|
NEWS & NOTES ARCHIVE:
2006
Mission
Report: Bogotá, Colombia
October
16 - 23, 2006
|
What
an incredible seven days! I, along with 11 members of
Resurrection Life Mid Michigan, traveled to Bogotá, Colombia to
work with Pastor John Romick of Mission Colombia / RHEMA Colombia.
As I would lay my head on my pillow at night,
my mind and heart were completely overwhelmed by the goodness of my
God for that day. Then
there would be a small sigh as I pondered that this day was probably
the apex of the trip; everything else would be good...but probably
nothing close to this day. It was okay, I thought to myself,
because better is one day in His presence than a thousand elsewhere.
Silly me!
My God would raise the sun each morning, and
each day He would raise the team to a different level of His grace,
goodness and glory! Throughout
the entire trip, God continually amazed us with power and purpose.
Each day of ministry was accompanied with salvation, healing,
freedom and promise. Each
day, every team member was challenged, and every time God took them
beyond their wildest dreams.
My greatest joy is to bring men, women and
young people to other lands where they are exposed to what they have
only seen in the media; to strip them of everything they are
comfortable with in their own nation so that they must totally trust
and rely on God, knowing He is enough for every situation they
encounter. This is my
desire, this is my passion: to
give believers the opportunity to step out of their boats and
experience an encounter that they have no business stepping into
except for God’s great goodness and grace.
There is nothing like watching a believer soar into new
heights in Christ. This is my heartbeat.
While I was there, the Lord revealed and
confirmed many things to me personally on a daily basis, and I am
grateful. As I left one
particular village where poverty was the master, I boarded the bus
fighting back the tears. As
I sat in my seat, I could no longer deny or hold back my
gratefulness, my smallness and my amazement--giving Him my song was
no longer good enough; He must have all of me.
For my Lord to bring me
to such a desperate place, a hungry place, a lost place--me, a
little blonde lady from Dysfunction Junction--was more than I could
wrap my thoughts around. Yet,
it is not because of who I am, but because of Whose I am.
This is the promise that fuels my every day, this is why I
can do what He has called me to do, and this is enough for me.
As our time drew close to completion, some
would say, “Well the trip is just about over already.”
I would respond, “No my friend, the trip has only begun,
for now we must carry the message. We must bring the treasures
that He has deposited within us to the Kingdom in our region.
We have not been sent here solely for this mission, but for
the Greater Purpose which is the Kingdom.
Now we must carry out those things that He has spoken to us
so powerfully and tenderly. Our
mission has only begun.”
Thank you to all those who support me in my
Grace Works. Without your partnership of prayers and financial
support, I would not dare to step out into these things. You help to
make it possible.
|
the
Rez Life team
crusade
altar call
a
few of the hundreds of children we ministered to
local
pastors
we
were enthusiastically received by university students
balloons
were a "smile tool" we used to share God's love
my
turn to wear the clown suit
teaching
at RHEMA Colombia
a
village built into the mountainside |
A
"PURSEonal" Testimony
It has been confirmed once
again that I am God’s favorite! On Halloween night as we opened our
church doors to our community for our annual “Night Under the Big
Top,” my purse was stolen from our office. So, the next day I went
to the police station to report the incident.
As he took the report, the officer
asked me, “Ma’am did you have any valuables in the purse?” I
replied, “You bet I did! My favorite lipsticks were in that
purse!” He smirked, but I was serious. I also noted that my
favorite wedding picture and a cute photo of Joshua and Sarah on the
beach were also in the purse. The sergeant finished the report and
walked me to the door. As I was leaving he said, “You realize you
will probably never see your purse again.”
Now, I don’t know about you, but
when someone says “never” to me, I immediately begin to look for
a way to make it happen. Something on the inside stands up and says,
“Did you just say…never?” How many times have we heard
never? The bank will never grant you a loan. Your body will never
recover. Your spouse will never…change. Your house will never
sell. Your boss will never promote you! That word “never” in
its negative sense is like a swear word to God. It’s not even in
His kingdom’s vernacular. When we accepted Christ as our savior,
did we not switch kingdoms? Our lives are to be no longer governed
by this world’s system of beliefs, and never is no longer
an option. Never doesn’t have a chance if we will only
believe! The truth of the matter is that with God we always triumph,
with God we have the victory, and with God all things are possible
to those who believe!
So, I turned to the officer as I was
leaving and said, “I believe I will see my purse again.” Fast
forward five months. The phone rang and the police station was on
the other end: “Ma’am, we have secured your purse. It was found
in the Pine River another city away.”
The very next day I went down to
claim my purse. As I opened all the compartments, everything was out
of place. River muck had settled throughout, but there in the midst
of all the clutter were my valuables fully intact and unharmed. My
wedding picture, the kids on the beach…and yes, my lipsticks, too!
They were just as fresh as the day I purchased them! Glory to God!
He loves me so much that even when the enemy tried to steal from me,
God preserved those things that were dear to me. Never say never when
you are a child of God, for truly all things big and small are
possible with Him!
Christmas
Tea 2006
Filled to Capacity in Both
Presence and Generosity!
|
with
Susan Verhulst, the speaker at this year's tea
the
men who graciously served the ladies
an
example of the beautifully decorated tables
one
of our lovely hostesses serving her guests |
“Kindness
is a language the dumb can speak and the deaf can hear and
understand.”
--Christian
Bovee The community was once again drawn into our presence as
women from all backgrounds, beliefs, and denominations
allowed their paths to cross for yet another tremendous
Christmas Tea.
Many women had not seen each other since last year's
Tea. Some were given an excuse to catch up, some made
new friends, and still others were pleasantly surprised to
see an old friend from years gone by.
It truly is a one-of-a-kind event that God continues
to grow and strengthen with each passing year.
This year, something amazing happened...I was left
literally speechless. Why?
This year the Tea’s mission was to give new
bicycles to less fortunate children in our surrounding
communities. Months
before the Tea, we sent a representative into the schools to
cast the vision and recruit their help.
Each school was informed that we wanted to give a
bike to whomever they suggested as a recipient.
The response was received with enthusiasm, and the
requests began to pour in.
As we do every year, we set aside $1 of every ticket
sold to go towards our mission goal.
Wal-Mart graciously offered to assemble the bikes,
and then they decided it would be a good idea to get in on
this effort and donated $700 towards the project!
Wait…it gets better. |
| Our first Tea (because the event
is so popular, we now hold the Tea on two nights) on Tuesday
night was captivating, but the end of the night left me
breathless. Before
"Tea Time," I cast the vision of the Bike
Blessing Mission and encouraged the ladies to pray and ask
God what He would have them do.
Anytime during the night, they could place a
"tip" in the tip box located at their table.
Just as I was closing and wishing everyone a Merry
Christmas, one of our gentleman waiters came up to the stage
and handed me a slip of paper.
It was the total of what had been collected in the
tip boxes over the course of the evening.
I could not believe what I read as I stood in silent
awe at the graciousness of the ladies. In less than
one hour and forty-five minutes, the women of our community
raised over $2500 towards the Tea mission!!!
The room came alive with cheers, and every woman left
knowing that she made an indelible impression in the lives
of many children. And that was just the first night…
It felt like we had won the Super Bowl. After all
our guests left, there was enough faith in that place to
build a hospital!! Men
and women volunteers were filled with joy as together they
accomplished great things for the Kingdom. What would
happen during the second night?
The second night was no different, and there was great
expectancy amidst the volunteer staff...surely something
great would happen! On
Friday night, with an entire room filled with new guests,
the women of the Christmas Tea raised an additional
$2560. In total, we
received over $6400 to purchase bikes for underprivileged
children. On
December 15th, we will have a semi-truck pull up
at Wal-Mart to pick up a sleigh full of bikes that will
forever leave an impression on the hearts of children
throughout our region!
What fun it is to be funnels of God’s goodness and
glory…there is nothing like it in the entire world!
Just a small way that we can love one another in a
“Season of Love.” |
|
