Together Again!

Words cannot describe the happiness I have felt this week and weekend. I have been waiting for the chance for a reunion with my team ever since we left each other. No one understands completely what was experienced this summer like the people who experienced it with me. This weekend was full of story telling, reminiscing about Indonesia, and wishing we were back. The Lord is so good and this was directly proven throughout this weekend. Hearing endless stories of how He is working through our lives after returning is truly the biggest blessing one can imagine.

THANK YOU Lord for calling me to fill out that application for Nehemiah Teams! If I would not have, I would not have met truly the best friends a person could ask for. My heart is so full and I felt like I should share it!

THE LORD IS SO GOOD! BLESSINGS UPON BLESSINGS UPON BLESSINGS!

‪#‎foreverTeam6‬ ‪#‎NT‬

-Wess Magee

I wish there was a way I could put into words how much I love these people. You all teach me how to serve, how to love, and how to live a life of absolute abandon. My heart overflows with gladness after this mini reunion. Thank you all for being obedient to God's calling to love all people because of the love He first showed us.

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace"  1 Peter 4:8-10

-Coty Cook

My heart is full. Almost six months have passed, but most of us were able to come back together and pick up right where we left off. My life has been forever changed by God through all of you. ‪#‎team6‬ ‪#‎SEA2K15‬‪#‎doyouevenindo‬ ❤🌏🇮🇩

-Jenna Smiley

Please tell me how I can go to heaven!

Over the course of the past summer, my friends and I encountered so many wonderful people. There were times when we were tired, worn out, perplexed, and discouraged but, the Lord constantly sent people our way who would encourage us to keep going.

Toward the last leg of the summer, we had been hiking for many miles in the beating sun. We approached a village that seemed like all the rest. I recall this day being specifically hot and draining and we were desperate for rest.

Our team gathered under the platform of the village leader's home, where we hoped to rest for the night. With much sincerity, the village leader apologized when he informed us there was no room for us in his home. It was relatively small and his whole family still lived there with him. My selfishness drove me to being annoyed with this village, though I made every effort not to let my actions show it. I was honestly ready to strap up our packs and head out to the next village.

Moments later, an elderly woman came out of her home insisting that we all stay with her. She was a widow, who had been living alone for many years. My teammates and I were overjoyed that the Lord was working in our waiting and, that He provided even when I doubted.

We rested well that night and enjoyed most of the next day in that village. When we returned to the lady's house that evening we found her weeping in her kitchen along with her friend (who was also a widow). We were concerned about the situation and we asked what was going on. She proceeded to tell us that she felt a peaceful presence in her home while we were there and when we left for the day it was gone. We told her with confidence that it was completely the presence of the Holy Spirit with us.

"As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him." - 1 John 1:27

From that statement, the conversation transitioned to a spiritual topic and this woman wanted to know how she could know Jesus. She explained how she had not fulfilled all the requirements of her faith, and she feared she would surely go to hell.

I'll never forget her words: "Please tell me how I can go to heaven!"

Her friend who had been with her in her mourning had been hearing the entire conversation as well. By the end of the conversation we were all compelled to tears and the two ladies asked Jesus to save them.

It was so beautiful to see what God had done even in my selfishness and even though we were so exhausted. The presence of the King was with us and we brought His Kingdom to a small platform home in a remote village of Southeast Asia.

There are people like this all over the world who are saying "Please tell me how I can go to Heaven!" They will never know if we never go! We serve a living God. Go and see what He WILL do through you this summer. But I warn you, do not go if you are not willing to learn more about God, push yourself to new limits, or see people come to know Jesus as Lord of their life.

-Coty

#whywego      #ntp52

Reminders

Today I'm really missing Indonesia, my team, and especially my little friend Ambre! I was super homesick the day I met Ambre, but his smile and kind heart reminded of the real reason I was there! It's the little things that really make the biggest impact on your life! Forever missing the experiences I had this summer! 
‪#‎IndonesianAtHeart‬    #NTP52

Here am I... send me

How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Romans 10:14-15

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, Here am I, send me!    -Isaiah 6:8

-Kate
Southeast Asia

"Dont Forget To Come Back"

Friday morning, June 5th, we we're privileged enough to have the opportunity to visit a local elementary school. The students are taught some English so they we're trying to practice the little bit they knew with us. It was an incredible experience! They also had a sing & dance competition that we we're asked to join in on. Its safe to say that their culture promotes public outbursts of dancing much more than ours. It gave us all an opportunity to loosen up and assimilate to our new lives for the next 8 weeks or so. Activities like this will certainly be the norm!

Upon leaving the school we were taken back by all the little voices that were yelling "Don't forget to come back and see me, don't forget to come back!" At that moment I believe the reality of why we are here was truly confirmed in our hearts. You can send money and resources but no amount of either can replace the joy those kids felt from simply seeing our smiling faces and I can confidently say that the joy we felt was equally as impacting on our lives as it was on there's. We were a people created for relationships and when you go to the other side of the world you find a people created for the exact same thing.

 

Our team has experienced supernatural unity and our bond continues to grow. Keep us in your thoughts this week as we split up into 3 separate groups to seek out persons of peace among the different islands of the area. Ask our father to use us as vessels to reveal truth to hearts that have been fed centuries of lies.

Its no small task but we can do all things through Him

who strengthens us.

5 Days A Family

 Meet TEAM 6! The Explorer/Ev Team heading to SE Asia...

                              

Team Leaders:

Will (back/left) Loves to watch and learn about history. His hobbies include soccer, hiking, basketball and hammocking. He attends the University of TN at Chattanooga.

Kate- (front/middle/left) A fun fact about Kate is that her grandma dated Elvis. Her hobbies include waterskiing, wakeboarding and painting. Kate just graduated from The University of Delaware.

Wess- (center/left/middle) Works as a server at Chili's and at a local clothing store in Monroe, LA. He enjoys hanging out with friends, meeting new people, and trying new restaurants. He is currently studying as a nursing major at Monroe.

Team Members:  

Dylan- (back/middle/right) Can sing his ABC's backwards. He enjoys sports, hiking and reading. He is also trilingual. He currently attends the University of Kentucky.  

Tyler- (center/right/middle) Is a HUGE Star Wars nerd. He enjoys drinking coffee, theater performances, playing the ukulele, photography and writing. He attends TCC.

Nick- (back/middle/left) Nick plays guitar and is in a band on his local college campus called "The Rojects." He designs websites, loves the gym and playing ultimate Frisbee. He currently studies at the University of Delaware.

Kensey- (front/middle/left) Would love to go to space one day. She enjoys choir, theatre, hiking, dancing and going to concerts. She graduated from Wallace State and is furthering her education at the University of Montevallo in the fall.

Bryce- (center/middle) Enjoys being active. He plays ultimate Frisbee, volleyball and just about any sport. He attends East Community College and plans to transfer to MSU next spring.

Emily- (front/left) Has been to 10 states and 4 countries outside of the U.S. She enjoys discovering new music, reading in her hammock or having a good conversation at the local coffee shop. She attends Anderson University in SC where she is working on her undergrad in Christian ministry.

Collin- (back/right) Weirdly loves accounting. He also enjoys swimming and playing guitar at the same time... (only kidding). He currently studies at Baylor University.

Coty- (center/right) Enjoys playing basketball and spending time with his friends and family. He can also count to 10 on one hand! He currently studies at Blue Mountain College.

Jenna- (front/right) Has been snorkeling with manatees in FL. She enjoys reading, writing and acting. She currently attends the University of Mississippi.

Matt- (center/left) Has never blogged before but is this summers media guy. He enjoys anything outside such as fishing, hiking and running. He also enjoys a good book. He has studied at Columbia State in TN.

 

 Lift up our team in your thoughts this summer, that God may continue to strengthen the unity of our team. We've grown close already and hope that as we praise God as a body of believers, we will gain the favor of ALL the people we are privileged to meet.