I had never seen anything like this in my entire life. Up high in the mountains – a foot bridge and half-hour hike away from the nearest road, a 13-year-old Miao boy lay in his bed, with a half-basket covering him to keep the blankets from touching his skin. Eighty percent of his body was covered in burns, some so severe that they were still black after three months. What I saw was also a miracle – this boy shouldn’t have survived.
I didn’t know when I’d next see Jenny, our new sister, and I only had a few minutes to share a few words with her. What is the most important thing I could leave her with? I remembered the words from a recent training session: Give her food for survival. If she’s hungry, that’s all she needs to grow.
Feature: Baptism
Jenny knew God was real – He had spoken to her. She understood His plan of salvation that she’d heard me talk about at our Book club and wanted to know Jesus. However, she didn’t think this gift could be for her. She just wasn’t qualified, she thought.
Feature: Salvation
We’ve been praying for the ability to really love and care for our friends the way God does, so that His love can be demonstrated through us. It’s happening!
Our city leader Buttercup shared with us at our leaders’ meeting, “It’s not about urgency, but expectancy.” Let’s expect big things to happen in these last few months. He will be faithful to finish what He started!
The scene outside the window of the bus we took to visit our friends for Spring Festival was bleak and dismal. We passed mile after mile of bone dry, brown cracked soil and desolate farmland. Smoke filled the air as hills were ablaze with forest fires and remnants of burned plants proved the damage was severe. I couldn’t help but compare this drought – the driest season in 60 years – to the spiritual climate of this city.
Of course I was thrilled that my partner from last year, Eagle, was coming to visit my new city. I couldn’t help but think about how her language skills could be an asset at our book club meeting. But it wasn’t her fluency that God used to impact the girls, it was her testimony, given in English.
I could hear voices just outside my bedroom door – snippets of great conversations my team members were having with Asian friends. However hard I tried to get out of bed and rejoin them, my body wouldn’t let me. I lay there, feeling helpless and useless. I had used all the strength in me to share the gospel with our friends at our first Christmas party. Immediately after, my back gave out, and I had to retreat to my room, unable to function. As I lay there, I started to cry, frustrated. Through my tears I began to pray, and through my prayers, God spoke to me.
Feature: Best of
We did NOT run out of apple crisp or cider, which were a big hit to our friends that have never tried traditional American fall foods. I played the part of Squanto in a funny skit and we all shared what we were thankful to God for in our lives. At different points, each member of my team had a meaningful conversation about God with someone in the room! This warmed my heart much more than heat and hot food!
I’ve never really fasted before. So when I decided to take a week to fast for personal breakthrough and direction, I didn’t really know what to expect. While He didn’t reveal to me the intricate details of my future, He renewed my passion for serving Him here and now, and filled me up with His love and peace. Furthermore, He surprised me by showing up in powerful ways with Asian friends I barely even knew!
I nearly dropped the phone as I read the text. This must be a dream, I thought to myself. The one who had been missing for seven months, my closest friend, the one I’d invested in the most for so much of last year, lead to the Lord personally and discipled was back, alive and well.
