The end is near...

The concept of time, I don't understand it. The concept of traveling, it confuses me. Two days ago I kissed the ground goodbye in Philippines, later that afternoon I walked around in Hongkong city, yesterday morning I had a coffee with my outreach leaders from my dts (amazing Dylan and Youngmi) at Johannesburg airport and now I'm reunited with the DTS in Cape Town. Ten weeks ago we left South Africa and now we are already back. It feels like waking up from a really long dream...

Summarizing the outreach it's been amazing, challenging and fun. We've shared around 32 sermons, about the same amount of testimonies in eight weeks time. In that time we've done ministry in eight different locations. Within a two month period of time I will have been in five countries, counting Thailand, Philippines, Hongkong, South Africa and Sweden. We've seen a lot of places and met a lot of faces. God has shown me many things. He has shown me what it means to love, how to lead with a humble heart and the importance of patience. 

One more week left of debriefing, the whole DTS will be gathered to try to prepare our hearts and minds for going home. Soon this will all be memories. Memories of how God has molded and shaped us into being more Christ-like. I'm forever thankful for this time!

By the end of next month I'm back in Sweden. I wonder what will happen next. But I know the adventures will not stop. They will continue and continue as I'm getting to know God more and more and as more and more people will be part of my life.. Greater memories are waiting to be created. May it be for His glory.

Hongkong by night.

An island far from the doctor.

It was on Sunday afternoon. Heidi and I had decided to do a bible study together with some of the ladies. Dam was also doing one but on another part of this island.

The timing was essential. Our group had already started walking towards the destination. We get slowed down by Dam's group who are catching up as we are apparently all waking in the same direction. 

In my own world walking past the basketball court I suddenly get awakened by a loud noice. The woman next to me starts praying as her voice is cracking. I follow her to the courtyard and see that the pole (which is only supported by big rocks) has fallen to the ground. Past me runs a boy with blood running down his face and neck. 

"Heidi you are a nurse! What do we do?" We run down the road to the boy who is standing outside the village clinic (a small room with very limited supplies). No one is there. We later found out that the doctor is on another island and the midwife not around. 

Heidi is on the move, giving me and Dam instructions. The cuts are quite deep, one by his eyebrow and the other on his head. We cover the wounds with towels that were slowly turning red. The locals squeeze some plant juice over his head, and the bleeding stops. Me and Dam are frenetically looking for plasters and Heidi calms the boy.

More and more people gather, everyone wants to see, the room getting warmer and the noise accelerating. The boy is so anxious, he starts shaking his arms. "You'll be ok, you only need to see a doctor and get some stitches. Everything will be ok". No he's not worried about his own health. He's afraid his father is going to find out and get angry... Oh fathers...

We try to empty the room, fresh air and stillness is needed. We pray. The ladies are continuously yelling, actually making me anxious too. Finally the boat is ready and the ride is there. Heidi gives the instructions of how to care for the boy and of we send him with a big cloth covering his head. What awaits the boy is a three hour boat ride to see the doctor. 

A couple of days later I find out the boy is fine. I hope his relationship with his father is too. 

Apart from Heidi using her nursing skills (maybe even saving a life) we've shared in the church, visited and talked to people, made friends, done some construction work, swam and certainly got a lot of attention as not a lot of foreigners go there. 

Sunday evening I volunteered to preach in the church. All day I was asking God on what? "Just remind them that I love them". That's it? Yes and that's what I feel one of our purposes of our trip there was. To tell them Carnaza is important, because they are important and God has not forgotten Carnaza. Fathers and mothers see a lot of their children grow up and leave, as well as many children see their older siblings move on. But God never left, He never forgott. Great and all mighty Creator, He who made everything out of nothing, loves Carnaza and His people. 

Such a time as this.

"Who knows wether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" A poster in our small bedroom in Sanmar reads the quote from the Bible (Esther 4:14). I can't help but rewrite the words in my head, "who knows wether you have come to the Philippines for such a time as this?" Who knows...

And here we are! Time is precious and I'm treasuring the days more and more. I want to give my best, even when put to the test and when I feel like I haven't gotten enough rest. 

The last week has probably been the most intense so far. We have shared around ten sermons, eleven testimonies, numerous dramas in front of all together maybe a thousand people? A God-given platform, amazing chance (even though we didn't always feel that way) to share the good news and testify about it. Mothers, prisoners, basketball players, children, church assembly and college students have been listening, and I hope to God we've taught righteously and humbly. I hope they dare to question, battle with thoughts and seek for truth. And I pray mostly they will listen to the voice that convicts and speaks truth, and respond to the pursuit of God's love. 

The lessons I'm learning are good and many. I dare wish for more. The team is growing, everyone in their own paths and we still have unity. Love one another we need to do, mostly to be shown when less desired to. But friends we all are and no body parts are missing. Safe and sound, less than two weeks of this trip left, I pray we will continue to give our absolute best.

We just arrived to Malapascua. It's breathtaking but heartaching from seeing the poverty in Sanmar to the luxury of the tourists. This broken world. 

Tomorrow we head to a close-by island for three days. We're the first team from SA to go there. It's pioneering and new. Considering that last year Arno's team was the first to go to Malapascua, and ever since there's been around a hundred people sent there, it is exciting. Who knows what God has in store for us there for such a time as this? :)

With some of the cool youth after a youth service. 

Sanmar.

Heading to Malapascua.

My time in the prison.

Philippines. I see a tropical, beautiful place with peaceful and servant hearted people. I see a diversity of a people group that have been colonized by Spain and US, all together for over 350 years. I see a forgiving people. And I see God, in His diversity, reflect in this country, in this people.

The other day we went to the prison, to do worship, a drama, share testimony and sermon. My part was to share my testimony. Now in this culture it is important how you dress especially if you are going to share in front of a crowd. It reflects how you value yourself and from that they value you and listen to you. I believe that my value is more than in my appearance and so in my forgetful mind I probably put on the worst possible. Ugly basketball shorts and a medium sized non-fitted t-shirt. Once there I realize my mistake. This almost lead me to not sharing but the beating of my heart was intense and only increasing. I felt that even though, I really should share and whole heartedly wanted to. I felt a bit ashamed and prayed that God would use my forgetfulness for something good.

The fence was seperating us from the men prisoners and the ladies sat neatly in front of us. We started of with some happy worship songs, which in my country would be considered kids songs and only be sung in a Sunday school setting. But the prisoners happily sang along and danced. So cool :)

As time came for me to share my voice was cracking as my heart was braking for the broken. My heart was braking for the murderers, thieves and liars. And I think I got a glimpse of how God sees them, as valuable and loved. 

At first ashamed of my appearance, I realized that I was just dressed like them. That I also am just like them, a broken sinner that Jesus thought was valuable enough to die for. 

God once said to me that the things I've gone through are not wounds. They are not hurting wounds, they are scars. Healed scars that show how He has truly healed me. I can show it, without shame, and share what Jesus has done. He took a broken girl and healed her. 

After sharing I noticed that I was not the only one that cried. But more importantly I realized that I am not the reason why people are touched. It is because of who God is, what He has done, how He redeemed me and made me into a new creation. 

And that's my prayer for them, to be touched by God and see how the Redeemer has also set them free. We've all been prisoners but I've learned that He can redeem any situation, everyone and everything.

Thanks to everyone who has been supporting and praying for us. It means a lot.

Lost in Bangkok. A story that brings glory.

Our time in Chiangmai is finished, it's been amazing, exceeding my expectations. Last night we said our goodbyes and jumped on the overnight bus to Bangkok. 6:30 this morning we arrived tired and drowsy, trying to figure out what to do for the next thirteen hours before our flight for the Philippines. We find out there is big weekend market, next to it a mall and decide that that'd be a good place to waste time.

It all goes by fast, too fast. We have to split up into two taxis to get there. In a rush three of us jump into one taxi and the last thing I shout is "see you at the market!" We just make it down the hill when I realize I have no money in my wallet. We stop by the road hoping we will see the rest drive by in another taxi. Time goes by and then suddenly I remember I have 100 baht hidden in a secret compartment. So I happily tell the driver this surprise, where he takes my money and gives us 50 baht back, the agreed price to get to the market. We are about to get into the car but he says no, jumps in and starts driving away. I realize he's trying to trick us so I despretaly hold on to the moving car shouting at him. He locks the car, pulls down the window. I wave my hands at him demanding the money back. I think he gets a bit intimidated by my sudden change of mood because he gives me a 20 baht back trying to satisfy me. Still I shout at him, but quickly he pulls up his window, almost squishing my fingers. Off he drives away as I hit the car and shout "idiot!" I know, it's a quite immature, not very smart move as I was acting out of anger. Trying to cool down, I pray "God bless the idiot"...

Next taxi stops. A kind driver with limited English says he'll take us to the mall next to the market. We end up at a place that looks suspiciously small and no market place is in sight. We start praying, hoping we will see the rest of the team or for a miracle. 

A car stops and a lady sticks out her head and starts talking to us. In English. She offers to drive us to the weekend market and even shows us where to get the train to the airport. She says she has spare time anyways. Asking for nothing in return she drops us of at one of the main entrances of the market. She is Heaven sent.

After a search we find a coffee place with Internet and we send out a cry to the rest of our team. In waiting, I go for a walk praying that they will be at the coffee shop when I get back. To my surprise Arno is there. The message had been successfully received and the rest were all waiting outside the big mall expecting us there. I thank God for internet!

Meanwhile the others are talking to some Thai Christians, who are inviting them to come worship in the mall. Once reunited at the mall our curiosity leads us to the sixth floor where the worship apparently is going to take place. Not knowing what to expect we enter into a huge church, inside the mall. Beautifully the church are singing in Thai. On the big screen I see the English translation. "Glory to the Lamb of God. Glory to the One who sits on the throne. Glorious is He." My anger is no longer and I am filled with joy. I thank God that the stressful morning turned out peaceful. And I laugh and sing along.

Three weeks in four paragraphs.

Week three of outreach. A lot has happened. And I'm loving it.

Our time in Chiang mai. 

A warm busy city with lovely people. I'm amazed by the hospitality and generosity. The people we work with reach out to the Shan people, a persecuted and rejected people group from Burma. So a lot of the ministry we do is with them. 

In this time we've had delicious korean barbeque and fellowship, preached in the church, done dramas and skits, shared testimonies, fed an elephant, I cut a mullet on Arno, taught thai children english, sticky rice, sticky skin, mosquito bites, shared about Jesus, taught the alphabet, spiritual warfare, spontaneous bible study, helped out with homework, midnight snacks, shared life stories, slept siesta, artificial drinks, jammed with thai guys, lead worship and met a lot of amazing and friendly thai and Shan people.

Our time in the mountains. 

A five hour trip into the mountains, away from electricity and running water, into a forest that felt more like a jungle. A peaceful and adventurous time, a definite highlight for me. Away from distractions of a city, at first I almost felt lonely. But it was a time that drew me to God, and I felt so much peace. 

Wooden houses, dirt roads, the sounds of pigs, dogs and ducks surrounding us. A small village where 6-7 families are Christians and the rest of the village catholic, mixing their believes with Buddhism and witchcraft. Unfortunately the Christians are rejected and persecuted. We came to encourage the Christians, every evening meeting under candle light on mats in wooden houses sharing about the word of God and our own stories.

We've also worked on a rice-field, i got to know my team better (what an amazing team), ate frog, went frog-hunting, mixed cement, done construction work at the church, rode on an elephant, went fishing from a bamboo raft, ate fish brains, ate wood, ate some amazing foods, played soccer with 15 "ninjas" (shirtless, tattooed guys with six-pack and skills to kick, it was scary at first), taught English in elementary school and made new friends. I will always remember that place. 

Now we have moved to another town up on the mountains. Unlike the other village there's running water, electricity and wifi in the building. We will do construction work, teach English in schools and in the evenings meet and share with the Shan people. 

I feel so blessed. All the things we've gone through, things I'm learning and revelations I got. Oh and the foods. Amazing tasty and spicy food. But to be honest some foods more difficult to eat. Like the chicken blood that we had today :)

Oh the beauty of living life. With God. For God. 

Our beautiful team.

Our crazy team.

I love them.

Sleepless night in Chiangmai.

It's past 1 a.m. in Chiangmai, Thailand. I'm lying on a mattress, the fan is cooling me down and as I'm listening to music I'm trying hard to fall asleep. I give up. I'm still jet laged. So I figured I could use this time effectively and give a brief update or share a thought.

The trip here from South Africa took approximately 36 hours. Out of that time I slept too little, ate too much, didn't brush my teeth once (for your information) and had a lot of time to process and think. This is one of my many thoughts. 

As we we're sitting on the 10 hour bus drive through Thailand, drinking butterfly pea drink (I'm still not sure what that is) we passed countless shrines and temples. I thought about how people are seeking for truth, purpose and reality. People are seeking for that one thing to fill the hole in their hearts. 

Countries differ from each other, each people group is special and each individual unique but we are all in need of the same thing. That thing that will fill the hole. I tried to fill my own hole with alcohol, weed, people, travels and experiences. I seeked the world but its not a destination or experience that could ever fulfill me. 

The hole is a separation of the very thing I was created for. Created to be in unity with love Himself. Only God can fill that hole. Only God can make me whole. That's what Jesus came to restore. 

With this outreach my prayer is that God would use us to reach those hearts who are seeking. That we could somehow reflect who He is and show His love for His children. That broken hearts would be restored and become whole. That's my line of thought.
I really need to sleep now. Goodnight all.