Yesterday I had one
of the most amazing days so far on the race and it occurred during debrief...who
would have thought it? There were just a bunch of little things that made the
day awesome.
My day started off
early, I woke up and got breakfast and started reading my journal. It's was so
interesting to see how far I've come on this journey. To see who I was in each
country, to see how God has moved, and how He's changed me. Praise God for all that
He's done.
At 9:30am we had
worship out in the wonderful sunshine as a squad. During this time people were
sharing testimonies of different things that happened this past month and ways
that God moved in their lives and in the ministries. God prompted me to share
about the deliverance from depression that happened this past month. There is
so much power in sharing what God has done...it takes away the doubts the enemy
might bring to mind, and just gives more glory to God. I was glad to share.
Toward the end of
worship my team had to leave and go prepare lunch for the squad. I had so much
fun making grill cheese sandwiches with my team and we had a delightful lunch.
After lunch I was talking with Melissa and God told me that I needed to pray
over her with anointing oil and so we agreed to meet later to do that.
Later that afternoon
Melissa, Renee, Jenni Weir and I met together. You see Melissa had a rough
month health-wise and the Enemy wanted to steal, kill and destroy her. That's
the plain truth, because that's what Satan does. We anointed our hands and
prayed over Melissa, we prayed for an hour. During that time the Holy Spirit
showed up big time. God completely
healed her, and He realigned her spine and back and everything and she's now
physically taller. It was an incredible time of just letting the Holy Spirit
show up and manifest however which way. Afterwards we all walked up the hill
laughing and feeling just overjoyed with God. Everybody was wondering what was
going on and all we could really saywas
that Melissa was taller. When they hugged her they were astonished because she
is in fact an inch or two taller. It was awesome to see their faces, which made
us laugh all the more.
Tim finally came over
and got me for Manna Christian Fellowship (our team Bible study), and we had a
good time of sharing what's been going on. (I shared what had just occurred
with Melissa). Then Tim brought a good word about having pure hearts and the
unity with God and each other by having pure hearts. It was challenging to hear
but I'm glad because I've been thinking about that. Basically it brings you to
a place of asking God to continue to refine you because it's best.
I spent the rest of
the evening eating dinner, playing
SkipBo and having a great time with people. Zach and I had a couple of intense
games and I even won one of them! ;) By the time we were done with the game
there was only 2 other people in the room so we called it quits. Renee and I
headed back to our yurt and decided to have a midnight snack and tea by
candlelight. Anna Coffey decided to get up and join us and we just shared
stories about the past month and laughed and had a great time. It was like a
slumber party. Finally exhausted we went to sleep.
Hey guys I just
wanted to give you a quick update before I head off to the bush in Mozambique
tomorrow.I'm not sure if I'll even have
internet this month. I'm pretty excited to go, even if it is a 20 hour bus ride
there. ;)
Anyway I just
wanted to let you guys know the good news of how close I am to being fully
funded. After monthly pledges I only have $2,386.60 left to raise! Praise God
for His goodness. I also wanted to say that I'm only about $200 away from my
July 1st deadline. God has been so good with provision not only for
my AIM account but here on the trip. I've been given clothes as mine has worn
out or gotten too large and food when we didn't think we would be eating much,
gosh He provided like crazy last month in so many ways that were such a
blessing.
I just ask that
even if you don't hear from me this month, please keep me in your prayers. Definitely
please pray that this last bit comes in and if God lays it on your heart to
give, you can do so by clicking here.
I can't wait to
see what God will do this month! Yay for Mozambique!
After
a red-eye flight from Bangkok, Thailand to Nairobi, Kenya with a few
hour layover then onto Johannesburg, South Africa, two days there in a
hostel and an overnight bus to Nelspruit, South Africa which is close
to the border of Mozambique. This is where we are currently in travel,
we will be here for a few days before continuing on to Mozambique,
where we will be for the month of June. Actually resting here has been
good for the squad because we really needed more time to prepare for
what lies ahead. God is doing some good things in bringing us together
and refreshing us in his spirit. I for one am grateful.
This month should be good, we
have a new team leader, Tim is now in charge. Teri is now enjoying just
being a regular racer after serving us so faithfully for 5 months. I
believe this to be a good change for Team Manna. Originally we were
going to work with Iris Ministries around Maputo, the capital of
Mozambique. However, that has now changed. We may be out in the bush
for most of the month, we really don't know. Our ministry will involve
showing the Jesus film and doing evangelism, and that's about all I
know. I'm excited because there is a possibility that we (Manna) will
get to work with another team, we haven't really had an opportunity to
work with another team since the race began.
As far as internet use....I'm not
sure there will be whole lot of it this month. So I will do my best to
write as frequently as possible.
I
realized that I hadn't really shared a whole lot of what occurred in my
life in Country X. Last month was by far one of the best months for me
on the race. God did so much, and changed me and healed me too.
Shortly
after we arrived there is when a major healing process started in my
life. We were sitting there praying together at our ministry site and
then out of nowhere our ministry contact came over to me and put his
arm around me and started praying. Before I knew it he was confessing
everything in my heart, the good and the bad, the secret things I've
never told anyone. At first I was thinking "I've been found out!" but
it really wasn't so scary as you would think. There was, however, so
much freedom in getting it out in the open, I see that now.
I
had to face the pain and the lies that had been buried within me and
just let God be God and heal me. I finally stopped fighting Him and let
His healing take place in my life. After that intense encounter, Abba
kept revealing things to me, people I needed to talk to, asking for
forgiveness, forgiving others, renouncing vows I made out of
bitterness, and just really cleaning everything out. Even though it was
difficult, I'm so grateful that it occurred, just because I'm a new
person again. It was totally worth it.
I
feel like I've found myself again. And it's been amazing to see how
much God moving in my life has changed how I interact with my team and
my squadmates. I told my team that I'm now ‘Amanda 2.0' because to be
perfectly honest for the first 4 months of the race I felt like I had
lost myself. I would act and react to things much different than I used
to and in a lot of ways negatively and I didn't understand why. God
revealed to me that He had to take me through this purging process to
gain true freedom. Even though I wish there was a better way and easier
way for that to of happened, I'm glad it did. Obviously it had to
happen the way it did.
As
for now, there is a fresh joy and love in me that I hope continues to
grow. God is so good and I know that He will continue to do great
things in and through me.
I thought you would enjoy seeing some of the crazy awesomeness that occurred during debrief in Bangkok.
First...there is race day! Where we went spent most of our time running around this fancy mall. It had Siam in it's name....I don't remember what it was called.
What Posers!!!
It's in front of the Bentley because I had to you for you family!
Of course the Lamborghini...
This is part of the "World's Largest Playground" actually McDonald's Playpen is probably the same size....but we'll let Thailand think it's big. ;)
We did NOT win race day...oh well.
We went to the Mall, and was greatly surprised...
There was some yum grub! Bekah even got a delightful treat.
It was a good last hurrah in Asia...Now onto Africa!
I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who have given. I made the June 1st deadline!!! My account is currently at $9,913.40 so I more than met the $9,500 that I needed! So thank you for all your prayers and giving. I still have about $3,000 left to raise for my entire trip to be covered. Praise God for what He's doing!
Also the three other neediest people for support have had God show up big time. Two of them are fully funded and the other has $10,000 in her account . It's been amazing to see the Body come together and give. Please keep praying that all the support comes in for all of us!
I wanted
to give you an update on where I am at financially and where I need to be byJUNE 1st!
I
am currently at$8,950and I need $13,800 total.
My
urgent need is $550byJune 1stto meetthe deadline of $9,500
in my account. Please pray that this support comes in before June 1st,
so that I can stay with my Squad and with Team Manna.
I
want to thank everyone who has gotten me this far. I love my time on the race
and am growing so much. Please consider supporting me and helping me spread the
gospel to every tribe, tongue and nation.
The fall of man, the fall from grace
has put us in this place
a tug-of-war to choose sides.
Wanting anything besides the truth.
Doing whatever it takes to save our skin
not caring where we've been.
The message is "Be your own savior"
an excuse for our behavior;
Going to church for that girl or that boy
destroying ourselves playing coy with G-d.
Covering up hurt with more paint and less clothes
finding love in those broken souls.
Looking for the best way to get higher than the heavenlies.
Blaming G-d for all of our tragedies.
Yelling so loud we can't hear a sound.
But you can cope with the hope
in the recognition that He lives.
Yes he died, saying good bye
to this world for three days
doing whatever it takes because he saw your face
while hanging on a tree so you can be free.
Relentlessly
pursuing you-the one
but the son is not done until victory is won.
Until you hear His sweet song
and feel His heartbeat.
He wants to complete you;
deserving more than a backseat.
He has come to defeat sin.
It's then-when you see the Father, arms open wide
filling the divide between Him and His bride
that freedom comes
