So I'm back.
I did it.
I actually went and did missionary work for 10 days in a country with a lot less, and yet a lot more than my country.
I couldn't decide whether each second was a second I enjoyed, felt challenged by, or maybe even felt afraid by. But what I do know is that for every little second of those 10 days, Jesus was always there. I felt Him there in the midst of it all.
'As thy days, so shall thy strength be'
A saying never more appropriate. This quote is currently framed on the wall in my bedroom, a vintage picture I never truly wanted in my room, and yet every day for the past 5 years I have looked at it. I know it. Every colour, every detail and every word. Honestly, as every day passed, my strength managed to multiply a little more.
I started the week sat up in a bed, vomiting in a very sturdy Next bag, with just 3 hours sleep in 2 days. What a night that was! And through every stomach cramp and wave of cold sweats I was forced to ask God; 'Why me?! Why tonight?! Why now?!' So as the vomit left my system, so did my will power. No wait...please don't click off the page in pure disgust...the story does have a happy ending I promise! I'm just getting to it...
Danielle Strickland describes our walk with Jesus through the imagery of how a monkey is caught in the wild (again, bare with me!) They take a coconut, drill a hole in the top, put a peanut inside and wait. A monkey smells the peanut, puts it's little hand inside and...oh...it can't seem to get it's little hand out because it won't let go of that peanut. You see, that monkey ends up going so insane at the idea of a coconut being trapped on it's arm that it eventually kills itself with the stress of it all. It just doesn't understand that life will be a lot better if it just lets go. It doesn't get the freedom it wants but yet it's so desperate to cling on to that peanut that it ends up having to die because of it.
Danielle Strickland describes our walk with Jesus through the imagery of how a monkey is caught in the wild (again, bare with me!) They take a coconut, drill a hole in the top, put a peanut inside and wait. A monkey smells the peanut, puts it's little hand inside and...oh...it can't seem to get it's little hand out because it won't let go of that peanut. You see, that monkey ends up going so insane at the idea of a coconut being trapped on it's arm that it eventually kills itself with the stress of it all. It just doesn't understand that life will be a lot better if it just lets go. It doesn't get the freedom it wants but yet it's so desperate to cling on to that peanut that it ends up having to die because of it.
My life is that peanut inside the coconut. And I love my life a lot. I love the things that keep me comfortable, and for a girl wired with anxiety and regularly told to 'grow a backbone' by 99% of the people in my life, I need that comfort, that peanut to keep me sane. Unfortunately that coconut just wouldn't escape my arm. It kept taking away my freedom, it was the barrier between my walk with Jesus. So each time I vomited (sorry, last time I swear) or felt like my stomach was about to explode, or found myself feeling so weak I winced at the idea of getting up each morning, that coconut just wouldn't leave me alone. That's when Jesus gave me the instructions. He said 'Alice, let go of the peanut, let go of your comforts and trust me. Once you're free from that coconut I promise you'll be fine.'
So I let go.
And I really was fine.
'As thy days, so shall thy strength be'
I slept..I got up..I could breathe again. I started to tell men, women, children, teenagers about Jesus. I used my team as a safety net. We worked together to play games with the children of the village, visit families in their houses, pray for the sick, talk to the Mayor, pray with the non-believers & serve the church. We did talks in the local school about our own testimonies. We started to make a difference. Our team were like a family...we had 3 translators, the church's Pastor and a few other helpers to add to the equation. And every single one of them would shine for Jesus. Every single one of them were such a blessing to be around.
As a team we experienced an earthquake, using a hole as a toilet, speaking through translator. By the end of the week we had around 60 children an evening who played games, heard stories from the bible and told us about their plans for the future. They were fantastic people with a world full of potential.
The men of the church/community have never actually had a meeting together, so when the men of our team set up a men's evening on the Thursday night we all expected what?... 2 men? Maybe 3?...We received 19 men. Most of which weren't even members of the church!
The point of this is that we all let go of the peanut, we let go of our old lives and all the insecurities that came with it and we let Jesus take over. We gave him the space to work miracles.
A particular highlight for me was a young boy from the youth. He had a rough past, his whole family did. This boy ended up going to church every week, praying everyday, looking after his mother and siblings. When he met us he was desperate to sing to us. He picked up an exercise book full of handwritten worship songs and sang us his favourite one. The translator told us the song was about Jesus's peace, and although we could not understand a single lyric, we understood exactly what it meant. Jesus is a wonderful king. Through that boys journey, he never left his side.
But the most wonderful part of the whole trip, that will continue to stay with me for the rest of my days, was the complete gratitude these people had for their lives. For every breath, every crop, every day, they were thankful. They didn't wish for anything more than their health and for their children's happiness. I suppose when all is said and done, that's what we all desire. What a messed up world we live in when the majority of people in this country, including myself, complain about the most inferior things. We are a part of the world practically oozing with indulgence. The latest gadgets, the fanciest houses, the ridiculous amount of option for what food we'll eat for dinner, what transport we'll take to work. We all live it. So imagine that being stripped away, every last bit of society...what are we left with? Our health, the food nature can provide, our family, our God.
It made me realise in those few days how much God has already provided for myself and my family. I have everything I could possibly want. And the people of Brinza would say the same- God has provided for them. It's not always what we want but it's certainly what we need.
So, here are some snapshots from our life changing week in Brinza, Moldova:
So I let go.
And I really was fine.
'As thy days, so shall thy strength be'
I slept..I got up..I could breathe again. I started to tell men, women, children, teenagers about Jesus. I used my team as a safety net. We worked together to play games with the children of the village, visit families in their houses, pray for the sick, talk to the Mayor, pray with the non-believers & serve the church. We did talks in the local school about our own testimonies. We started to make a difference. Our team were like a family...we had 3 translators, the church's Pastor and a few other helpers to add to the equation. And every single one of them would shine for Jesus. Every single one of them were such a blessing to be around.
As a team we experienced an earthquake, using a hole as a toilet, speaking through translator. By the end of the week we had around 60 children an evening who played games, heard stories from the bible and told us about their plans for the future. They were fantastic people with a world full of potential.
The men of the church/community have never actually had a meeting together, so when the men of our team set up a men's evening on the Thursday night we all expected what?... 2 men? Maybe 3?...We received 19 men. Most of which weren't even members of the church!
The point of this is that we all let go of the peanut, we let go of our old lives and all the insecurities that came with it and we let Jesus take over. We gave him the space to work miracles.
A particular highlight for me was a young boy from the youth. He had a rough past, his whole family did. This boy ended up going to church every week, praying everyday, looking after his mother and siblings. When he met us he was desperate to sing to us. He picked up an exercise book full of handwritten worship songs and sang us his favourite one. The translator told us the song was about Jesus's peace, and although we could not understand a single lyric, we understood exactly what it meant. Jesus is a wonderful king. Through that boys journey, he never left his side.
But the most wonderful part of the whole trip, that will continue to stay with me for the rest of my days, was the complete gratitude these people had for their lives. For every breath, every crop, every day, they were thankful. They didn't wish for anything more than their health and for their children's happiness. I suppose when all is said and done, that's what we all desire. What a messed up world we live in when the majority of people in this country, including myself, complain about the most inferior things. We are a part of the world practically oozing with indulgence. The latest gadgets, the fanciest houses, the ridiculous amount of option for what food we'll eat for dinner, what transport we'll take to work. We all live it. So imagine that being stripped away, every last bit of society...what are we left with? Our health, the food nature can provide, our family, our God.
It made me realise in those few days how much God has already provided for myself and my family. I have everything I could possibly want. And the people of Brinza would say the same- God has provided for them. It's not always what we want but it's certainly what we need.
So, here are some snapshots from our life changing week in Brinza, Moldova:
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| The (pretty much) abandoned traintrack |
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| My wonderful group of children (I'm in charge the sweets so that's why they're reluctantly smiling) |
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| Our hosts...and their tractor |
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| My talk to the school about insecurities and following Jesus |
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| The church's harvest meal |
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| The beautiful church |
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| The typical Moldovan transport system |
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| Dancing with the children |
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| The mountain top view |
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| House visit- notice the jumper they wrapped around me to keep me warm! |
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| The most wonderful, supportive, committed team ever. |
Thank you Brinza for your heart-warming hospitality and your shining hearts.
Funny that I stepped off that plane hoping to change you and to teach you in some way. It turns out you taught me about change, blessings, a future and most importantly- Jesus.
God bless.
This reminds me of the song "Feel The Light" by Britt Nicole.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blog - the thing about the peanut was something I really needed to hear tonight!
So glad you had a life-changing time. Can't wait to see ya xxxxx
What a lovely comment! Thank you. I will lend you Danielle Strickland's book as she writes some very powerful things. xxx
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