These stories are from my traveling journal. Some may be from many years back when I first started in missionary work, others from some great moments I have had, and others moments I will never forget. They are not all new, but I thought I would share with you part of my journal, and my life in this great adventures. enjoy!
Sight of Encouragement.. (Philippines 2011)
As my friend Annie and I traveled by taxi along with sister Glo as well. We went to a neighboring town where we would visit the home of a women who needed some prayer. I thought I would just be sharing with her the word, spending time with her. Little did I know what was about time happen was a divine appointment, a purpose in my life and in the life of this woman. This woman longed for the word of God, and as I shared with her, I felt I needed to ask her what else was wrong, what else she needed prayer for. She then shared with me she had been having problems in her eyes. So then right away, "Well let's pray!! Let's ask believe for healing" So as I laid my hands on her eyes, everyone in the room also prayed. We knew something good will come out of this, she felt so encouraged when I was done. Then we also prayed for her grand daughter who was having some health issues. It was amazing to see this family all believing, and encouraged by her vision getting better. This woman attended the church and said she would continue to attend. And every time I did, she would have such a big smile!!
A Smile...(Guatemala 2009)
I was very happy to the thought that I was given the opportunity to go. Along with the rest of my team went to a small town called San Miguel Chicaj. I knew God was really leading me to go. I didn't know what to expect upon my arrival, but knew I just has to go. It was a time full of blessings, and just wonderful to be with the people, sharing the Love of God and also sharing with the Youth of San Miguel, and praying for the lost youth, a time I would not forget. Then something was about to happen.It was a beautiful afternoon, but I was feeling a little under the weather. I was having a headache, and aches throughout my body, I just didn't know what to do. As the rest of my team was preparing for the evening activity. I sat right outside on the footsteps of the house we were staying at. As I sat there, feeling pain and just miserable. I also thought of all the places had been on how much I had really fallen in Love with this place. I decided to pull out my camera and look at all the pictures I had on my camera. All of sudden I hear the laughter of children coming from down the road. The kids had just got off school, and were running on the road. Then two girls came up to me and starting talking to me. They were asking me why I was there? and wanted to see my pictures. As i talked and laughed, i was just enjoying our time together. The girls wanted there picture taken so I did. We said our goodbyes and they continued on there way. Then I realized something, I was no longer in pain, and just felt so much better.Isn't funny that when we sit and think about we are going through, we fell awful. But the moment we get distracted, laugh and smile, we begin to feel good. You see, when I met those girls, I realized that God had brought me smile.He comforts us even with the smallest need, when we don't expect..it was just a reminder.
Through her eyes (El Salvador 2008)
I was traveling through El Salvador one summer. It was a long bus trip to my final destination at the shores of a mountain range near a small village. I had been traveling all day, I had not eaten all day, my drinking water had ran out, and my feet were swollen from the many hours of sitting. I was very happy to arrive to the home of a pastor I was going to be visiting for the next 10 days. As I arrived, a hot meal was waiting for me, coffee and bread. Inside I was jumping with joy at the sight of this comfort food. While we ate dinner I asked the pastor "Is there anything you need help with while I am here?" I was anxious to lay down, shower, and rest for the night, but I also knew I had to be polite and ask. The pastor then asked me, "If I wouldn't mine accompanying me to visit woman who had been very sick and needed prayer". In the back of my mind, I was looking forward to a bed. But I asked God for an extra boost of energy and headed off.
It took us over an hour to arrive. We were greeted by a woman looking very pale, tired eyes, and was having fever. I offered to carry her baby girl she had in her arms and as we sat down on the dirt floor of her one bedroom home, we began a conversation with this woman. She then shared with me about how she had been very sick for several weeks now, but did not have money to buy medicine or to see a doctor. She is a widow, with 4 kids, and had been working many long days in the market selling vegetables. She was a Christian woman, but had reached a deep level of frustration and depression due to her sickness. Before the pastor and I had arrived, she had become so exhausted, that she can hardly care for her baby girl, and even more being able to carry her around. She began to ask God for help in her frustration, and asked God to send somebody. And as she prayed, she saw us in the distance, and prayed, "Lord, let her be the one you are sending me". When I offered to carry her baby girl, she began to break down in tears, her prayers were answered.
I realized something at the moment. Even when we don't see it, even when we feel we can't do it, God has everything under control. Every person I will come in contact with, every person I am able to help, it is all for a reason. I was physically tired myself, but knew I had to push myself just a little more, there was already someone waiting who was in a need. And just like this woman there are many more who are also waiting. It's worth it.
It took us over an hour to arrive. We were greeted by a woman looking very pale, tired eyes, and was having fever. I offered to carry her baby girl she had in her arms and as we sat down on the dirt floor of her one bedroom home, we began a conversation with this woman. She then shared with me about how she had been very sick for several weeks now, but did not have money to buy medicine or to see a doctor. She is a widow, with 4 kids, and had been working many long days in the market selling vegetables. She was a Christian woman, but had reached a deep level of frustration and depression due to her sickness. Before the pastor and I had arrived, she had become so exhausted, that she can hardly care for her baby girl, and even more being able to carry her around. She began to ask God for help in her frustration, and asked God to send somebody. And as she prayed, she saw us in the distance, and prayed, "Lord, let her be the one you are sending me". When I offered to carry her baby girl, she began to break down in tears, her prayers were answered.
I realized something at the moment. Even when we don't see it, even when we feel we can't do it, God has everything under control. Every person I will come in contact with, every person I am able to help, it is all for a reason. I was physically tired myself, but knew I had to push myself just a little more, there was already someone waiting who was in a need. And just like this woman there are many more who are also waiting. It's worth it.
Too Young to care (Norway 2004)
In 2004, I was living in Norway to participate in a school with YWAM (Youth with a Mission) it was truly an amazing time. During my time there, we would have weekends where we had the opportunity to go into town for church services. Just to be able to connect with the other churches and also to do some shopping if we needed it. We weren't able to go into town every weekend as a school, but we did have the freedom to go into town on our own by taking the local bus. One day I decided I wanted to go and share with the many young teens who would always be hanging out in the streets. Many came from broken families, they were drug users, alcoholics, depressed and alone. Their idea of Christianity was based on just their parents going to church. They didn't know of having a relationship with Jesus Christ. Many of these teens probably grew up in state churches, where they are government run, and growth is not seen. It's a very controlled program, and many of these teens miss out on having and knowing a true relationship with God. Well on this day, when I went into town, I deiced to walk on the main street of town and see who I can share with. I soon saw a group of teens, and decided to approach them. Before I approached them I was very nervous, anxious, and afraid of what I was going to tell them. But the Lord was tugging at my heart to share with them something. There was about 7 of them in a group. Many of them were holding a bottle of beer, some smoking. My first question was, “Do you have the time?” English is the second language spoken in Norway, so I knew that was my first step.( I actually had a watch, but had put it in my pocket, so that I can ask my first question too) At first no one responded, they all just looked at me, and each other.
Soon they all just smiled, and giggled. Turns out their English wasn't perfect, but they understood well enough. We started talking, they asked me where I was from, why I was here? I soon realized that I wasn't nervous anymore, I knew that the Lord was given me all the words to speak.I shared with them my testimony, how my life was before I knew the Lord and how it was transformed. I shared with them about having a relationship with Jesus. They were all curious and wanted to know more. You can see their faces lit up when I shared with them, “Jesus Loves you so much, no matter what you have done, that he gave his life for you...for you!!” Tears began to roll down their cheeks, as I went deeper into the message. There was one girl who was sitting with her head down, she was crying, not out of fear, but sadness. I asked her, “Are you ok??” she said, “Yes, I just don't no what I am feeling, but I want what you have”. I smiled with joy, at the moment I stopped and asked them one by one if they wanted to invite Jesus into their lives?. With tears on their faces, they put their beer bottles down, stomped on their cigarettes and they began to pray the prayer with me and invited Jesus into their heart that day. That day I learned a huge lesson, even when you think you have nothing to say, even when you feel you can't speak, God will always give you the words to share. We are just His instruments, allow his will to be done through your life.
Soon they all just smiled, and giggled. Turns out their English wasn't perfect, but they understood well enough. We started talking, they asked me where I was from, why I was here? I soon realized that I wasn't nervous anymore, I knew that the Lord was given me all the words to speak.I shared with them my testimony, how my life was before I knew the Lord and how it was transformed. I shared with them about having a relationship with Jesus. They were all curious and wanted to know more. You can see their faces lit up when I shared with them, “Jesus Loves you so much, no matter what you have done, that he gave his life for you...for you!!” Tears began to roll down their cheeks, as I went deeper into the message. There was one girl who was sitting with her head down, she was crying, not out of fear, but sadness. I asked her, “Are you ok??” she said, “Yes, I just don't no what I am feeling, but I want what you have”. I smiled with joy, at the moment I stopped and asked them one by one if they wanted to invite Jesus into their lives?. With tears on their faces, they put their beer bottles down, stomped on their cigarettes and they began to pray the prayer with me and invited Jesus into their heart that day. That day I learned a huge lesson, even when you think you have nothing to say, even when you feel you can't speak, God will always give you the words to share. We are just His instruments, allow his will to be done through your life.
She has no name (Brazil 2006)
In 2006, I went to a place where few have gone, a place so hidden so far, so out of my map. A place that has left a imprint on heart. This was a place I had long to be, so far and lost among the hidden places, over rivers and valleys, and the jungles, I found myself in the midst of the Amazons in Brazil. A place I will never forget and long to go back to.
As we traveled and lived on a boat for 15 days, water on both sides of me, sounds of animals, and birds. We traveled with government officials to make sure us "Christians" will not touch or share those with no name. All I can think of was my final destination. A place I cannot mention, a place where sharing the word is not allowed. To those who have never heard, to those who think they are forgotten, and only exist because of supernatural powers, to those that have no name. How can this be? how can I embark and such a long journey and only to be told, we are not allowed to share of God’s goodness to them. But I had to push forward; I had to use what was around me to try to tell them. We worked hard non-stop, drilling in the ground, to bring these people drinking water for the first timer. No longer will their children die from parasites and things found in the only supply of water they had. But now they will be able to pump water and fill their coconut shells with real drinking water.
But as I stood there just enjoying their smiles and lifestyle, playing with snakes and monkeys. My heart broke as I was not permitted to tell them what I knew. Not be able to share with them God’s love. And among them not mention, the little girl that looked up at me, with such a smile, and wanting to know. She has no name; I can’t not mention her to you. But I can show you her face. As the government officials made their way back to the boat, as they had been on guard making sure our team wouldn’t even connect with the people who had no name. But for the first time, the government officials had their eyes off me. I ran back to the little girl. I ran to her feet, embraced her in my arms. She looked at me with such a smile, and I told her, “You are not forgotten God loves you, and you do have a name”….
As we traveled and lived on a boat for 15 days, water on both sides of me, sounds of animals, and birds. We traveled with government officials to make sure us "Christians" will not touch or share those with no name. All I can think of was my final destination. A place I cannot mention, a place where sharing the word is not allowed. To those who have never heard, to those who think they are forgotten, and only exist because of supernatural powers, to those that have no name. How can this be? how can I embark and such a long journey and only to be told, we are not allowed to share of God’s goodness to them. But I had to push forward; I had to use what was around me to try to tell them. We worked hard non-stop, drilling in the ground, to bring these people drinking water for the first timer. No longer will their children die from parasites and things found in the only supply of water they had. But now they will be able to pump water and fill their coconut shells with real drinking water.
But as I stood there just enjoying their smiles and lifestyle, playing with snakes and monkeys. My heart broke as I was not permitted to tell them what I knew. Not be able to share with them God’s love. And among them not mention, the little girl that looked up at me, with such a smile, and wanting to know. She has no name; I can’t not mention her to you. But I can show you her face. As the government officials made their way back to the boat, as they had been on guard making sure our team wouldn’t even connect with the people who had no name. But for the first time, the government officials had their eyes off me. I ran back to the little girl. I ran to her feet, embraced her in my arms. She looked at me with such a smile, and I told her, “You are not forgotten God loves you, and you do have a name”….
