Streams in the Desert

Muslims do not believe that Jesus died. Therefore, He is not considered Savior.

Hindus have 300 million + gods, all of which are believed to be manifestations of one supreme being.

Buddhists believe that any and all desire is carnal and evil, even the desire to love God.
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Working in Clarkston has made me question whether what i believe is really all that different from what the locals believe. Do i believe that Jesus really died, rose and saved me? Do i place Him above every other thing, considering Him the One True God? Do i believe that the desires that i have are all fulfilled in Jesus?

"If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" Luke 9:23-25

No excitement in the truths of the gospel...not praying in faith that God hears me or will answer...or even cares...

This is the dryness i have been feeling lately. Faith is all i've had to cling to in times like this. But Praise the Lord (someone hit a button...haha) because today, He brought a ray of light back to my life. i have been very humbled today. Whether it be dealing with clashing personalities, coming up with plan B all day long, realizing how selfish i am, or being able to encourage someone out of my past struggles, God has brought me low today...only to lift me up. Finding all joy in Him and His grace has been my help, my light, my song today. He has led me to Him in the most surprising ways.

i wonder what God thinks when we pray to Him and get this mental idea of how He's going to answer it. i can just see Him say, "How boring! Did she forget that the reason I answer their prayers in creative ways is because I'm the most creative being in existence?" i also imagine this sort of "DUH" look on  His face...that is if He actually has one.

He does hear us when we cry to Him. He does care about us. He does answer us. He does love us.

Have faith, my friend. Our God is faithful!

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who shows steadfast love to those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations." Deuteronomy 7:9

God's grace is sufficient

At a Backyard Bible Club Thursday night, i saw a group of Nepali adults sitting off to the side, so i went to speak with them. Some of our Nepali church members were with us and our Nepali pastor’s wife, Alice, spoke to Nar, the English speaking guy i spoke with. She asked Nar if he had any Christians in his household. He said no and proceeded with the following story:

“Growing up, we wanted to go to church, but our grandmother (a very devout Hindu) told us that we could go to church after we died. So when we moved to America two months ago...we sent her to Texas and we came here.”

Bahahaha! i laughed my head off when Alice told me what Nar said. Alice continued, asking Nar if he knew why they ended up meeting. Again, he replied no. “So that you could meet God,” Alice replied. Now, Nar is coming to church on Sunday and i am praying for his soul and his family. May God draw them near and open their eyes to Him.

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Yesterday was a day off, filled with rest and grace from God. i took two...count them TWO...naps yesterday. Naps are such rare occurrences, and therefore i’m so thankful for them, especially since they were in a hammock in the woods with nothing but green above me to look at. Went for a trail run/walk and Geocached for the first time in forever. Then grilled out with all the missionaries. All in all, i spent a beautiful day outside.

This summer, the missionaries are challenged to pick a few areas to grow in spiritually. One place i desire to grow is in my understanding of the Word. i want to know it like the back of my hand (hello life-time goal!). i want to learn to fight with Scripture. i want my soul to be governed by it. After a good talk with Bill about the Word and avoiding legalism, we came up with some action plans toward growing. This is a new way to be stretched this summer, but nothing worth having is easy. God’s grace is enough to pull me thru, and it’s all for His glory.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Crosses are Heavy

"If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." Luke 9:23-24

i am amazed at how God answers prayer. Just two hours ago, i sat in a room full of high schoolers who were remiscing about who they won't forget & what they will take back to tiny Arab, Alabama. As i listened, i remembered my first time to Clarkston. Atop Stone Mountain, my leader Zach told the story of Moses on the mountain with God. When Moses came back down, his face shown with the glory of God, and the people were afraid. Zach asked, "When you come down off this mountain, will people be able to tell that you encountered God?"

15 months later, i can say "Yes!" For prayer tonight, Bill asked us to think of one person God has used us (as individuals) to touch this week. When the silence in the prayer came, we were to speak the name of that person. i spoke four and thought of a couple more as time went on. i say that to brag on the Lord, not myself.

The story of the loaves & fish was shared last night. Jesus told the disciples "You feed them!" i can just imagine the sinking feeling in the pit of their stomach. Doubting Thomas & i probably feel about the same way..."Us? But we're just 12 people. How can we be used to meet these extensive needs." But the disciples brought to Jesus what they had (which wasn't even actually theirs' but a boy's who was there), but look what God did with the little that given to Him..."and taking the loaves and fish, He looked up to heaven and said a blessing...the disciples gave [the loaves] to the crowds. And they all ate & were satisfied..." (Matthew 14:19-21). No matter how huge the need is in Clarkston and the world or how inadequate i feel (and am), God is faithful when we are obedient.

Video blog

Stretching is not just for your body

Team #2 is here, a high school group from good 'ole Alabama. Not only is God working thru them, but He is working in them. Both prayer walking teams i've had have been great, with students who are being pulled out of their shells and laboring on behalf of the lost people in Clarkston and abroad. Last night, i sat with some Sudanese women and watched as 40+ kids sat still for more 3 seconds, captivated by the story of creation.

This team has been open and near fearless in meeting new people, trying new foods and all around being super flexible. Flexibility is necessary to mission work, especially with internationals.

God has been stretching me, too. Flexibilty is something i learn every trip to Clarkston. I'm learning to lay myself down in order to fulfill my committment to my God and my team. I'm learning how to discern the difference between giving 110% and not resting enough, both spiritually & physically. I struggle to find alone time to be still & quiet. My mind is racing with "What's next?" and "Am i prepared?" I long for stillness that lasts, but sadly that's hard to come by.

"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in all the earth." Psalm 46:10

The Aftermath

Whew! my first week has been a whirlwind. my team is awesome. my church is awesome. my pastor is awesome (and he's also my boss). my purpose is awesome and my Jesus is awesome!


Friday night, i met an Iraqi girl and her mom. We hung out and i played with her baby boy all evening while we had a cookout. Yesterday, i went to visit them with a couple people from the weekend missions team we had in (shout-out to First Baptist Montgomery). We found out this team had a guy who could speak Arabic, so he went with us. He ended up talking with the dad of this family for the entire two hours we were there, and apparently was able to talk with him about salvation (i had no idea what they were talking about while we were there). Meanwhile, me and another girl stood in the kitchen with the two oldest daughters and their mom while the made lunch (at 2:30 in the afternoon, mind you). The oldest is a senior in high school and asked us lots of questions about college life and what not. i am excites about being able to spend time with her this summer and help her college hunt! They invited us to stay and eat with them (yum!) which we did and they asked if we were coming back tomorrow! Ha! When i told them i would be here all summer...i've never seen so many people smile so big in my life! No joke!


Out of all my time in Clarkston, this was my favorite house visit ever! i've never been so comfortable with a family as i was with this family of seven, soon to be eight (i'm actually going to be in town when she has her baby!) i am VERY excited about getting to know this family better, especially being able to spend time with the three girls and the mom (who is trying to pass her driver's test...please pray that she does as she has tried before and failed). Also pray for Sara (the oldest) as she begins looking at colleges this summer and throughout her senior year. This family is a HUGE prayer need, as they are Muslim. Please also pray for me, that i would be sensitive to the Spirit as He leads. Pray that God would grant e a solid relationship with this family and that they may see who Isa (Jesus) really is through me. Since the dad seems to be open about talking about his beliefs, there are definitely some open doors.


i do not believe God brings people together for no reason. In Acts 17, Paul is speaking to the people of Athens. After seeing an alter there to "The Unknown God," Paul tells them who this God is...Jesus.

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything. Rather, He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us."(v.24-27)

God allowed me to find favor in the eyes of this family and i intend to follow His lead. These Iraqis are beautiful people and kind. i desire that they have the hope i do, know the God i know, know Jesus as i know Him...personally.


Paul also talks about the Christian life being warfare, and the Christian being a soldier.

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Paul teaches us that we have the upper hand. We have weapons that can break down Satan's best efforts at keeping the Gospel out of earshot (and therefore out of the hearts) of the lost and dead people of this world we live in. Do you believe that prayer in Jesus' Name above names can breakdown walls of unbelief...hardness of heart...the rut of tradition and culture? i do. my team does. That's how we pray because that's what works.


In Matthew 16:13-18, Jesus reminds us of the victory we work from, not for:

"When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" He asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

The rock Jesus was referring to was not Peter, but the truth Peter confessed: that Jesus is "the Messiah, the Son of the living God." This is the truth that Satan hates, that he tries to suppress, that he tries to keep from being proclaimed from the hilltops and in underground house churches. But his efforts will fail and the wimpy white picket fence he puts up around those who follow him cannot withstand the people of God who will storm the gates of Hell on behalf of those who don't know who's side they're on.


Some people, when they can't give money or resources to help, say, "Well, at least we can pray." NO! At most, you can pray. Because the war we're fighting, my brothers and sisters, is not won by paying off the enemy. It's won by calling on the only One who can defeat Satan...JESUS! Will you fight with me?

This Iraqi meal has been my favorite home cooked meal so far. the small bowl of red in the top right is a mixture of corn, tomato sauce and spices. Sounds like Mexican, right? A lot of this food reminded me of Mexican flavors. Interesting! And we each got our own small plate. Sometimes ate off of that and sometimes we ate right off of the large plates with our fingers of with the bread.

Day 5

Wow! What a ride so far. Had the afternoon yesterday to just walk and ride around Clarkston with my team. Had Nepali for lunch AND dinner. Finally passed out at 11:30. WHEW!

Bill (our supervisor) told us that for the first few days, he would be exposing us to all the different aspects of ministry that RTN is involved in. Through this process, we should be able to find places we enjoy and fit well in and places that we're just not intended for. So, last night, we got to get our feet wet at ESL, helping Burmese women learn how to boss their kids around. We took turns telling them to "wash your face" or "brush your teeth" and they would act it out. Then, we switched roles and they had to tell us what to do. We also got to teach them things to tell their kids NOT to do ("Don't leave the house," for example). Honestly, i was scared to death to jump right in without much introduction to teaching English, especially since i can't teach worth a flip. But, by the end of the class, i was hooked. Who knows, maybe i can teach something after all?

From ESL, we went to Bible study with one of RTN's house groups. This was a Nepali study, with probably 25 people packed in a tiny apartment living room. Being able to sit among these beautiful people and watch their attention to the Word of God being proclaimed and taught was wonderful and convicting. We worshipped in three languages. Tegga, our African pastor and my host parent for the summer, taught us all to sing "Thank You, thank You, Jesus" in Swahili. If i thought learning a song in Nepali was strange, i can't imagine what it was like for Nepalis, Indians and Americans to be learning Swahili. It was awesome! Something that i heard taught a long time ago has stuck with me. A worship pastor was introducing a new song, and told us that, even though the words would not be on the screen, that didn't mean we couldn't worship. He told us to just think about God and sing whatever praises came to mind...thankfulness for how God has moved, crying out to Him for help, or simply standing in awe of who He is. This has been SO helpful to me in worship, both personal and corporate. Last night, as drums and guitars played and voices were raised in foreign language, i was reminded that God speaks all languages AT THE SAME TIME. Just because they were worshipping in Nepali didn't mean i couldn't worship in English. In all the multi-cultural, multi-lingual worship services i've been in, i've never worshipped like last night, just enjoying God for who He is and how far His love reaches. i look forward to worshipping with RTN this summer.

Pray that the hearts of our Nepali brothers and sisters will be burdened to reach out to their own people (and others) in Clarkston and that God would guide me, Bill and our team in equipping them to do so. Also pray that Chinee, Andrew, Mary and i would learn how to take what we learn and do here and apply wherever we go in the fall...and the rest of our lives.

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

Lunch at Katmandu Cafe. The brown on the far left is fried potato; the large red piece is Tandoori Chicken; the small red pieces above it are chicken too, a little spicier than Tandoori. The rice had chicken in it, as did the green beans; the yellow at the bottom is curry-like chicken (my favorite); and the orange stuff on the right is dessert...some form of carrots and sugar.

Future home of Reach the Nations Community Church (as of June 1). There are three classrooms to the left of this wall.

Our new  facility will have a full kitchen, too!