Don't believe the lie...

You know you've been through Nehemiah Teams when you have a dream that you are Jim Elliot.

Spending the past two months in Southeast Asia has been a life changing experience. Not only did I get to see God's incredible work on the other side of the world, I came to better understand how He is calling all Christians to share in His heart for the nations.

This is still far away, but I want to encourage anyone who is a college student to consider spending their summer abroad on mission through Nehemiah Teams. Never believe the lie that God can't use you in His mission for reaching the lost people of the world because you are still a student. God wants to use this generation to reach every nation!

-Matthew L, Urban Trekker Team

Wake Up Call

Our country of ministry is one of the world's most populous countries. We are on the biggest unreached island in the world and our city alone has 3 million inhabitants. I've known that fulfilling the Great Commission is not an easy task, but the greatness of it has only become a reality during my time here. Wherever I go, I see great multitudes of people who literally have no contact with the gospel. The number of missionaries is minimal, and the local church often seems like a sleeping giant. I can't even imagine the conditions in fully closed countries. I believe in missionary work with all my heart but I also believe that at the end of the day local believers will be the ones able to reach these nations - those who do not only share the same language but the same culture and past and struggles as well.

These past six weeks here brought many challenges and joys for our team. Even though some circumstances made it difficult for us to spend a lot of time with people from the majority religion, God still worked in mysterious ways. One of the greatest gifts from Him was that we got to meet several local Christians who are all ready to be a light in the darkness but are in need of encouragement and training. These lights give me great hope for the future - it is a privilege to see God work in such humanly impossible circumstances. 

Please pray for these young men and women, the other like-minded locals, and that God would send more workers in the harvest (both cross-cultural and local ones). 3 million people in our city, 250 million in this country, and 3 billion among the unreached. Who will God send, who will go for Him?

Enjoying God,
Dóri

God Works Through Pokemon Go... SEA style!

It seems impossible to get on the Internet without seeing something about the new smartphone game Pokemon Go. When I see such posts, I usually smile, shake my head, and think, "Such silly things are going on in America." However, little did I know that God had a plan for us, and it would involve Pokemon Go.

Coty and I went to a popular park one night to meet people and prayer walk. Before we were there ten minutes, we encountered a group of at least ten guys, and they were all playing Pokemon Go. We tried to talk with them, but they were either to "caught" up in their game or they couldn't speak English. But one guy did decide to talk with us. His name is Agung. Turns out, Agung didn't really know any of those guys. They were all strangers who just happened to be hunting Pokemon at this park. So Agung had no problem leaving them.

Over the next hour, Coty and I were able to share the entire gospel with him. He was very intrigued, but didn't want to make a decision at that moment. He did want to ask questions and keep talking though. After we finished talking, we hung out with him a bit more and taught him how to play frisbee. Then, after I got his number, we parted ways.

Agung is honestly one of the most receptive people we have shared with since being here. Please pray that God would not give him peace until he accepts the truth of the gospel. Also, please pray that  the mindset of our team would be similar to that of a Pokemon trainer: To catch them all is my real test / To train them is my cause.

-Matt (lyrics to Pokemon theme provided by Coty)

Food and Friends on Idul Fitri

Ramadan has finally ended. Now that the month of fasting is over, people join their families to feast during a celebration called Idul Fitri. We got invited to visit several homes, and over the course of a single day we had three Thanksgiving-sized meals! All of the families we met were incredibly friendly, and they never ceased to offer us more food.

While it was a fun day, Idul Fitri ultimately serves as a reminder to the lostness of the people here. As they celebrate, they apologize to their friends and family for any way they may have wronged them in the past year. They believe that this apology makes them look better in the eyes of God. The people here fail to recognize the severity of their sin and how it separates them from God.

Please pray that the people here would see their need for a Savior. 
Also, with less than two weeks left, ask that God would give our team opportunities to share and strength to finish well. 

-Urban Trekker Team

Flee Temptation

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.  1 Timothy 6:11

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  1 Corinthians 10:13

Pray for team members to flee evil and to pursue God. Pray that they would stand up under temptation through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Team of the Day
Urban Trekker

Country of the Day
Southeast Asia

An Obvious but Encouraging Realization

It can be very easy to get discouraged considering the fact that we are serving in a city with around 3 million people, and most of those people don't know Christ. I really struggled with this reality last week as I was hanging out with a group of friends. I was invited by my friend Dirga, the only English speaker in the group. So there I was, surrounded by extremely nice people who did not even know what a personal relationship with Jesus was. To make matters worse, I couldn't speak their language, and I would not learn enough to share with them before I leave. I was very discouraged that night.

The next morning I opened my Bible and began reading through Romans 8. There is a lot of great stuff in that chapter, but what stood out the most to me this time was verse 29. It says, "For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."  While reading this verse I realized something very important: God didn't send me here to change the whole city in two months time. He sent me here to invest in individuals. Then, those individuals might one day invest into their city. I would have claimed to know this truth before coming. But only last week did I come to realize it in my heart. I may not be able to share with that group of friends, but maybe one day Dirga will.

Please pray specifically for Dirga. That God would open his eyes to the truth of the gospel and accept Jesus as his Savior. 
Please pray for our whole team. With less than a month left, we need wisdom and patience as we continue to invest in the relationships God has given us.

-Matt

Jesus Bring the Rain

I find it amazing that God uses mundane things to speak to us in profound ways. For example, the wind blowing against us as we trek our city often reminds me of the guidance of the Holy Spirit guiding our steps to persons of peace.

We are still in the rainy season so it rains several times a week. This is actually quite refreshing due to the normal hot temperatures in Southeast Asia. Just the other day as a teammate and I were making our way back to our house in the rain, trying to squeeze the two of us under the same umbrella, we noticed some children playing in the several inches of rain water that had accumulated in front of our home entrance. "Please do not splash us!" was our plea with the children. 

The children were so happy that they were able to come outside and cool off in the rain that it reminded me very much of what Jesus does in us and then through us. It seems very often that I find myself thirsty and parched - desperate to hear from God. Then, just at the right moment, God whispers through prayer and reading of His word or even through something as simple as joyful children splashing in the rain. And, just like those children, when God sends something so refreshing to my soul, the joy can not be measured. So Jesus, thank you for the rain.

-Coty

The Challenge & Blessing that Comes with Ramadan

Ramadan, the month of fasting in Islmaic culture, began earlier this month. During this time, Muslims fast from 6AM to 6PM.  Just as we finally started to feel settled, we must shift the way we interact with people. No longer can we meet people for lunch or coffee during the day. In fact, most people don't want to step outside of their house because the heat will make them thirsty. As a result, we are forced to find new ways to interact with people in a setting that is comfortable for them.

Our visit with the accounting class

However, this time of fasting also creates some very unique opportunities. Remember the accounting class we met at the university? They invited us to break the fast with them this past Saturday. Our evening started out with preparing the food and playing games together. Then, we ate a whole lot of food! While not everyone in the class is able to speak English, we were all able to enjoy a special night together. That's is just one example where we have been invited to break the fast. 

Please pray that God would give us wisdom as we try to find new ways to interact with people throughout the day. 
Also, please ask that God would open doors for us to share as spend more time with the friends we have been making. 

Thank you for all of your prayers! 
-Urban Trekker Team

Gospel Communication

Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. - Colossians 4:4

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel - Ephesians 6:19

Pray for the teams to clearly and fearlessly proclaim the Gospel

Team of the Day

Urban Trekker

Country of the Day

Southeast Asia

Getting Adjusted Part 4: Making Connections

Due to the more flexible nature of our trip, we are given the task of seeking out persons of peace. We go around to local hotspots like universities, English centers, and malls in hopes of meeting people and developing relationships. Because we are still in an earlier stage of our trip, our focus is still more on meeting new people.

For example, this past week we visited a local university. Through several God-ordained steps, we met a teacher who introduced us to his son who introduced us to his whole class of accounting students! Through situations like this one we wish to make connections with people that will develop into personal relationships where we can freely share about Christ.

Please be praying that God would continue to provide opportunities for us to meet more people. And please pray that the relationships we have already established would result in open doors to share about the hope that is within us.
     

Getting Adjusted Part 3: The City

By now we are starting to feel settled in our new home. However, we find ourselves intimidated by a very large obstacle: learning the layout of the city. We are in no small village. As people will continue to invite us places, we must know how to get to those places. Our main method of transportation around the city is a cheap van ride. While several people have tried assuring us that the van system is not hard to learn, we all feel pretty overwhelmed by the task of learning the various routes around the city. Although I am sure there is a method to the madness, we will need to spend several days riding and getting used to the vans. Our payer request is simple: ask that God would give us peace and confidence with our transportation. We greatly appreciated all of your prayers as we continue to get adjusted! 

-Matt

Getting Adjusted Part 2: Our Neighbor

A major mosque across the street

I had mentioned how our home is in an ideal location. While I don't retract this statement, one difficulty with our new home has arisen: the mosque right next to us. Everyday, five times a day, Muslims are called to prayer. Leading this time in prayer is a large megaphone speakeron top of the mosque. 

While I am sure we will soon be adjusted to this loud noise, an exception might be the early morning prayer. From 4 to 5AM, a loud prayer rings throughout the streets. While the girls seem miraculously undisturbed by this loud noise, Coty and I have been waking up every morning to it. More important than our sleep however, the call to prayer is a stark reminder that we are in a city of over three million lost souls. In contrast to passages like Revelation 7, where great multitudes are praising God, everyday here in this city people are lifting up their voices to a false god. So yes, pray that we would get sleep so we are well rested for ministry. But more importantly, pray for the people of this city. That they may know the one true God. 

–Matt

Meet the Team: Urban Trekker

God has called the 4 of us together to serve in an urban city in Southeast Asia this summer. It is amazing how God can call 4 totally different people to serve together with a common mission on the other side of the world.

Team leader:  Coty. Attends Blue Mountain College & majoring in Christian ministry. Scared of ketchup.

MeKayla. Attends Blue Mountain College & studying Psychology. Enjoys being a cheerleader at her college.

Matthew. Attends the University of Memphis & studying International Business. Looking forward to seeing how much fried rice he can eat this summer.

We are extremely excited to be a part of God’s work this summer. But we can’t do it without prayer. Please be praying for unity within our team. Be praying for the hearts God has been preparing to hear the Gospel.

Getting Adjusted Part 1

View from balcony of our new home

Getting Adjusted Part 1: Our New Home At last we are finally all together at our final destination Despite jet lag, culture shock, and numerous other adjustments, the four of us have come together as a team. We have moved into our permanent residence for the summer, and it seems to be in a pretty ideal location. A popular mall is right across the street, and several English centers are just a short van ride away.


While it will take several days to feel fully settled, God has not hesitated in starting to work. To give one example, while still in the airport, I started a conversation with a student named Reyza. Last night, I encountered Reyza at an English center. Funny how God works that way! Already, we are all being invited to go places with locals. Please pray that God would continue to add and strengthen our relationships with people. And please pray that we would get adjusted to our new home. 

–Matt