We set out on June 1st for the adventure
that God had placed ahead of us. After 2 full days of travel, we were jetlagged
but too excited to really care, we had talked about this moment for months and
we had finally made it! In the capital city for one night, we
were able to explore a pagoda (a Buddhist temple). Witnessing people bowing down to many different statues of the multiple
gods that they worship, was heartbreaking. Their unshakable devotion was
evident as they brought their children to teach them the ways of Buddhism, our
hearts were heavy as we learned that these children are taught to walk the
streets asking for food because that’s the way they please their gods, plus
that’s the only way they eat. Our hearts were burdened for the people in that
place and they are forever in our prayers.
Leaving the capital city we set out to our final destination, coming
off the plane we were greeted by unexplainable hospitality. We knew we were
going to like it here, it felt right! We piled into a van that was open on all
ends but had bars in place of windows to provide a nice little breeze as we
drove toward our destination. Prior to arriving we didn’t have a clue of where
we would be sleeping or what they had in store for us but we soon found out
that we’d be staying on a college campus. As we pulled up there was this
beautiful, newly built, never before lived in, white house with a red roof. We
were told that this is where we would live, all 13 of us girls (we traveled with
the Family Camp Team as well). We entered the home to find a toilet, a squatty,
2 showers, an area to bucket bathe, sinks, furniture and enough room for all of
us to lay our heads down at night. God had provided all of this for us, we had
not a clue that we would be living in such luxury.
We were to
discover later that the organization that is 100% behind the Lord’s mission in
this country had been praying for a team to be sent here for 2 years. They had
asked that the Lord would send workers to reap the harvest here and they had
prepared a place for them... for us. How faithful these people were to pray for
us for 2 years and for the Lord’s provision to be evident. We had the honor to
meet these faithful women, sit in their presence and speak with them about what
the Lord had sent us to do; to serve in clinics and provide encouragement to
those living in camps far away from home. They were each able to lay a hand on
us and earnestly pray, what an honor it was to be in the presence of the Lord’s
faithful servants.
We had also been informed that they area we were to be in
had not received rain in too long a time, the crops were drying up and ground
was beginning to crack. Our team came together and we prayed, and prayed and
prayed for rain. Since the moment we spoke these words, the rain has not
ceased, it comes every night but provides us clear days (most of the time) to
do the Lord’s work! The power of prayer has been evident this summer! We’ve
really enjoyed integrating ourselves into the culture, purchasing the
women’s traditional, long skirts with beautiful décor on them (longues),
(confession time, may or may not have purchased 5 already). The food also is
delicious, I talk about all this culture for a reason, because we’ve noticed
that they truly enjoy and honestly are more willing to listen if they notice
the effort we put forth to be a part of their culture, they admire that and we
admire them!
Prayer
Requests:
· We
ask that you remain prayerful for the believers here, that they will remain
steadfast in what the Lord has taught them and that they will continue to reach
out to areas that may not have the resources to access the gospel.
· Please
pray also for the non-believers that they will be confronted by a person of peace
in the area and that they will seek out His truth.
· Please
pray also for those devote in Buddhism and other religions that they will hear
the truth about the Only Saving Grace and that their households will grow up
with assurance that they will spend eternity with our Savior because they
believe in and proclaim the name of Jesus Christ.
· We
pray that this darkness that has captured areas of this country will dissipate
so that the Lord’s beauty can be unveiled, so eyes will be opened and hearts
will be changed, so harvesters will be many and souls will be won!
· Remain
prayerful as the Lord does His work in this place!
-Rebecca