God Revealing Himself

I went to church Sunday ready to teach a simple Sunday school lesson on Philip and the Ethiopian. Little did I know that God had more in mind.

After singing, I gathered the children and went to head back to our little room. All the children stood up to go except for one little girl on the front row. They tried to encourage her to go, but she wouldn't. I picked her up and covered her little head as we walked in the rain back to the little concrete room where we'd meet.

As I taught the lesson and we played games I was told something that I could understand because it was in French about the little girl. Watching her I thought maybe she could hear or talk, but later I found out she was mute. I watch as the children played games and skipped over the little girl, who's name was Sarah. She didn't understand how to play. She looked very sad and didn't interact with the other children at all. Looking at her face I could tell that she longed to. She didn't even have a touch of joy on her little face. It made my heart sad because I wanted her to have the joy that all children should have.

After the lesson was over I turned around and there she was asking me in her silent way to pick her up and carry her back outside, just like I'd carried her in. When we got outside her mother was praying with the pastor so I stood there holding her and waiting. My translator explained that the little girl couldn't understand nor speak and that she was born that way. Holding her close I prayed for her, asking God to let her be the joyful child she should be and to possible heal her if that was His will.

Remembering I had a headband in my backpack I sat down on the bench, pulled it out and placed it on her head. I snapped a picture and showed it to her. Her face lit up just a little. One of the boys took a picture of the two of us together. I showed it to her and her face lit up a little more. She got the attention of the lady sitting behind her that was her mother's friend so that she might show her the picture.

I grabbed her little hands, placed them on the camera and helped her take pictures. You could see the excitement on her face with each picture she took. She had to take a picture of all the children there and had to show them all the pictures. I had accepted her as the child she was and she was finally showing the joy that a child should show. The pastor prayed for little Sarah, we put her shoes on and she walked away with her momma, turning to wave bye as she left.

It may seem to be something little, but for me seeing her light up and interact with the other children Himself through her, or maybe God has greater plans for her that he will accomplish because she is mute. It may not be through healing her or maybe we will never see how God uses her. I may never know, but God does. God truly does love this little girl, just as He loves each of us.

After they left my translator asked me, "How can we say that God loves the children when he allows them to be sick like her?" The truth is that He does love little Sarah. her being mute doesn't mean that He doesn't love her it's simply the result of sin being in the world. I was reminded of the story in John 9:1-12 where Jesus encounters a man that was born blind. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that eh was born blind?" Jesus told them, "Neither," rather "This happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him." It wasn't that God didn't love this man, but God had greater plans that he or anyone else would've thought. Jesus used this man's blindness to reveal God through the man. How great amazing is that!

Maybe it's the same for this little girl. Maybe she was born mute so God could reveal Himself through her, or maybe God has greater plans for her that He will accomplish because she's mute. It may not be healing as the man in the story, but God can accomplish His goal in so many different ways. I may never see what God's plan is, but God knows.

It was Sarah's mother's first time at church. I know God has a purpose in bringing them both to church that day. Please pray that God will bring her back and that she might be saved. Also pray for Sarah, that she would be full of joy and not worry what the other children think of her being mute and that, if it is God's will, she might be healed. She was a beautiful little girl and I pray she will see that.

In Christ,

Kaylee

Burden.

"What is this?" a young Somali girl asked me, pointing to my necklace.

"It's a cross!" I answered.

"What is that for?" she questioned.

"It's to remember Jesus who died on the cross for us," I responded.

"I will never believe Jesus is God!" She exclaimed. "Never ever ever ever."

Those words have been ringing in my head all week: "I will never believe Jesus is God! Never ever ever ever."

Here is this young girl who I have grown to love. We go into their home at least twice a week to work on reading and math. She and her siblings are so fun. They each have smiles that light up the room. They love to make up jokes and laugh. They won't let me be greeted or say goodbye without the biggest, most genuine of hugs. Their mother is kind and welcoming. I have truly grown to love this family. Yet the tough reality has begun to set in: they pray to a god who does not hear them. They are devout for a religion that is not truth. They spend hours a day at a school learning and memorizing a Holy Book that is in many ways contrary to the Bible. If they were to die today, I would not see them in eternity. Ouch.

Along with this deep burden, this week has been a really good week. May we not forget our call. We have been invited into homes, mosques, and shared meals around many different tables with many different people this week. It has been so good. However, it must not be taken lightly. Relationships continue to be built and Bible studies continue with our friend, A. There are also more potentials of Bible studies that we will continue to pursue this week. We are bringing light into thick darkness and at times we become weary. But God is faithful. What comfort it brings that he hears us when we call on him!

These verses have been constant in my mind and brought much comfort:

2 Timothy 1:7. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind.

1 John 4:4. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Please pray that Bible study continues and that we have open opportunity to share the life saving news of the gospel.

-Hannah

The Misty Mountains Call

The mountains are like my life. One moment they're high and the next they're down, and then they go up again, waiting for the next fall. The mountains cried today with rain, trying to wash away their pain. But now a giant blanket of fog has settled over them, blocking clarity and understanding. But in the distance, I see leveled, higher, greater mountain peaks. And it gives me hope. 

Through this trip I have learned that things are really hard. No matter how much you plan for something not to go wrong... it can and will. But we have to remind ourselves, we are not the author. God is. Everything is done for a reason. God doesn't make mistakes; though at times we hope He does. 

Our God is for us. He will never forsake us. He will always be there through our hard times and He will guide us through it (kicking and screaming) until we can see the picture like he does. Our lives are like a giant book, with interesting characters coming and going at different times, new settings and new interest. If we let our author lead us, we see a lot of character growth from where we began.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

-Liz

June Highlight Reel Part 1

Pondering the deep questions of life on the boardwalk. "What's for dinner?"

Fresh seafood spread in the night market. We wish you could smell it.

Too many mangoes to pick from in the Mango Market.

Boarding the boat to go to the islands!

"My name is Courtney and I like long hikes on the islands"

Mosque on the edge of town.

Stephen getting ready to eat his first fresh, raw clam.

Stephen not enjoying his first fresh, raw clam.

Courtney's nervous selfie with the monitor lizard!

Post island hopping group picture!

The island mosque a.k.a water mosque.

Prayer rugs prepared inside the mosque.

Charlsie learning how to make Teh Tarik! Our favorite local tea drink.

Stephen making Teh Tarik, literally means "pulled tea"... like a pro!
Profile pic material right? What a man, what a beard.

The girls with our patient pulling tea teachers!

Be looking out for June Highlight Reel Part 2!
Bye Mr. Monitor Lizard!

Experiencing True Freedom... now with pictures!

It has been an exciting and eventful couple of weeks for the Refugee School team in South Korea! God has truly answered our prayers from the first couple of weeks. Many obstacles arose in the beginning, but each one seems to have been worked out. The MERS scare has decreased, and we have been able to hang out with the students many times.

We have had so many great conversations with the students. We are excited to partner up with our brothers and sisters in encouragement and to learn about the Bible together. We also play badminton with the students on Tuesdays, spend the night on the weekends, and sing and dance a lot.

This past weekend we were able to speak to one of the newest students at our school. He came from the North just six months ago. While at a coffee shop preparing to sing a song at a baby's first birthday party, J  shared with us how he first learned about Christ when he arrived in South Korea. He chose the name J from his favorite Bible character. He admired how this character went from being sold into slavery to a well trusted advisor to the Pharaoh. Korean J will soon be baptized and he has invited us to come! We are so excited to be able to witness this picture of his life of sin washed away, and his new found freedom established in Christ!

In the past few weeks we've been here, we have heard many stories from the students about their escape. This has opened our eyes to the atrocities occurring around the world today. Please join us in prayer for their family and friends still in this oppression both physically and spiritually.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:36

-Aryn, Becca, Bex, Heather

New Places, Tight Spaces: Mtn. Trek Team

I must say that when I went to visit the Mountain Trek Team I did not expect one of the biggest groups to have one of the tiniest living spaces I have seen out here yet. The entire team takes it all in such good humor. They tell me it’s only made them grow closer as a team and I have no doubts about that!

What makes us all laugh even harder is how, not only do they share this small space between all 6 of them, but also a hoard of different animals throughout the day, me and Ate Gigi while we were there, and what I think is funniest of all, a little young man that solely comes in at night to sleep in the closet of all places and mysteriously manages to crawl over everyone and disappear in the mornings before anyone even gets up. (And we get up at 5:30 AM everyday!)

 
I think that might just be one of the most admirable qualities I’ve marked about this team; their ability to face ANYTHING with a smile and a sense of good humor.

Sarah reading in her mosquito net