What an amazing but challenging 3 months! I can honestly say that God surrounded me with special grace and carried me through what I know to be the hardest but most rewarding months of my life. Although it was challenging in every way possible, I learned more about the grace and faithfulness of God in ways that I’ve never known. This is not a newsletter to brag on me or my team and what we did or saw, it is solely to brag on our Lord. Besides experiencing God’s faithfulness in measureless ways, Hethat He Himself is sufficient for me. Whatever I was lacking, He became what I needed. When I needed joy, He was my joy; when I needed comfort, He was my comfort; when I needed wisdom, He was my wisdom; when I needed patience, He was my patience. I think you get the picture. ...
Our journey started with 8 days in Bangkok where we worked with YWAM Thailand in several ministries including the Red Light District/human sex trafficking. From there we flew to the island of Borneo, the third largest island in the world. As we flew over the dense forest and jungle below, I couldn’t help but feel honored to be called to such a remote place. We were welcomed by local YWAMers and spent time helping build a pre-school and ministering to local orphans. After a few days, we loaded up and drove into the jungle to minister in the villages. As the hours passed, we drove deeper and deeper into the jungles. I found myself praying for God’s words to be spoken and His will to be done. We spent almost 3 weeks ministering in various churches and villages making house visits, holding church services, interceding, making prayer walks, and getting to know the Indonesian people. We saw God move in miraculous ways! At one house visit, an older woman who didn’t say much was sitting in the corner on the floor. We asked if we could pray for her and were told that she had had a stroke and was paralyzed on her right side. It’s a good thing we have a BIG God who specializes in making the impossible, possible. So we prayed for the old woman. As we prayed in the name of Jesus, she began to move her right arm (the one that’s paralyzed...). Then she started to lift her right leg (the one that’s paralyzed...). She even joined in saying “Dalam nama Yesus!” (in Jesus’ name!) when she realized that she could move. I began to laugh and praise God for his power and faithfulness. That’s the kind of God we love and serve!
After the village ministry, we flew to the other side of the island and joined a YWAM DTS (Discipleship Training School) going on there in Samarinda. We had the privilege of getting to know them and teaching them on 2 subjects: hearing the voice of God and intimacy with God. I was honored to teach on the names of God and I was a bit surprised to find that I loved it! After that, we went back into the jungles for more village ministry. On our way out of Borneo, we got so spend 10 days in Malaysia where we made great friends with several of the local youth. We were able to attend many house churches and encourage them with what God was doing in Borneo. Before we knew it, two and a half months of outreach had flown by and we headed back to Maui for graduation.
I find myself getting frustrated because I want to explain more about what we saw and what God did in and through us, but words run dry and pictures don’t suffice. All I can say is God is faithful and worthy of praise. Out of the whole 6 months of DTS, my greatest pleasure and reward was watching God literally transform my students’ lives and hearts right before my eyes. They left YWAM Maui with a better understanding of God’s love and character, and who they are in Him (Acts 17:28). They, however, were not the only ones changed. I was also transformed and left in awe of God’s faithfulness.
