a highlight for me....because we worked with the “Coffee House” outreach which is run by a former YWAMer and leader in the church, Lydia. God has given her a vision and heart to reach out to youth at the local disco-tech or night club. Once every couple of weeks Lydia and her team go to the night club and present a short drama and say a few words and hand out their contact info for people. There have been many young people who have responded through relationship to this outreach. Lydia shares that before she was born again, in relationship with Jesus, she was in the night club drinking and drugging away her abusive and failed marriage until some of her friends began to love her and really care for her and share Christ with her. I had the priviledge of playing a part in the short drama we did and then saying a few words to the crowd at the end. The message was simple, “We all get stuck to sin....but Jesus died for us while we were sinners, so that when we believe in Him and ask Him to He has the power to forgive us and FREE us from the power of sin.”
The drama is posted before this post. :) Check it out - it is really great and you will get a sense of the atmosphere!
After the drama we stuck around and talked to people that wanted to talk. A young woman approached us, connected with us and two days later she ended up coming to visit us at home when we were in Ternopil. Yay God! Many other youth and young adults wanted to talk to us, ask us questions and get to know us. It was tonnes of fun....and a great reminder to me that people everywhere are in need of God’s great love and so often we forget about the places that might “seem” more dark....but LIGHT BELONGS IN THE DARKNESS.
The final day we shared at the local church we were working with in the city. It was tonnes of fun....we shared with the congregation all about ourselves, DTS, India, and some of the students shared stories or testimonies of amazing things that God has done in bringing them to the school and while being here. We sang a song - Russian and English, but the only catch is we started in Russian, with microphones in the hands of people that have never used mics (we were not expecting personal mics for every singer!!) and whoever started, hit the wrong key and everyone else just followed suit (smile/frown**)!! ha ha - oh to be a part of a team. So...when it was English time, my choice was to try to save the song or to support the team - so I went with the support the team and tried to save it at the same time....it was a great and terrible experience at the same time! After the worship service, on the drive home, we all laughed so hard....we only can improve from here on in! Our team leader said, "I thought you guys were going to cut it short....BUT you finished the song!!" Ha ha - we are still laughing about it! Jesus is FUNNY!!
That is the trip in a nut-shell....
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Content from October Newsletter
Discipleship Training School –
We are officially over one month into our lecture phase of the DTS....and I have been radically surprised by God through the teaching and working of God’s Spirit. So far we have been host to some humble and powerful teachers of God’s word, Paul Logan, Loren and Darlene Cunningham, Al and Carolyn Akimov, and Jim Isom. They have taught on evangelism, missions, hearing God and the role of family and our identity in Christ. I would love to be able to give you a better synopsis of all we have been taught and all God is doing...but that would take many more pages than I desire to pass on to you!
I will say that Jesus is changing us all by His Word and Spirit....and I feel that my heart is under deep surgery. Some of the challenges that I have been going through have been the adaptation to living in a community setting....if you go through something as an individual, you go through it as a group because you cannot hide anywhere to be alone!! God has been pointing His finger on a lot of sin in my heart – selfishness, pride, ungratefulness, complaining, judgement...the list goes on. And in all of these things, I am in an environment where I must deal with each of these things so that we can live in unity and love as a family unit in Christ.
Just this last week....which consisted of a lot of inner healing and identifying root beliefs that are in opposition to the truth (which is why behaviour exists that goes against God) so that they can be renewed by God’s word (Romans 12), the Holy Spirit really revealed the state of my heart.....which is in desperate need of the work of the cross! I have come back to a place of realizing how much I need Jesus, His cross, His blood and His continual work in me (through His Word and Spirit). In total honesty – I see how much of a mess I am and how lost I am without the hope of Christ and His power that makes me a new creation every day!
YWAM Jubilee –
At the end of September we joined with the rest of Ukraine and Russia and gathered together to celebrate the Jubilee (50th) Anniversary of Youth With a Mission. It was a PARTY to say the least and a time of connecting, and readying for the future. As “non-YWAMer”s many of us students felt a little out of place, but by the end of the conference we were all powerfully impacted. It was a great encouragement to see and build relationships with other followers of Jesus in Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Belarus and other Ukranianian cities. We were about 250 people and shared meals, teaching sessions, worship and more together. Many received fresh vision for future outreaches and we all were equipped in greater ways.
I attended a workshop teaching about “Understanding Islam”. The session was VERY powerful and imparted a lot of practical wisdom and tools. It was just a taste of a longer training session that is used as a training tool for people that minister in Muslim nations. One of the most interesting things I learned was that almost ¼ of the world’s Muslim population speaks Russian as their first language. That is amazing to me – I had no idea. The European city that has the most Muslims per capita....is not Paris or London, but is Moscow. Southern Russia, that borders the “stans” has contains this large population of Russian speaking Muslims that have no witness for Jesus Christ, many of which live isolated and in very low economic status because they have been neglected through the Soviet times and left alone afterwards. God is stirring some things up in my heart for these peoples and regions....
Breakthrough in Kiev –
After the conference our DTS group stayed in Kiev and joined up with the DTS in Kiev for one week of teaching on pioneer missions. It was a powerful week indeed. The greatest thing I can pass on is this quote from Brother Andrew, “Who told you that a nation is closed to the good news of Jesus Christ....? Did God say that the nation was closed? NO, it was men that told you. If God has not said it, it is not so. And if God wants you in a nation, He will get you in and open all the doors you need.” Inspiring to say the least!
I was also so blessed and thankful to help out with leading worship at the YWAM base in Kiev. On the Thursday evening the base had their “Family Night” and two of the Kiev DTS students and myself formed a last minute band and lead a worship night. This was a highlight for me, firstly because God supernaturally brought us together – a keyboardist (English), a bassist (Ukrainian) and myself, guitarist (English). We had to lead in English and Russian....ha ha ha – and we did! There were about 100 or so missions staff and students present...and it was a powerful time,
After the evening, I thanked the Kiev DTS leader for helping with sound and he expressed how much of a breakthrough this night was. He shared that for a long time, nothing like that had happened on the base and he knew that it was a start of God’s move and breakthrough for the Kiev missions base and staff. What an honour for us as DTS Ternopil to have been present and a part of God’s work there!
Student Ministry/Outreach –
Evangelism: We have been going out to the streets every week as a school. While in Kiev, we had the privilege to teach the Kiev DTS a crash street-evangelism course and then we took them out with us. In Kiev it was so different – most of the older people we spoke with in Kiev were atheists and full of anger and hurt from the war (WW2), much fruit from the Soviet Union. This really broke my heart because some of the older men we spoke with, professors, were actually asking us, “Show me God if He exists....prove it to me.” Deep in their voices, however was an earnest desire to know that God is real.
In Ternopil, this past week, we split into groups and prayed as teams and went “treasure hunting”, which is asking God to speak to us of a specific place and person He wants us to meet with. Each group came back afterwards with awesome testimonies of God’s faithful guidance and the precious people on the receiving end. We have been building strong relationships with the people God has been sending us out to meet. We are meeting with them on Friday nights to build closer relationships and begin discipleship of those that are giving their lives to God. Our focus for this will continue in hearing God’s direction, following Him, sharing His words with people and building relationship and discipleship.
Elders and orphans: Last week we went to our other outreach ministries for the first time. My post was an Old Age Home. We went in groups to find men or women to visit with for our time at the home. My group, Lena, Riza and myself, found an elderly man, Sebastien, in his room and ready to receive us. We entered his small, smokey room and sat down. He was so excited to see us and shared that he never gets visitors. We explained why we were there....to talk with him, get to know him, etc. and he said, “ask me anything and I will tell you.” To our surprise, this 84 year old man, was a Soviet War Hero. He was on the front lines and shared later that he had the honour of freeing Warsaw, Poland from the Germans (and he mentioned other cities)... The last person that came to visit him was a reporter from Kiev, to find out about his stories.
He was a dear man, and all three of us felt a connection instantly. He thought that it was really cool that I was from Canada and that I spoke English. He shared that when he was in Berlin fighting that he used to drink Vodka with English soldiers! We left him some brownies that we had baked...and he was so blessed by our company and conversation! I am so excited to go back and keep visiting with this amazing man! What a reminder of the richness of life, wisdom and history that the older generation carries....and here he his, living in a tiny room in the state run seniors home on a very small pension. We are already planning ways to bless him....thinking about having a dinner in his honour, or taking him into town by taxi....if you get any ideas, please let me know!
Riga, Latvia – School of Prophetic Justice
I am writing this extensive (ha ha) newsletter from Riga, Latvia. I am sitting in an apartment of one of the YWAM staff, a Dutch woman, who is hosting us and the School of Prophetic Justice. School starts tomorrow and we have around 50 students from Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Norway, Russia, and other European countries. One of our students has come from Thailand....so we are expecting great things from God! It has already been such a powerful and supernatural trip to get here yesterday....and it is a priviledge to be serving with Jari and Tanya Koivu and the YWAM Alternatives Network to serve Europe with the information of Pro-Life Missions and Human Trafficking Ministry....I will share more in the next newsletter....but for now....keep praying with us for many to be changed, inspiried and set a flame for the work of love found in God’s justice for the unborn and oppressed of the world. We are believing that eyes will be opened in Europe to these vital ministries, as in many nations there is very little taking place through the ministry of the church. It is time!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Divine Encounters on the Way to Riga
What a day – leaving Ukraine....train, taxis, planes....benches – kind men and women and above all the most amazing God beyond my imaginations! To me it is a miracle to be here....in a beautiful apartment – received with love and a warm open heart....in Latvia! I was so tired all day that it seems as though I am here and have come out of a haze. Ahhhh – it is already refreshing and already I have some perspective of what and how and why...although a dim shadow of Your full plan!
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| Faith, under construction as we go! |
I am staying with the wonderful disciple of Jesus that is going to turn human trafficking upside down in Riga and then all over Europe. This woman is already and will be a modern day hero.....an everyday lover of Jesus...who is putting hands and feet to the ending of the sex trade! What an honour...and you have brought me here to serve her Lord as a guest in her home. Already I see the priviledge and honour and strategy in staying here....all by Your hand. You are so faithful to provide for me...and so superabundantly!
Even missing the connection today in Kiev was such a pleasant surprise....just resting in Your grace and enjoying the sunshine, birds, people walking to and fro and of course Sasha from Georgia. As I sat on the bench reading my book....I noticed him looking at me a bit and then he came with his sandwich and sat on the bench next to me. I did not take too much notice until he began liberally feeding the pigeons and then more and more and more! He was taking great joy in sharing his lunch and they were frenzied as well!! I had to duck for cover a few times! Then....I felt to offer him some of my yummy Ukranian chocolate ....and to my joy he accepted it. This made way for a lovely time together....Sasha, a native Georgian is probably in his late 60s, early 70s. A businessman who owns a hotel (or maybe a few....) It was a miracle that I even got that much information – he spoke no English and I used the very minimal Russian I have.....he tried speaking German with me, but that did not get too far! Ha ha ha! It was a great gift from God to meet him – I showed him photos of Ternopil, the base, the missionaries....and he understood I was a missionary!! He invited me to come to Georgia and learn Russian – and left me with his phone number when in Moscow and Georgia! For much of the time we just sat silent together....and tried to talk here and there....as I was showing him photos he blessed me and commented that I was a beautiful woman!! I believe if nothing else God brought him to me to tell me that very truth! I received it with gratefulness in my heart! What a gift from God that encounter was....and I believe the Lord will be with him and reveal Himself to Sasha...!
And then there was Maxim....a friends friends friend who met me at the train station.....waited for me to detrain, grabbed my bag from me....whisked me away to the taxis, found me a good price, got me in, warned the driver I didn’t speak Ukrainian and then was gone. The soccer coach and kind man, Maxim. Thank you father for taking care of me through all of these people...! You are too good to put to words and your provision is so abundant it astounds me!
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| Overlooking the lake in Ternopil.... |
Now – I am in Riga – and going to sleep....there is such an excitement in my heart. I know that I am here for Your purpose Jesus. I know that You have assigned me to be here as an ambassador of healing to the nations....to sow this seed in faith! Time to sow and believe!
Friday, September 10, 2010
THE ipod challenge!!!!
What! It can not be so! You mean that I can not find my ipod...before I am boarding a 9 hour flight and before entering into a season of 6 month intensive and intrusive learning and ministry where personal space will already be little to none. Now....not being able to find my ipod almost is insult to injury...the only little device that allows me to plug into worship through music, to tune into God and tune out every other noise and person around (we all know how we “need” to do this at different points in the day – something we like to call “space” or “time to ourselves”.) And hey – when living in a community setting (I mean the only private space is a 1 X 1 room that houses the toilet!!) every buffer of personal space is welcomed and used as a tool to connect with Jesus and disconnect with people, even for an hour....to simulate solitary time and allow a vacuum of the Presence of God in a personal meeting space.
Yes, you might be thinking what God is thinking!! Ha ha ha ha...and He was letting me know some of His thoughts, as I was on the way to the airport and asking Him about this fiasco! Firstly, one of His thoughts was this : “Do I need to plug in an ipod to “tune out the rest of the world”? One of my classic crutches for using my ipod (let me clarify, I rarely use my ipod....mostly to connecting with Jesus in the midst of an airplane ride, to encourage sleep, in devotions and worship, on runs and walks at times...and you know...the rare occation to separate myself from the others around me that I might not “feel” like talking to and can’t physically get away from!) Back to the crutch - and it is this – to keep garbage from entering my ears. Most times, I would rather not hear the conversation my neighbours are having about the neighbour who does this and that....or the curse words exchanged in “normal” conversation that I am not a part of. I know my heart motive is pure, and as I write this is all starting to sound a bit like insulation.
Fire can’t start in a vacuum!
The next thought that God shared with me was relating to this very fact. God hears the just and the unjust. He has listened to every vile song, every curse riled against His own name, every degrading thing, every slander, every gossip, He HEARS IT ALL. Does He tune it out to regain His holiness? Does He need to keep His ears plugged with His own praises in order to do His mighty works in the heavens and earth? Nope – His holiness is settled in heaven, His heart is secure and fixed....and yet He is grieved, His heart breaks and He weeps and stirred to powerful love when He hears His creation entering into anything that is not faith. His compassion is the filter that takes sin and defilement and translates it into the burden of the Cross and the power of the resurrection that He is waiting to be received by every heart.
So....obviously, I can see Jesus probing my heart to teach me a lesson in this all. Admittedly, for convenience sake, I would really love to have my ipod with me...I mean – 6 months in different languages and cultures...some English solice of anointed worship at my fingertips seems greater than gold in this moment...and will seem as such a couple months into this thing!!
But there is a greater solice that the Lord is trying to open me up to receive. Jesus didn’t tote an ipod. He lived in constant fellowship with the Father – IN THE MIDST OF A PERVERSE AND SINFUL GENERATION. Jesus must have heard all kinds of ungodly conversations in passing, and we all know that He wasn’t afraid to be the light in those dark places. He lived in close community with the 12 disciples for 3 solid years. His “tune out” was the hidden place of prayer and the rest of the time it was the secret place of abiding in the Father’s presence and love by Holy Spirit’s constant help and presence.
This is it. This is the goal. This is the Father’s desire for me, for us. To not rely on anything but Him. So even an ipod, used for godly things, can become a crutch, and a means of disconnect from the very people God is desiring us to share deeper community with, even in the kaos of kosmos and defilement of the world. What would we do if faced without having the “normal” helps in our relationship with Jesus. We could call them conveniences, because they are that.
Take away my solitary place of prayer. Take away my “buffer” of personal space as manifested in my ipod. What will You find Lord?
My prayer in and through this learning time is that with or without the things and cultural expressions of worship and devotion there would remain ABIDING. You would remain, Jesus, constantly present and speaking and making holy. There would remain the love of God, burning deeply and passionately for Jesus and for others. There would remain heaven and earth and the two colliding through my life.
It’s time for the test!
Yes, you might be thinking what God is thinking!! Ha ha ha ha...and He was letting me know some of His thoughts, as I was on the way to the airport and asking Him about this fiasco! Firstly, one of His thoughts was this : “Do I need to plug in an ipod to “tune out the rest of the world”? One of my classic crutches for using my ipod (let me clarify, I rarely use my ipod....mostly to connecting with Jesus in the midst of an airplane ride, to encourage sleep, in devotions and worship, on runs and walks at times...and you know...the rare occation to separate myself from the others around me that I might not “feel” like talking to and can’t physically get away from!) Back to the crutch - and it is this – to keep garbage from entering my ears. Most times, I would rather not hear the conversation my neighbours are having about the neighbour who does this and that....or the curse words exchanged in “normal” conversation that I am not a part of. I know my heart motive is pure, and as I write this is all starting to sound a bit like insulation.
Fire can’t start in a vacuum!
The next thought that God shared with me was relating to this very fact. God hears the just and the unjust. He has listened to every vile song, every curse riled against His own name, every degrading thing, every slander, every gossip, He HEARS IT ALL. Does He tune it out to regain His holiness? Does He need to keep His ears plugged with His own praises in order to do His mighty works in the heavens and earth? Nope – His holiness is settled in heaven, His heart is secure and fixed....and yet He is grieved, His heart breaks and He weeps and stirred to powerful love when He hears His creation entering into anything that is not faith. His compassion is the filter that takes sin and defilement and translates it into the burden of the Cross and the power of the resurrection that He is waiting to be received by every heart.
So....obviously, I can see Jesus probing my heart to teach me a lesson in this all. Admittedly, for convenience sake, I would really love to have my ipod with me...I mean – 6 months in different languages and cultures...some English solice of anointed worship at my fingertips seems greater than gold in this moment...and will seem as such a couple months into this thing!!
But there is a greater solice that the Lord is trying to open me up to receive. Jesus didn’t tote an ipod. He lived in constant fellowship with the Father – IN THE MIDST OF A PERVERSE AND SINFUL GENERATION. Jesus must have heard all kinds of ungodly conversations in passing, and we all know that He wasn’t afraid to be the light in those dark places. He lived in close community with the 12 disciples for 3 solid years. His “tune out” was the hidden place of prayer and the rest of the time it was the secret place of abiding in the Father’s presence and love by Holy Spirit’s constant help and presence.
This is it. This is the goal. This is the Father’s desire for me, for us. To not rely on anything but Him. So even an ipod, used for godly things, can become a crutch, and a means of disconnect from the very people God is desiring us to share deeper community with, even in the kaos of kosmos and defilement of the world. What would we do if faced without having the “normal” helps in our relationship with Jesus. We could call them conveniences, because they are that.
Take away my solitary place of prayer. Take away my “buffer” of personal space as manifested in my ipod. What will You find Lord?
My prayer in and through this learning time is that with or without the things and cultural expressions of worship and devotion there would remain ABIDING. You would remain, Jesus, constantly present and speaking and making holy. There would remain the love of God, burning deeply and passionately for Jesus and for others. There would remain heaven and earth and the two colliding through my life.
It’s time for the test!
Friday, July 9, 2010
The Gypsy Camp
Gypsy Camp
What an amazing experience – all around! Our team had the opportunity to go to a Roma Youth Conference on our last weekend in Ukraine. “Roma” is the rebranded name for Gypsy, because there has been and still exist so much racism and discrimination associated with the term gypsy throughout all of Europe and the world.
We went to the historic city of Mukachevo, which once was a part of Hungary and has one of the largest Roma communities. The Roma church was hosting a youth conference for the weekend and we went to be a part. It was an incredible experience....we drove through the beautiful city, crossed the rail road tracks and were all of a sudden in the gypsy camp. The conditions were very similar to Guatemala – the roads were dirt, there were children all around playing on the streets in dirty clothes, with dirty faces. Many homes are without running water, etc. and there are a lot of evidences of poverty, both spiritual and physical, that can be seen just from walking down the street. All of the brothers and sisters that we met that were involved and had desires to see change and improvement had at some point gone 'out' and done training with Youth with a Mission. This was an encouragement!
After the conference ended we had a short time to tour around Mukachevo...we even went to the castle! It was INCREDIBLE! This was my first time in a real castle...and in the company of dear friends and family in the Lord was a memory that I hold dear. After this we made the 6 hour drive back to Ternopil and packed and prepared to go home! It was a wonderful way to wrap up our adventure....and also wet our appetite for more outreach and ministry in Ukraine!
Praise be to Jesus for all He continued through our visit and all that He will do in the future. This people group are dearly loved by God and He has great plans for them!
Love,
Allison
For more photos of the time in Mukachevo click on this link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=451221&id=741610340&l=27e8653a82
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Visiting Orphans
Visiting Children who have been orphaned:
In our last week in Ternopil we had the opportunity to go to two orphanages and love on the children and staff there.
Berzhany – this is a special place, about 45 minutes west of Ternopil. The town is small and very beautiful and historically was a center of study and commerce during Hungarian rule. Now, however, it is small and somewhat impoverished.
There is a state orphanage here where 145 children live. Because summer had begun, most of the children were away at state run sanatoriums, or summer camps. There were about 40 children that were still at the institution, however and we were able to give them a short English class, play games with them, share a meal together and buy them fruit and ice cream (which was a really outrageous treat!)
We also had time with the staff and I was impressed with the heart and love that they have for the children. The orphanage is not a Christian institution, but many of the staff are believers and the director treats all 145 kids as his own. The evidence of the lack of funds was not hard to miss in the building structure and maintenance, but the staff seemed to do their best with what they had.
This was an exciting experience for us all. Our team joined up with one of the regular Orphan Ministry teams from the base at YWAM. This group goes weekly to children’s homes and takes animals from the city ‘zoo’, along with city workers to allow the kids to learn about the animals and mostly to pick them up, pet them and play.
Praising the Lord that we were able to meet these precious ones and bless them with very little of what we had - our time and some icecream - all in the name of Jesus!
Blessing and love as we share all the Lord has given us to share...our lives and the rest!
Berzhany – this is a special place, about 45 minutes west of Ternopil. The town is small and very beautiful and historically was a center of study and commerce during Hungarian rule. Now, however, it is small and somewhat impoverished.
There is a state orphanage here where 145 children live. Because summer had begun, most of the children were away at state run sanatoriums, or summer camps. There were about 40 children that were still at the institution, however and we were able to give them a short English class, play games with them, share a meal together and buy them fruit and ice cream (which was a really outrageous treat!)
We also had time with the staff and I was impressed with the heart and love that they have for the children. The orphanage is not a Christian institution, but many of the staff are believers and the director treats all 145 kids as his own. The evidence of the lack of funds was not hard to miss in the building structure and maintenance, but the staff seemed to do their best with what they had.
Once we had spent a couple of hours with the kids, some of them began opening up to us and asking us questions about our families and our lives. One young girl of about 7 years old, asked my team member, Megan, if she wanted to adopt her and take her home. It also was hurtful to see how violent and aggressive the children were towards each other and for a moment I saw into their lives of fighting their way for survival, attention and love.
Personally, I was overwhelmed with the need for love and attention this amount of children requires and over 100 of them were not here! This was a revelatory moment for me, understanding how limited my love is and how much more I need God to fill me with His love that is sufficient for every one of these dear children.
Petting Zoo Outreach:
This was an exciting experience for us all. Our team joined up with one of the regular Orphan Ministry teams from the base at YWAM. This group goes weekly to children’s homes and takes animals from the city ‘zoo’, along with city workers to allow the kids to learn about the animals and mostly to pick them up, pet them and play. We visited a Christian orphanage in Ternopil and even from the get go there was a greater sense of peace and love in the kids and in the home. This was a testimony to me personally.
The children were ecstatic about the large rabbit, the guinea pig, the turtle and the hamsters. The birds did not get very much attention, but all in all the children had so much fun playing and holding the animals. We were able to talk to some of the kids, most of whom ranged in age from six to ten years old.
Interestingly, there was an older couple that was hanging around and I quickly found out that they were there to adopt one of the boys in our group. The couple were from Italy and had been in Ternopil for a number of weeks and had more weeks to go. This was my first experience seeing the process of foreign adoption taking place. I had a good conversation with the wife and she was so impressed and thankful for such a ministry that would come and visit and play with the kids. I pray that the Lord’s guidance and wisdom will be with them in their transition and with the dear boy that will become their son.
This was our experience in only two of the many, many orphanages in Ukraine. There are so many children needing parents, naturally and spiritually. Let's continue to pray for these kids, that they will know and receive the love that God has for them through the people that are in their lives. That God will raise up and send more people to go and visit and care for and love these children. Each one of them is so precious and dear!
For a larger photo album, please click on this link:
Blessing and love as we share all the Lord has given us to share...our lives and the rest!
(this is me sitting on the knee of a statue of some famous guy from Berzhony - a Ukrainian hero of sorts!)
Tail End of English....
“You are going to Chernobyl?”, asked my Mom and Dad simultaneously when I reminded them that the YWAM TESOL Practicum was being held in Ukraine. No, it was not Chernobyl, it was Ternopil, a city and province in Western Ukraine, close to the Polish border.
We were working with the Youth With a Mission Base in Ternopil, which was established over 15 years ago and is really a “centre” of Christian Ministry for the city of Ternopil. Very wisely, the English classes were advertized in the newspaper and all around the city and for the entire month we were able to serve and reach out to over 100 students, many of whom we and the other missionaries at the base developed strong relationships with. So many of the students truly improved their English skills in such a short time, and as Armand, an African student studying at the Medical University in Ternopil said, “The best thing that has happened to me this week is feeling more confident in being able to have an English conversation. I can say and understand things now that a few weeks ago I could not.”
Our team had the opportunity to love these people with Jesus’ love by teaching English Grammar – who would have thought!!!!!
In our classes we were training future and present doctors, business people, children, missionaries, ministers of the Gospel, high school teachers, children from orphanages, etc. What a blessing to meet and relate to such a wide variety of people....people who God loves and longs to be one with through Jesus Christ! It all starts with loving relationships!
The icing on this cake was certainly on the final night of classes. As teachers we decided to throw a big party and encourage conversation, photos, goodbyes and the whole bit! We had a short program where we thanked the students and presented our translator and co-labourer, Tamara, with a gift and card. We had students share some of their English accomplishments, such as the Hokey Pokey song (lol!) and some advanced students read a famous speech. To our surprise the students took over and presented us teachers with flowers, a very official certificate and a Ukrainian gift. We were so amazed and BLESSED! Many hugs and tears were had and our good-bye’s were said!
Lots of laughter.....here is our translator, Tamara (full time missionary) to my right and Oles (missionary to India) to my left.
We will continue to believe God to complete His good work in each one of the student’s lives. He is faithful to do so!
THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU FOR PRAYER, LOVE AND SUPPORT! More posts to come following this one.....trying to break it down into bite size peices for you all :)
In His love,
Allison
For a fuller photo album, please click on this link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=451221&id=741610340&l=27e8653a82
Needless to say, our time was explosive, but not of the nuclear variety...more along the lines of the love and power of Jesus Christ!
English Classes Wrap - Up
As you were aware from previous emails, we went to Ukraine to serve and minister to the people there by offering FREE English classes by native English speakers. In case you did not know....if you are a native English speaker, you are a hot commodity to foreigners who are so hungry to learn our native language. In my last update I had shared about the large amount of students we were already seeing come to classes...it was amazing! The enthusiasm and interest by the community was overwhelming. Not only were the students excited about English, but they were so grateful that we were giving the classes for free and with lots of love!
We were working with the Youth With a Mission Base in Ternopil, which was established over 15 years ago and is really a “centre” of Christian Ministry for the city of Ternopil. Very wisely, the English classes were advertized in the newspaper and all around the city and for the entire month we were able to serve and reach out to over 100 students, many of whom we and the other missionaries at the base developed strong relationships with. So many of the students truly improved their English skills in such a short time, and as Armand, an African student studying at the Medical University in Ternopil said, “The best thing that has happened to me this week is feeling more confident in being able to have an English conversation. I can say and understand things now that a few weeks ago I could not.” One of my students, Galena,
who is a doctor
Our team had the opportunity to love these people with Jesus’ love by teaching English Grammar – who would have thought!!!!!
For me this was a very valuable experience, in seeing how our practical skills, whatever they may be, serve as one of our greatest gifts and investments into the lives of others who are needing those things that we might see as common. My understanding of evangelism and outreach to foreign people groups has expanded in seeing how many things we can offer and serve to people in a spirit of true love through teaching the English language. Many of our students dream to someday study in English universities, gain higher paying jobs because of their English skills, become English teachers themselves, and my personal favourite: go into English speaking nations as missionaries!
In our classes we were training future and present doctors, business people, children, missionaries, ministers of the Gospel, high school teachers, children from orphanages, etc. What a blessing to meet and relate to such a wide variety of people....people who God loves and longs to be one with through Jesus Christ! It all starts with loving relationships!
The icing on this cake was certainly on the final night of classes. As teachers we decided to throw a big party and encourage conversation, photos, goodbyes and the whole bit! We had a short program where we thanked the students and presented our translator and co-labourer, Tamara, with a gift and card. We had students share some of their English accomplishments, such as the Hokey Pokey song (lol!) and some advanced students read a famous speech. To our surprise the students took over and presented us teachers with flowers, a very official certificate and a Ukrainian gift. We were so amazed and BLESSED! Many hugs and tears were had and our good-bye’s were said!
Lots of laughter.....here is our translator, Tamara (full time missionary) to my right and Oles (missionary to India) to my left.
We will continue to believe God to complete His good work in each one of the student’s lives. He is faithful to do so!
THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU FOR PRAYER, LOVE AND SUPPORT! More posts to come following this one.....trying to break it down into bite size peices for you all :)
In His love,
Allison
For a fuller photo album, please click on this link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=451221&id=741610340&l=27e8653a82
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Ukraine News - June 2010 from Ternopil
JUNE 2010 - News from Ukraine!!!!
Teaching English in Ternopil – training missionaries and many more in English
WOW – can you believe it! We have already been here in Ukraine for two full weeks! This also means that we have only 2 weeks remaining. The outreach has been amazing thus far...we have been able to serve over 80 locals through teaching English each evening! Some classes have been crazy, challenging and certainly a learning experience – having 44 students that can speak little to no English when we were expecting 25 was a little shocking! We have spent a lot of time in prep work, writing lessons, cleaning up, setting up! The staff here have been such a blessing - cooking, serving and helping us in every way. We have received a few lessons in Ukrainian....still are pretty limited! Ha ha ha - funny going to the grocery store and coming home with what we think is butter...and it is lard...or cream...or who knows what!
The teaching has been a 24/7 thing, as we are living with 7 of our students here at the YWAM base!! This has opened the door to many wonderful opportunities to laugh, learn and grow together. I am in awe at God’s strategy for us to be training and teaching missionaries in English. This base here does their outreaches to India, which is why having English is so important for them. So...in an indirect way we are a part of equipping outreach to India through teaching English! Praise God!
Over the next two weeks we have plan to join in the outreaches to local orphanages – there are over 125,000 orphans in the nation of Ukraine. We are all looking forward to this opportunity to serve and love in Jesus’ name!
We have been also blessed to enjoy nice walks in many of the beautiful parks and the neighbourhood surrounding us here. The work has been intense, and the joy and blessing has been abundant :)!
Opportunities in Community
The Lord has opened (and continues to) other doors while we have been serving and ministering here. We accepted an invitation to share at a Youth Home-group last week. There were about 15 young people from the ages of 12- 25 at the meeting. It was such a powerful time of sharing and prayer and ministry! They received us with open arms and hearts and each one of us teachers shared for a time, mostly encouraging them to shine Jesus’ light right where they are and to DREAM BIG in God’s plans!
We have an opporunity to teach/visit a TESOL class at the pedagogical University....it is still in the works....so we will see about that...time is moving quickly! Would be an amazing opportunity indeed!
Worship/ Prayer / Intercession
Another area that the Lord has prepared for us to serve in has been in worship and prayer/intercession here on the base. In typical last minute style, I have lead worship for the weekly staff worship and intercession for the past two weeks. Last week Holy Spirit was moving in such a powerful way....and the time simply went away, but we were all ministered to in a great way!
We also felt strongly to open up an English Worship and Intercession time during the week in case our students wanted to participate in that time. This past week again, there was a great move of God in our midst....such a joy and delight in the mercy and goodness of God’s love in Christ Jesus!
Our team, Megan Murray from Washington State, Joanne Degruyl from New Brunswick, Doug Sadler from Winnipeg and myself have been seeking God for the good of this base, these people, this city and nation. One area that we really have sensed God prompt us in is prayer work....so long before our teaching prep and follow through takes place we have been seeking God together and releasing His praise, worship and word! We have already seen some very amazing and speedy answers to prayers that God laid on our hearts! He is good and He answers our prayers!
PRAYER SUPPORT
To all you prayers out there - THANKS SO MUCH.....we would have drowned in the first few days..had it not been for the prayers of each of you and God's faithfulness! And even now - His grace is so clearly and continuously flowing to us...and your prayer and covering of love and faith has such a huge part in that!
All I can say is...keep it coming! God is truly doing something special in our midst...it is such an honour to be partnering together in His Kingdom! As a team - the Lord has bonded us together...it will be tough to part after living and breathing so closely together for 3 months! (Requesting prayer for the transition back!!)
I return to Guelph on June 22....so am requesting prayer for what is to come for the summer....and all the rest of the details...my car is still waiting and ready to sell...you know - all the rest!
Guatemala Update
Many of you have likely been aware of the disasters that have been taking place in Guatemala...I wanted to pass this information on to you, if you are not aware. As you all know we work closely with Fe Viva Guatemala (Casa Esperanza Children’s Home, etc.) and I have been getting updates from them regarding the volcanic eruption, tropical storms, floods and mudslides, etc. There are over 200,000 people displaced from these natural disasters and many bridges have been washed out....our Bible College Students were in El Salvador on their yearly outreach and the bridge was washed out. I have not heard if they have been able to return to Guatemala yet.
If you can please keep these ones in prayer – Fe Viva, all the staff and children, and the people of Guatemala...let us see God’s goodness revealed through His people in this time of need.
For more info, or to get more involved please go to http://www.feviva.org/ .
Photos from TESOL Training....and New York Stop over - more to come soon!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=442036&id=741610340&l=3504ac4148
For now....that is all I can say! Again - a HUGE thanks to all of you that are praying and that gave financially and are still giving financially towards this outreach and our missions work through Word of Life....We are walking in what He has for this season :) It is exciting!
Love you all so much and am praying for you and yours - Ephesians 1:17-23!
Allison
Teaching English in Ternopil – training missionaries and many more in English
WOW – can you believe it! We have already been here in Ukraine for two full weeks! This also means that we have only 2 weeks remaining. The outreach has been amazing thus far...we have been able to serve over 80 locals through teaching English each evening! Some classes have been crazy, challenging and certainly a learning experience – having 44 students that can speak little to no English when we were expecting 25 was a little shocking! We have spent a lot of time in prep work, writing lessons, cleaning up, setting up! The staff here have been such a blessing - cooking, serving and helping us in every way. We have received a few lessons in Ukrainian....still are pretty limited! Ha ha ha - funny going to the grocery store and coming home with what we think is butter...and it is lard...or cream...or who knows what!
The teaching has been a 24/7 thing, as we are living with 7 of our students here at the YWAM base!! This has opened the door to many wonderful opportunities to laugh, learn and grow together. I am in awe at God’s strategy for us to be training and teaching missionaries in English. This base here does their outreaches to India, which is why having English is so important for them. So...in an indirect way we are a part of equipping outreach to India through teaching English! Praise God!
Over the next two weeks we have plan to join in the outreaches to local orphanages – there are over 125,000 orphans in the nation of Ukraine. We are all looking forward to this opportunity to serve and love in Jesus’ name!
We have been also blessed to enjoy nice walks in many of the beautiful parks and the neighbourhood surrounding us here. The work has been intense, and the joy and blessing has been abundant :)!
Opportunities in Community
The Lord has opened (and continues to) other doors while we have been serving and ministering here. We accepted an invitation to share at a Youth Home-group last week. There were about 15 young people from the ages of 12- 25 at the meeting. It was such a powerful time of sharing and prayer and ministry! They received us with open arms and hearts and each one of us teachers shared for a time, mostly encouraging them to shine Jesus’ light right where they are and to DREAM BIG in God’s plans!
We have an opporunity to teach/visit a TESOL class at the pedagogical University....it is still in the works....so we will see about that...time is moving quickly! Would be an amazing opportunity indeed!
Worship/ Prayer / Intercession
Another area that the Lord has prepared for us to serve in has been in worship and prayer/intercession here on the base. In typical last minute style, I have lead worship for the weekly staff worship and intercession for the past two weeks. Last week Holy Spirit was moving in such a powerful way....and the time simply went away, but we were all ministered to in a great way!
We also felt strongly to open up an English Worship and Intercession time during the week in case our students wanted to participate in that time. This past week again, there was a great move of God in our midst....such a joy and delight in the mercy and goodness of God’s love in Christ Jesus!
Our team, Megan Murray from Washington State, Joanne Degruyl from New Brunswick, Doug Sadler from Winnipeg and myself have been seeking God for the good of this base, these people, this city and nation. One area that we really have sensed God prompt us in is prayer work....so long before our teaching prep and follow through takes place we have been seeking God together and releasing His praise, worship and word! We have already seen some very amazing and speedy answers to prayers that God laid on our hearts! He is good and He answers our prayers!
PRAYER SUPPORT
To all you prayers out there - THANKS SO MUCH.....we would have drowned in the first few days..had it not been for the prayers of each of you and God's faithfulness! And even now - His grace is so clearly and continuously flowing to us...and your prayer and covering of love and faith has such a huge part in that!
All I can say is...keep it coming! God is truly doing something special in our midst...it is such an honour to be partnering together in His Kingdom! As a team - the Lord has bonded us together...it will be tough to part after living and breathing so closely together for 3 months! (Requesting prayer for the transition back!!)
I return to Guelph on June 22....so am requesting prayer for what is to come for the summer....and all the rest of the details...my car is still waiting and ready to sell...you know - all the rest!
Guatemala Update
Many of you have likely been aware of the disasters that have been taking place in Guatemala...I wanted to pass this information on to you, if you are not aware. As you all know we work closely with Fe Viva Guatemala (Casa Esperanza Children’s Home, etc.) and I have been getting updates from them regarding the volcanic eruption, tropical storms, floods and mudslides, etc. There are over 200,000 people displaced from these natural disasters and many bridges have been washed out....our Bible College Students were in El Salvador on their yearly outreach and the bridge was washed out. I have not heard if they have been able to return to Guatemala yet.
If you can please keep these ones in prayer – Fe Viva, all the staff and children, and the people of Guatemala...let us see God’s goodness revealed through His people in this time of need.
For more info, or to get more involved please go to http://www.feviva.org/ .
Photos from TESOL Training....and New York Stop over - more to come soon!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=442036&id=741610340&l=3504ac4148
For now....that is all I can say! Again - a HUGE thanks to all of you that are praying and that gave financially and are still giving financially towards this outreach and our missions work through Word of Life....We are walking in what He has for this season :) It is exciting!
Love you all so much and am praying for you and yours - Ephesians 1:17-23!
Allison
Sunday, May 2, 2010
May 2010
Dear family and friends,
We are over half way done our TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) training here at YWAM (Youth with a Mission) Discovery Bay. Wow – it has already been crazily intense, to say the least! We are learning an entire 4 month semester in 5 weeks...so we have been in the books and producing lesson plans and assignments intensely!
Highlights
Here are some highlights that are apart from the studying, note-taking, homework and presentations I have been up to! Some of them may seem trivial, but are all so special to me and know God has caused them to come to pass simply because He is good and He loves me!
- Clam digging/Goe Duck Hunting – one of the Camp Directors gave us a lesson in clam digging down at the beach front of the camp before he left for China. I was able to be a part of making homemade clam chowder....from the shell, as well as the adventure of digging for Goe ducks – we caught quite a few and a family on base had fresh sushi – mmmmmm!!
- Olympic National Park – our class took a Saturday morning and all chipped in for gas, etc. and went to the mountains, which are about 45 minutes away. There was so much snow – it was a shocker....our Mongolian friend gave each of us a face-wash like I have never experienced. What passion for snow!
- Provision – in the last number of weeks there have been two more families that shared with me that God has impressed on them to commit to support me (Word of Life Missions Director) and our work on a monthly basis – Praise be to Jesus! We are not far from the 12 committed monthly partners!! Luke 8:3...!!
(Also...the complete amount for tuition for our 5 week training also came in for the glory of the Lord! Woohoo!!! )
What is to come:
We have two and a half more weeks remaining of training and then we have the opportunity to go to Ukraine and volunteer teach for one month. This will allow us to complete our required hours of practicum teaching, which we need to receive our diploma’s as TESOL instructors.
This is not only a great way for us to get our practicum hours done in a short time, but mostly it is a means to go and serve the people of Ukraine (Turnopil) and see them advance in the skill of English, which for many of them is what they are working on to advance in work and school.
We will be working with the Youth with a Mission base in Turnopil and will be offering our classes for free out of their base. Each one of us going is required to have full support for all of our travel, work, and stay so that it is no cost to the Ukrainian people, and rather that it be a blessing to them.
We are definitely starting to get very excited about serving, loving and blessing Ukraine. Because of some of the common national issues : poverty, human-trafficking, many orphaned children, etc. we are also hoping to help and serve in various outreaches that are taking place there in our spare time.
If you are passionate and prompted to help with the Ukraine project, please contact me. We are hoping to buy more English curriculum to leave in Ukraine for resources.
Praise report/prayer
- My new guitar – God spoke to a dear friend to give me their Seagull guitar that has been an instrument of worship in many nations already. This happened about a month ago, but I am still in awe at Jesus’ gift in this!
- God’s faithfulness – again to give God the praise for providing the resources to take this training – that the entire amount for tuition and my flight to Seattle all came in good time!
That’s ALL!
So...for now...that is it.
Your prayer is always more than welcome...as we keep moving forward with all God has for this year...to be a witness of Jesus and His love in 12 nations of the world! Nothing is impossible for those that believe!
Love you all and am so thankful for each of you and am praying for you all regularly :)
Allison
We are over half way done our TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) training here at YWAM (Youth with a Mission) Discovery Bay. Wow – it has already been crazily intense, to say the least! We are learning an entire 4 month semester in 5 weeks...so we have been in the books and producing lesson plans and assignments intensely!
Highlights
Here are some highlights that are apart from the studying, note-taking, homework and presentations I have been up to! Some of them may seem trivial, but are all so special to me and know God has caused them to come to pass simply because He is good and He loves me!
- Clam digging/Goe Duck Hunting – one of the Camp Directors gave us a lesson in clam digging down at the beach front of the camp before he left for China. I was able to be a part of making homemade clam chowder....from the shell, as well as the adventure of digging for Goe ducks – we caught quite a few and a family on base had fresh sushi – mmmmmm!!
- Olympic National Park – our class took a Saturday morning and all chipped in for gas, etc. and went to the mountains, which are about 45 minutes away. There was so much snow – it was a shocker....our Mongolian friend gave each of us a face-wash like I have never experienced. What passion for snow!
- Provision – in the last number of weeks there have been two more families that shared with me that God has impressed on them to commit to support me (Word of Life Missions Director) and our work on a monthly basis – Praise be to Jesus! We are not far from the 12 committed monthly partners!! Luke 8:3...!!
(Also...the complete amount for tuition for our 5 week training also came in for the glory of the Lord! Woohoo!!! )
What is to come:
We have two and a half more weeks remaining of training and then we have the opportunity to go to Ukraine and volunteer teach for one month. This will allow us to complete our required hours of practicum teaching, which we need to receive our diploma’s as TESOL instructors.
This is not only a great way for us to get our practicum hours done in a short time, but mostly it is a means to go and serve the people of Ukraine (Turnopil) and see them advance in the skill of English, which for many of them is what they are working on to advance in work and school.
We will be working with the Youth with a Mission base in Turnopil and will be offering our classes for free out of their base. Each one of us going is required to have full support for all of our travel, work, and stay so that it is no cost to the Ukrainian people, and rather that it be a blessing to them.
We are definitely starting to get very excited about serving, loving and blessing Ukraine. Because of some of the common national issues : poverty, human-trafficking, many orphaned children, etc. we are also hoping to help and serve in various outreaches that are taking place there in our spare time.
If you are passionate and prompted to help with the Ukraine project, please contact me. We are hoping to buy more English curriculum to leave in Ukraine for resources.
Praise report/prayer
- My new guitar – God spoke to a dear friend to give me their Seagull guitar that has been an instrument of worship in many nations already. This happened about a month ago, but I am still in awe at Jesus’ gift in this!
- God’s faithfulness – again to give God the praise for providing the resources to take this training – that the entire amount for tuition and my flight to Seattle all came in good time!
That’s ALL!
So...for now...that is it.
Your prayer is always more than welcome...as we keep moving forward with all God has for this year...to be a witness of Jesus and His love in 12 nations of the world! Nothing is impossible for those that believe!
Love you all and am so thankful for each of you and am praying for you all regularly :)
Allison
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Goe Duck Stomp and Assortments
Wow - how good is GOD!! So good I could go on for eternity (and will) describing His awesomeness!
I have been in Washington State for over 2 weeks now...and it has been quite the time already.
There is a constant sense growing for such a need for a greater Fear of the Lord. This was overtaking me as I was home in Canada for a few weeks and has not stopped. IT is the beginning of wisdom. It is clean and pure. It is to keep our way pure. The fear of the Lord and humility lead to riches, honour and life.
Here in this place, known in the past as a haven for hippies and new age, God is speaking so strongly of my greater need for the Fear of the Lord. A greater surrender to who He is and His place in my life and heart and actions. Oh for a greater encounter with the Holiness of God!
In this place of desiring and learning to fear Him more, by His grace, I find that Jesus is pressing me to enjoy people more. To encounter His holiness and walk in His fear (or reverence) is so connected to loving Him and loving people. To walk with Him. To be where He is and do what He does. To speak what He speaks. To rest in Him. To love in Him. To live in Him. And the by-product of remaining in Him is His holiness. Is a reverence for Him and all He is.
God is not common. Nothing He does is common. He is Holy. There is no one like Him. Yet - in His awesome holiness He desires that it be tangible and relatible to all those that desire to touch Him and know and live in His holiness. His holiness is not untouchable - it is actually the most touchable. It is real. It is Jesus Christ - living and changing lives of the highest or lowest of society!
Holiness is not segregation from the world, but it is seperation from sin and all that brings death and an empowerment to touch the world with the love and grandness of the One true God! Holiness is James 1:27 and Isaiah 58! And so much more....just starting to somewhat receive from Holy Spirit a little better understanding of what He desires!
Ha ha - simply - less of me, less of "kosmos" (or the common sense of the world) and MORE of Him, more of Heave invading earth through my mind, will, emotions and actions!
Let it be! Start in me!
In the midst....I am here taking a TESOL course....encountering God's holiness in English grammar and preparation to reconsile nations to Christ through something as simple as the language I speak!
Holiness
Fear of the Lord
I have been in Washington State for over 2 weeks now...and it has been quite the time already.
There is a constant sense growing for such a need for a greater Fear of the Lord. This was overtaking me as I was home in Canada for a few weeks and has not stopped. IT is the beginning of wisdom. It is clean and pure. It is to keep our way pure. The fear of the Lord and humility lead to riches, honour and life.
Here in this place, known in the past as a haven for hippies and new age, God is speaking so strongly of my greater need for the Fear of the Lord. A greater surrender to who He is and His place in my life and heart and actions. Oh for a greater encounter with the Holiness of God!
In this place of desiring and learning to fear Him more, by His grace, I find that Jesus is pressing me to enjoy people more. To encounter His holiness and walk in His fear (or reverence) is so connected to loving Him and loving people. To walk with Him. To be where He is and do what He does. To speak what He speaks. To rest in Him. To love in Him. To live in Him. And the by-product of remaining in Him is His holiness. Is a reverence for Him and all He is.
God is not common. Nothing He does is common. He is Holy. There is no one like Him. Yet - in His awesome holiness He desires that it be tangible and relatible to all those that desire to touch Him and know and live in His holiness. His holiness is not untouchable - it is actually the most touchable. It is real. It is Jesus Christ - living and changing lives of the highest or lowest of society!
Holiness is not segregation from the world, but it is seperation from sin and all that brings death and an empowerment to touch the world with the love and grandness of the One true God! Holiness is James 1:27 and Isaiah 58! And so much more....just starting to somewhat receive from Holy Spirit a little better understanding of what He desires!
Ha ha - simply - less of me, less of "kosmos" (or the common sense of the world) and MORE of Him, more of Heave invading earth through my mind, will, emotions and actions!
Let it be! Start in me!
In the midst....I am here taking a TESOL course....encountering God's holiness in English grammar and preparation to reconsile nations to Christ through something as simple as the language I speak!
Holiness
Fear of the Lord
Friday, February 19, 2010
Caminando!
Somewhat less 'revelatory'....yet still in Spirit and truth....this blog post is coming in the midst of a torrent of activity and exciting things!
If there has been one thing the Lord has spoken to me so clearly this first week is simple:
The BLOOD of JESUS is one of the most powerful weapons that we could ever possibly possess and we must be aware if His blood, the power of His blood and we must apply it in our lives. No enemy of God can come against the blood of Jesus...and in His blood we have victory over sin, the grace (power) to obey His word, and protection from death!!
That is the only tidbit I can give for now...and it is worthy of our contemplation and wonder of the greatness of God - "the precious blood of Jesus Christ, redeems, forever I am alive, restored, set free" (From "To Know Your Name" - Hillsong)
On a more informational level:
I have completed one full week of my assignment here already and it has been totally BLESSED of the Lord and fruitful! From quality time with the kids (that is priceless for us all), to reaquainting with old friends and family in Christ, to sharing Jesus' love with women of the street/cantinas, celebrating the Lord with others, having intense prayer times and preparation for teaching Bible College, sharing and getting to know the Bible College students.....wow...and on and on and on.
For a place where the heat makes one somewhat sleepy at given points of the day, when I reflect at what we can accomplish by the Lord's strength and grace, I am in AWE!
One definite perk is being able to write this Bible College course while I sit/lay in a hammock!! Praise God for the person who received that idea :)
So, currently we are into the second week of our work and it is almost time that it is kicked up to another level. Bible College classes start next week....so my time will be very focused in prepartions, teaching, prayer, study, etc. This has been a good challenge for me....having to sit still for a longer period of time even to study and prepare so I can be ready!! I reached a point the other day that I just wanted to start to summarize the lessons, rather than write them out point by point for the students' notes!! Ha ha ha - I am recieving more patience and the grace to sit still for longer periods of time from the Spirit of God :)
We have just received a team from Centralia, Ontario....and so we have 23 more Canadians on base for a few more days. They are delightful and so full of God's love. They have been serving various part of the work at Fe Viva and have already been an encouragement to many. Please pray for them as many of them are out of Canada for the first time....
Here on base, the Spirit of God is moving amongst the full time missionaries and bringing a real love for one another through times of fellowship and getting to know each other. It has been a treat to get to be a part of this (and lots of joy in the Spirit of God!) There has also been an intense time of spiritual attack...but Jesus has conquered - and we are victorious in Him :) Keep covering us all in prayer....we need the love and unity of each one :)
I'm out for now.....more to come later :)
If there has been one thing the Lord has spoken to me so clearly this first week is simple:
The BLOOD of JESUS is one of the most powerful weapons that we could ever possibly possess and we must be aware if His blood, the power of His blood and we must apply it in our lives. No enemy of God can come against the blood of Jesus...and in His blood we have victory over sin, the grace (power) to obey His word, and protection from death!!
That is the only tidbit I can give for now...and it is worthy of our contemplation and wonder of the greatness of God - "the precious blood of Jesus Christ, redeems, forever I am alive, restored, set free" (From "To Know Your Name" - Hillsong)
On a more informational level:
I have completed one full week of my assignment here already and it has been totally BLESSED of the Lord and fruitful! From quality time with the kids (that is priceless for us all), to reaquainting with old friends and family in Christ, to sharing Jesus' love with women of the street/cantinas, celebrating the Lord with others, having intense prayer times and preparation for teaching Bible College, sharing and getting to know the Bible College students.....wow...and on and on and on.
For a place where the heat makes one somewhat sleepy at given points of the day, when I reflect at what we can accomplish by the Lord's strength and grace, I am in AWE!
One definite perk is being able to write this Bible College course while I sit/lay in a hammock!! Praise God for the person who received that idea :)
So, currently we are into the second week of our work and it is almost time that it is kicked up to another level. Bible College classes start next week....so my time will be very focused in prepartions, teaching, prayer, study, etc. This has been a good challenge for me....having to sit still for a longer period of time even to study and prepare so I can be ready!! I reached a point the other day that I just wanted to start to summarize the lessons, rather than write them out point by point for the students' notes!! Ha ha ha - I am recieving more patience and the grace to sit still for longer periods of time from the Spirit of God :)
We have just received a team from Centralia, Ontario....and so we have 23 more Canadians on base for a few more days. They are delightful and so full of God's love. They have been serving various part of the work at Fe Viva and have already been an encouragement to many. Please pray for them as many of them are out of Canada for the first time....
Here on base, the Spirit of God is moving amongst the full time missionaries and bringing a real love for one another through times of fellowship and getting to know each other. It has been a treat to get to be a part of this (and lots of joy in the Spirit of God!) There has also been an intense time of spiritual attack...but Jesus has conquered - and we are victorious in Him :) Keep covering us all in prayer....we need the love and unity of each one :)
I'm out for now.....more to come later :)
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Back to Guatemala
Hey all...a quick word in a place where internet is not as permanent!!
I am here...Guatemala - blessed nation of the Lord.
The Spirit of God is mighty in this place, mighty in my heart...lots is coming, lots is shifting....and time is moving. I have to run back to the missions base...as I only had a short time to connect with the outside world, but wanted to say that He is faithful to complete all He has begun here in Guate and in every one of our lives.....He is GOOD!
Peace, love and hope!
I am here...Guatemala - blessed nation of the Lord.
The Spirit of God is mighty in this place, mighty in my heart...lots is coming, lots is shifting....and time is moving. I have to run back to the missions base...as I only had a short time to connect with the outside world, but wanted to say that He is faithful to complete all He has begun here in Guate and in every one of our lives.....He is GOOD!
Peace, love and hope!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Real Love
Check out this link to see a video taken of me sharing about real love and a caption of my experience coming into the real love of Jesus :)
http://www.findingthehope.com/life_stories.php?s=v1
(If it does not take you directly to my video...go to the home page of http://www.findingthehope.com/ and scroll down until you see my face and click to see video.)
Personally, I think I look pretty funny, but that is what happens when you don't usually see yourself talking!
Enjoy!
http://www.findingthehope.com/life_stories.php?s=v1
(If it does not take you directly to my video...go to the home page of http://www.findingthehope.com/ and scroll down until you see my face and click to see video.)
Personally, I think I look pretty funny, but that is what happens when you don't usually see yourself talking!
Enjoy!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Northern Lights
A fairly recent prose the Lord gave me....enjoy!
Northern Lights
Allison Kach (Sept.3/09)
Allison Kach (Sept.3/09)
I’ve seen the Northern Lights,
A twinkle in Your eye for me.
I’ve seen showers of (shards) of light,
Dancing to the rhythms of Your grace.
Colours imposed from heaven,
Echoing life onto a dark-night canvas.
Mixing, moving, turning,
Across the horizon in leaps.
Expanding whirlwind disturbing the stars,
While shrinking back from the bottomless black.
Alive and vividly appearing,
Perhaps a mirror of my own heart’s longing.
To be in the centre of the Master Painter,
Shimmering beauty as I follow His finger.
Pointing, brushing, dreaming, seeing,
All that He has planned for the future.
And I, His light, fill in between His strokes,
Blending and bleeding the colour of His love.
Into this masterpiece for seeing eyes to see,
With such care and gentleness flowing.
Yet in a moment, as if in a blink,
I fade into the black without a trace.
The reflection of heaven returned to its place.
The audience below not missing,
What it had not seen or heard,
Or expected to continue,
Any longer than it should.
And I stand as one steady in wonder.
In the still black night,
Giving ovation for such a production.
To the ONE
Behind the curtain, under the colour
The hand that holds it all together.
With expectation bursting forth,
I say
Come out from behind heaven’s cloud
And receive praise and accolade.
You who time cannot change,
You with the eyes of fire
That works such beauty for Your pleasure.
Show us Your face and save this display,
For Your light is brightest and fullest,
And perhaps today is that day.
When I will see You face to face.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Possessing the Kingdom
The book of Daniel the Prophet.
Some intense revelations are found in that place, but what else is Jesus and His Kingdom if not intense. Intense is an understatement to the minds of men coming into the mind of the Spirit.
"But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come."Daniel 7:18
Truth from the Spirit of God regarding that which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man. Truth of the Kingdom of God. Truth of our inheritance as children of God, led by His Spirit, and if children, joint-heirs also, with Jesus Christ. Heirs of what? What was Jesus, the Son of God, given when He presented His risen self to His Father in heaven?
God states in Daniel 7:14, "And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed."
Jesus was given dominion, glory and a kingdom. He has, by such grace that will take eternity for us to wrap ourselves around, extended all He has to those that are in His family. Surely, He deserves and is worthy of all of the light, life and love of God ~ His glory, yet He pours out His glory on us so the world may know we are His. And dominion and His kingdom.
He has given us a place as children of God, as His Spirit reminds our spirits. We are co-heirs with Jesus Christ. Just as the Lord states in Daniel 7:18, we the saints of God, receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom. Interestingly enough, it is not sufficient to receive the kingdom, but we must also possess it. If it was not so, God would not have made a distinction here in His word.
Imagine the household of the famous Prodigal son. The brother of the prodigal was living in his father's household for all of that time, working hard, not expecting anything extra from his father. He was being a "good" son, according to his notion of what that meant. Then, when his wayward brother returns, having made a mockery of their family name, and more severely a fool out of his father to the other of their community, the mould of what a "good son" looks like is broken. The Prodigal, although having messed up in a big way, returned and was welcomed home and given all the resources of his father, even, may I say, in an extravigant manner. The elder brother became furious and confronted his father for such "unjust" behaviour. The father's reply was simple. "Son, all of this belongs to you to, you have just never asked for any of it".
Herein lies the difference between receiving the kingdom and possessing the kingdom of God. Just like the older brother in the story above, we may live in the Father's house but have never really seen it as our own. We may have always seen it as Daddy's...and at the right time, when our older brother dies, or Daddy calls us over and gives us special permission to do some of the stuff we have been dreaming of doing then maybe we might be able to almost feel like we are an owner of all of these amazing riches of our Father.
Well - SURPRIZE - He has already given us the title deed to everything in and through Jesus' work on the cross. We have received this truth in and through salvation, but many times we are waiting to possess it until the day that it is handed to us. It has already been handed to us, by Jesus Himself!
Remember, Jesus said, "The Kingdom is within you." Hmmm - we definately have received it and for it to be activated in us we must be in a state of possessing the kingdom, or owning the kingdom. It is my Father's Kingdom and as His child, it is my kingdom too! The things that He has revealed to the prophets belong to me and my children. He has revealed the Kingdom through Jesus, the Prophet, and therefore it belongs to me and my children.
We own it. We make it our own. Not because I deserve it, but because He gave it to us and it makes Him infinitely joyful when we come into being the way He has made us to be - His kids!
In the Kingdom, we have received a call to Go, Preach, Raise the Dead, Heal the Sick, Cast out Demons, Cleanse the Leaper - FREELY WE HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY WE GIVE! We receive this by faith and then we possess it and act and live in it and then we can give it away as we are possessing it. I can not give away something that does not belong to me - that would be stealing and Jesus isn't in to that!
As we possess the kingdom we are laying hold of the very purpose for which Jesus laid hold of each of us (Philippians 3:12-13). We are believing God at His word and taking His word and owning it and allowing it to order the way we talk, the way we think, the way we act, the way we relate to others, etc. We are actually manifesting the kingdom of God in our everyday living because we have begun to possess that which we have received from Jesus - HIS KINGDOM OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, JOY AND PEACE THAT CAN NOT BE SHAKEN! Our kingdom as joint-heirs with Him.
Let's get radically hungry to possess more of God's kingdom today, so that more peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him.
It's all about Jesus!
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