For the love of Christ compels us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 2 Corinthians 5:14
Truly truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life will lose it and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12: 24-25
Two weeks since I last blogged and much has happened. Our bible studies have produced fruit and we have several new brothers and sisters in Christ. God's Word does not return to him empty! He is using these weak and broken vessels to carry the treasure of the gospel to these people hungry for truth. Many believe simply being good is enough- they do not understand the richness of the gift of Jesus and the need, desperate need we have for him because we are such sinners. My team and I are learning to pray without ceasing and seek him more and more. God is also showing up in awesome ways.
Let me tell you a story... When we arrived in the barangay at the beginning of June we heard of a man who had been attacked by another man with a machete. This week, that man and his wife (Kuya and Ate) came to our house. In the hospital, he was so cut up that no one expected him to survive... as he told the story the still fresh scars on his disfigured face and stretching down beneath his shirt gave testament to the brutality of the attack. Then he said - we have come because we want to know more about Jesus. When I was dying I had a vision of Jesus kneeling at my feet, weeping. Tears filled his good eye "I want to know him." Our translator, Jinky, has a similar testimony about her father that caused her fmily to turn to Christ and she shared about God's grace and His ability to use terrible things for good. Grace, who that very morning had prayed for God to send us someone wanting to know Him, shared the gospel. Tears of joy flowed freely as they prayed. We then felt led to bring up the subject of forgiveness for this man's attacker. Their response astounded us- Kuya said he had already forgiven him- he wants him to know Jesus too. Ate said Kuya told the man's brother, when he visited the man in jail, to tell him Kuya was praying for him and all was forgiven. Both smiled in quiet joy and spoke of the peace they felt after visiting us and learning about Jesus. To say we were completely amazed by the ways of God is an understatement!
Ate is 9 months pregnant (now at the time I am finally getting to type this, she had the baby on a Sunday morning 2 weeks ago... we stopped by on our way to church and she was in labor... 15 minutes later out came a beautiful baby boy! Truly a miracle and we were so blessed to be there to watch/help!) We have had several chances to visit and talk with her and every time I walk away humbled and in awe of my Jesus. To take such darkness and turn it into such LIGHT! Wonderful, redeeming love.
The pages of my Bible come alive in this place. There is no greater joy than carrying my little candle, my light, my treasure into darkness. And maybe I can die to myself a little bit more each day, so this vessel can be emptied of me and filled with Him, so that light can shine brighter.
We read mission articles and biographies during our team time that also cause us to grow as disciples (so thankful for Nehemiah Teams- I recommend it to everyone!). One quote that stood out to me this week was from a sermon by C.T. Studd, "Should such men as we fear? Before the whole world, aye before the sleepy, lukewarm, faithless, namby- pamby Christian world, we will dare to trust our God; we will venture out all for HIm; we will live, and we will die for Him, and we will do it with His joy unspeakable singing in our hearts. We will a thousand times sooner die trusting only in our God than live trusting in man. And when we come to this position, the battle is already won, and the end of the glorious campaign in sight. We will have the real Holiness of God... one of daring faith and works for Jesus Christ. "
My heart is full. I'm having a hard time believing we will be leaving here in 2 short weeks. Keep praying for God to bring disciples who will make disciples!
On the quirky side: We celebrated the 4th of July with smores and watermelon. We have all discovered our favorite veggie, as a team, is eggplant. I ate a really sketchy SNAIL this week (that's a funny story, ask me about it when I get home). American girls with an needy sweet tooth can do anything... including making french toast with brown sugar, powdered milk, eggs, and rolls... for dinner. I'm also pretty much a pro at taking manual blood pressure...haha
---more to come---
Ate is 9 months pregnant (now at the time I am finally getting to type this, she had the baby on a Sunday morning 2 weeks ago... we stopped by on our way to church and she was in labor... 15 minutes later out came a beautiful baby boy! Truly a miracle and we were so blessed to be there to watch/help!) We have had several chances to visit and talk with her and every time I walk away humbled and in awe of my Jesus. To take such darkness and turn it into such LIGHT! Wonderful, redeeming love.
Jemuel, 2 minutes into life
The pages of my Bible come alive in this place. There is no greater joy than carrying my little candle, my light, my treasure into darkness. And maybe I can die to myself a little bit more each day, so this vessel can be emptied of me and filled with Him, so that light can shine brighter.
We read mission articles and biographies during our team time that also cause us to grow as disciples (so thankful for Nehemiah Teams- I recommend it to everyone!). One quote that stood out to me this week was from a sermon by C.T. Studd, "Should such men as we fear? Before the whole world, aye before the sleepy, lukewarm, faithless, namby- pamby Christian world, we will dare to trust our God; we will venture out all for HIm; we will live, and we will die for Him, and we will do it with His joy unspeakable singing in our hearts. We will a thousand times sooner die trusting only in our God than live trusting in man. And when we come to this position, the battle is already won, and the end of the glorious campaign in sight. We will have the real Holiness of God... one of daring faith and works for Jesus Christ. "
My heart is full. I'm having a hard time believing we will be leaving here in 2 short weeks. Keep praying for God to bring disciples who will make disciples!
On the quirky side: We celebrated the 4th of July with smores and watermelon. We have all discovered our favorite veggie, as a team, is eggplant. I ate a really sketchy SNAIL this week (that's a funny story, ask me about it when I get home). American girls with an needy sweet tooth can do anything... including making french toast with brown sugar, powdered milk, eggs, and rolls... for dinner. I'm also pretty much a pro at taking manual blood pressure...haha
---more to come---
---the family that has my heart---
Praise the One who brings LIGHT!
Jemuel (2 weeks old) and big brother Teben
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