Hello again from New Zealand! The Earth Care DTS team is three weeks away from leaving for training in Bali, and five weeks away from Cambodia! I’m starting to get really excited about the work we’ll be doing. We recently had a speaker – Rus Alit – who taught us about making water storage tanks and harvesting “bio-gas” (using the gas emitted during the decomposition of organic material – e.g., pig manure – for fuel). He also showed us how to make a simple water pump. We’ll learn more from Rus when we go to stay with him in Bali, and we’re all looking forward to it. I feel like I have a lot to learn before we go to Cambodia, but the most important part is loving the people, and for that I am ready!
I’ve been feeling a little homesick this week, and struggling with apathy. I just felt really down for most of the week, for no reason whatsoever. Until Thursday evening – I snapped out of the funk, started smiling from my heart again, and just had to jump for joy as I was walking to dinner. Those of you who know me well can picture it, I’m sure. Some have suggested that it wasn’t just a “funk” but a spiritual attack. If that was the case, it was certainly the prayers of someone else that helped pull me out of it, so I thank you quite sincerely for continuing to pray for me. Especially as we get ready for outreach. We will be heading to some spiritually dark places. “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but … against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Praise God that the battle belongs to him! “In this world you will have tribulations,” Jesus said. “But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We go into these places “‘not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6). We are all preparing ourselves to carefully and intentionally stay in tune with God’s Spirit. Please continue to pray for the love of Christ to shine through. “Don’t try to push out the darkness,” one of our speakers said recently. “Just bring in the light!”
This is a little random, but I want to take a minute to publicly thank my dad for being a man of God. Our speaker this week, Mark Parker, suggested that when the devil wants to destroy a society or a family, he goes after the fathers. My father has been such a blessing in my life, and I thank God for him. Thank you, Dad, for following the Lord and leading me to do the same. Your steadfast faith is a testament to the grace of God. I love you.
Outreach fees are due at the end of November (next week!) – God had other plans for some of the money I had set aside for my outreach, so please join me in continuing to pray for God’s provision. Most importantly, please pray for the people of Cambodia and the work that God will do there using us as tools. I’d like to say again, thank you to those of you who have been praying, and to those of you who have also been moved to help financially. If God is leading you to financially support this mission, see my post on “Donations” for ways you can help.
“[The Lord declares,]
‘As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.’”
Isaiah 55: 10-13
