This morning I
lost all control of my emotions. My mascara, along with all the tears I had, was
streaming down my face and I wondered why I even bother with make-up on Sundays.
There was this lump in my throat that was dying to come up but I kept telling
myself to hold it together.
No one died. A
boy didn't break my heart. I didn't watch Titanic. No one made fun of me and I
didn't lose my job.
I witnessed a
baptism.
Actually, I
witnessed dozens upon dozens of baptisms. I'm always a mess at baptisms though. As soon as
a person hits the water, I just can't keep cool. It's like
something rises up in my spirit and I make a connection with the Father's heart
and all I can do is bawl my eyes out.
This morning the
pastor gave a pretty good message about keeping our minds on the eternal while
living day-to-day in the present. He brought it around to Jesus and choosing to
follow Him. He extended the invitation that if anyone wanted to give their
lives to Jesus today, they could. And then if they were really serious, they
could be baptized.
The teenage girl
sitting in front of me springs to her feet and at the same time her mom bursts
into tears. She walks down to the baptism area escorted by her now hysterical
mom. Teenage girl gets into the water and the pastor asks, "do you accept Jesus
as your savior and commit to follow Him all the days of your life?" She
responds assuredly and as she goes under water, her father who is sitting
directly in front of me starts weeping. And I mean weeping.
What a holy
moment I just encountered.
I don't know how
far from God Teenage girl was or how many endless prayers her parents have
prayed. But in that moment I saw those prayers answered. I saw joy so overflowing that words weren't
enough. I saw a glimpse of heaven. And then I saw more and more and more people
come down to make the same decision. Yes, I was still crying non-stop, in case
you were wondering.
My squadmate, Lauren, getting baptized in the Jordan River
in Israel.
I think baptism
is such a beautiful picture of redemption. You go down into the water dried up,
full of sin and separation. Then you get immersed into cleansing waters and the
blood of Jesus that takes on all your weight and filth and death. That old
person dies away and you come up out of the water a new creation. A
new creation that is dripping with the Holy Spirit. A new
creation that gets access to the loving God who created the world. Your Father.
I can see the Father looking down at this
morning's events, and He begins weeping like Teenage girl's dad did in his
chair this morning. There aren't words to describe His joy when a son or
daughter returns to Him, choosing to say yes to His love. I love that.
Do you feel like your life is too small? Or unfulfilled with the ordinary? Maybe you've been one of my supporters or you've followed my blog and somehow now you're feeling drawn to something more. Will you go?
Just a little over a year ago, I wrote a blog about my frustrations with God and healing. We were in Busia, Kenya and I had just spent 4 whole hours praying for person after person in a hospital. With the exception of a headache, not one of them was healed. I felt overwhelmed with discouragement and defeat.
Since that day God has done incredible things. Since then I've seen dozens of people healed of crazy things like broken bones, scoliosis, blindness, lameness, and a whole lot more. But my faith in God moving in that way had to start somewhere. For me it started on that day in Busia, Kenya. That day fueled my desire to see hurting people healed and to see Jesus encounter them with his love. My team was the very first group from AIM to be sent to Busia and back then I definitely didn't realize how many more we would send. Nor did I have any idea what would happen in that very same hospital only 14 months later. In a way, I believe the prayers and declarations my team and I made then stayed in the air of that hospital.
Right now we have a Real Life team in Busia who is completely on fire for the Lord and desperate to see His Kingdom invade this earth. I love that God uses frustrating beginnings to prepare for what's to come. I feel like what little thing was started in me in that hospital in Busia has fanned into flames with this team. I love how faithful He is in finishing what he started in me back then. Here is team leader Mike Sander'saccount of what God's been doing in Busia:
Some demons told him that if he didn't poison himself, they were going to chop him up into pieces with machetes...
"Oh Praise the One
Who paid my debt
And raised this life
Up from the dead"
I sang this over Michael, as he lay there in a coma, moments from
death. There was a tube connected through his nose that was sucking the
poison out of his body. On the floor beneath the hospital bed was a
bag filling with the poison, a thick green substance. He was as good as
dead.
It was my first time visiting the hospital here in Busia. All my senses
were hit with the sound and smell and taste and touch of sickness and
death. It was as thick in the place as a cloud of smoke that rises up
out of the kitchen after you've burnt yet another dinner.
He lay there motionless, unresponsive to any of our prayers, and yet...
we couldn't stop praying. We prayed for about 15 minutes, and our
translator was ready to move on to the next bed. Andy and I made eye
contact, and we both knew - our work wasn't finished. We continued to
pray passionately for this man to come back to life for over an hour.
As we prayed, our prayers became more and more bold, and faith was
shooting up and out the ceiling. One by one, others members of the team
walked over to the bed side and began praying fervently. I prayed for
an 'open heaven' over him, and that God would rain down healing upon
him.
Soon there were about 15 people surrounding Michael's bedside, most from
our team but also some people who were in the hospital joined us in our
efforts. We began to worship God loudly and openly in that ward, and
people all around began to pray. Suddenly the wind picked up outside
until the windows were shaking. People rushed over to close the windows
as the storm quickly developed all around the hospital. Soon it was
down pouring rain and the wind was shaking the building. We sang
louder, we prayed with more boldness, and continued our efforts. I kept
calling out to him, "Come alive! Come alive!" After another 30
minutes, we said our final amen.
Ashley and Andy were in tears and didn't want to leave the bedside,
almost out of fear that they would return to hear of Michael's death.
What do you do when you spend it all in prayer and God doesn't show up?
How do you cope with that? I just smiled, and told them it was time to
go. Something inside me just knew he would come back to life, and I
knew it wasn't going to take long.
Sure enough, our team went back the following day and Michael was out of
his coma! He came back to life! The poison left his body (just as we
commanded it to in the name of Jesus) and he was able to speak with the
team about his experience. He told them that he didn't hear the
prayers, but that he felt them! He was going through intense spiritual
warfare, and the enemy wanted him dead. I remember while praying for
him the night before, hearing these voices saying over and over "He's
gonna die, He's gonna die!" Jesus kept saying "He's my son, He's gonna
live!" and so I took Jesus' side ;)
The second day at the hospital they ministered to Michael, cast some demons out of him, and then he gave his life to Jesus!
SO much faith rose in that place that everywhere the team looked people were praying and worshiping God. The Holy Spirit exploded in that hospital!
Patients with arms raised to heaven, on their knees, family members on
their faces before God. One bed-ridden woman who hadn't walked in over a
month proclaimed faith in Jesus and got up and walked! The nurses told
the team that many people were released to go home the day after we
came and prayed!
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I am beyond explanation proud and honored to have a role in sending passionate college students like this out onto the field! In order to continue mobilizing this generation of Kingdom-bringers, I am in very great need of monthly financial supporters. Pray about it. Think about it. Support me here.
One of my best friends and roommates Ashley posted this video on her blog and I just love it.
So I've decided a long time ago to be a trader. I decided
that I'll trade in the pursuit of the American dream for a world that
desperately needs Christ. When I'm at work and I'm preparing college students
to go out and serve the broken, poor, and dying of the world...changing the world, that's worth trading it in for.
About two
weekends ago I had the opportunity to be a part of our Real Life training camp.
[Real Life is our college-aged mission trips and where I've primarily been
working since moving to Gainesville.] We had over 40 college students come and
be filled with God's presence in a tangible way. Some of them had an encounter
with His love for the first time, and that's left them completely changed. Some
of them heard God speaking for the first time, and were floored by what He is saying...deep
things of their heart.
I think what
I love about college students is that they believe they are invincible. No one
can really stop them. They think that they can actually go and change the
world, and because of that, they do. I believe that each country they step foot
in is radically changed because they carry the glory and love of Jesus with
them. I believe that when they speak, life is brought to dead places. I believe
that order is restored because of their very presence.
God moved in such big ways at training and I am beyond
humbled to have been a part of that. I'm humbled to be a part of God moving across
the entire globe. My position here at AIM is one that I cherish enormously. I
get to mobilize, equip, and send out these world-changers!
The role I
play in preparation to send them out is one that is extremely important and
that I take very seriously. Without the faithful financial support of people
like you, I cannot continue in this calling God has placed on me. I am in dire
need of monthly supporters right now. Please prayerfully consider being one. You
can read more here. You can support me here.
Again
I want to say, thank you. You've supported me on the World Race
through your tireless prayers, encouraging words, and by sending me
out financially. It has meant the world to me to know that there are
people like you who love me and believe in what God has called me to.
On
the World Race I've encountered the goodness and love of the Father
stronger and deeper than I could have ever imagined. I have felt more
alive than ever before. I've seen His Kingdom invade this broken and
dying world. I've seen God heal the sick, free the oppressed and
comfort the mourning. Though my World Race experience has ended, I
remain wrecked for the ordinary.
I
would like to share with you what the Lord is calling me to next. I
believe there is a strong call on my life to serve Jesus by serving
His people. I am being called to awaken this generation to God's
Kingdom. I desire to mobilize them to walk out in their destinies as
children of the living God.
That
being said, in January I will be joining full-time staff with
Adventures In Missions as a support-raised missionary in the
Admissions department. I will be working with The World Race and Real
Life trips assembling this generation to go out and change the world.
I'm so excited that I get to take everything I've experienced abroad
and merge it with the giftings and calling God has placed on my life.
It is such an immense privilege to be a part of what He is doing
around the globe.
With
all of this in mind, I would like to offer you
the opportunity to partner with me in this next phase of my ministry.
I am in need of people to join me both in prayer and
financially. My greatest need is to connect with people who are
willing to support me on a monthly basis. My personal financial goal
is $1,000 per month. This will cover my cost of living as I am
fulfilling this call. I will keep you updated as to where your money
is going and what God is doing with your help through my blog, emails
and pictures.
I
know that we are not all sent out abroad, and that so many of you are
exactly where you are called to be - impacting your communities
with God's love everyday. Some of us are sent out and some are called
to send. If you feel called to send, I am asking that you would
prayerfully consider supporting me in any capacity. Whether it's $10
or $100 a month, your gift will help advance the Kingdom while
spreading the beautiful gospel of Jesus to those who need to hear it
most.
To
be a part of this vision, please click on the support me
financially tab to the left and donate online. It's easy to set up
an automatic monthly contribution. Otherwise, you can send a check
made payable to "Adventures In Missions" with my name in the memo
line to the following address:
Adventures
In Missions. P.O. Box 534470. Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
Please
feel free to contact me with any questions or if you'd like to know
how we can further partner in ministry.
In His
Love,
Stacy
Adventures
in Missions is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501
(c) (3) non-profit organization. Donors will receive receipts
for their gifts with the understanding that the disbursement of those
gifts lies completely at the discretion of Adventures In Missions and
that the gifts are non-refundable and non-transferable, per IRS
regulations. Gifts may be tax deductible; please consult a tax
advisor.
One year ago today my best friend in
the world got married. The flowers were stunning. The reception was
decorated to the nine. The weather was perfect. And the bride -
breathtaking, to say the least.
And I was literally stuck in the middle
of the desert during it.
Evie and I have been best friends since
we were 9 years old and I consider her closer than a sister. As all
little girls do, we've always talked about our weddings. Fast forward
about 15 years later and Evie gets engaged and I'm about to leave for
the World Race. This is a major dilemma. How could I ever miss my
best friend's wedding? I prayed and even seriously considered
postponing the World Race for a while. But whenever I did, I just
kept feeling God nudging me to leave when I originally committed.
As month 5 approaches on the Race and
Evie's wedding is just weeks away, it finally hits me how hard this
is. Never had I anticipated one of the things God was asking me to
surrender to him was this wedding. Living out of a backpack and
wearing the same 4 outfits for a year? No problem. Sleeping in the
dirt and eating fried tarantulas? Easy peasy! I'm a missionary! But
not being there for my best friend on the biggest day of her life?
Wow, that sucks.
We were in Israel in December. That's
correct, Israel in December. What a dream! Who could be miserable in
the holy land?! Well, I definitely could. My attitude was absolutely
awful because I was on the World Race instead of at my best friend's
wedding. I was bitter and angry. I was so hurting. I didn't want to
do anything except wallow in my sorrow and occasionally sightsee. I
was becoming complacent in every aspect. I pretty much cried every
day. Here's what I wrote in my journal one night:
Honestly, I just don't want to be
here anymore. I don't think I have changed or gotten that much
closer to God in these last 5 months. Why am I here? Am I just
wasting this year? Why can't I just go to Evie's wedding?! That's all
I want.
Let's just say I wasn't the biggest joy
to be around...just ask my poor teammates who had to put up with me.
The night before the wedding, I slept
in a dress and prayed that God would miraculously transport me to the
ceremony just for a few hours (yes, seriously). But alas I woke up
still in the Negev desert in Israel instead of in South Florida.
After I got up I walked to the store
with Ashley. When we returned home, I was completely surprised to see
our backyard set up for a wedding. Someone said "Welcome to Evie
and Ruben's wedding" and handed me a bouquet of flowers and I was
sent down the aisle as the maid of honor. My teammates Casey and Erin
pretended to be the bride and groom, complete with "Hello My Name
Is..." nametags. They actually went through the entire vows and
ring exchange. After the ceremony we had cake and gave a toast. They
went all out!
Even a year later when I think about
it, I tear up. My teammates did that for me. Even though all month
I've been complaining and probably making their lives miserable, they
loved me enough to actually put on a full-on mock wedding just to try
and cheer me up. I was so humbled by their love. I can't really
describe how much that meant to me then and how much I needed it.
I never knew friendship and love like
that before. I've even lived in community before the Race but this
was something deeper. My brothers and my sisters met me in my pain
instead of leaving me there though that would've been deserving and
definitely much easier. Through them I felt God's love SO deeply that
day. I felt Him whisper to me that though this is hard, it's worth
it. And though I can't see it now, he's working it out for my good.
A year later I sit and have a reply to
my journal entry from then. I now see why I was there then. It was to
know and fall in love with my family on the race, my squad. Those are
my people and because of them and Jesus, I am completely changed. It
was to be encountered, humbled and wrecked by love.I'll never forget that day.
There is a very real nightmare thousands of young girls around the world are living each day. I can't help but be moved to tears reading Rati's story and others like her. Check out the International Justice Mission to see how they're fighting hard to free men, women and children out of the human trafficking industry and find out how you can do something about it.
MUMBAI, INDIA - For much of her life, Rati has fought to fend for
herself. Her mother died when she was four. Her father, a bangle seller,
later married a woman who refused to allow Rati to attend school,
forcing her to stay home and do housework. When she complained to her
father, he cruelly dismissed her - "You are not my daughter."
In late August 2010, Rati's father and stepmother took her with them
on a trip to Mumbai to meet a friend of her father. At the train
station, her parents gave her a strange instruction: They told her to
wait in a certain spot and then left. Rati waited all day at the station
- growing more and more confused - and, by evening, she was very
hungry. A woman at the train station approached her and offered some
candy; ravenous, Rati ate it quickly.
But the woman was not a kind stranger. The candy was drugged, and
Rati fell unconscious. When she awoke, she was in an unfamiliar place -
a place she soon discovered was a brothel...read the rest of Rati's story here.
I made this short video right after getting back from the World Race but never got around to uploading it. My apologizes to those of you that I haven't yet had the chance to sit down and talk to you about my experience. Hope you enjoy!
Over the last few months, worshippers Jonathan and Melissa Helser have become a part of our World Race family. It's been incredible being a part of what God is doing in and through this team. This is a repost of a blog Jonathan wrote about a month ago. It touches a bit on what I wrote in my last blog. It's a life-changing revelation to come face to face with the I AM.
I've seen I Am, now I know that I am loved. I've seen I Am, now I know
who I am.....I wrote these lyrics over 8 years ago and I think I am just
starting to scratch the surface of what they really mean. All it takes
is one look into His eyes and everything changes. Just think about the
pioneers who have gone before us.....
Moses sees the I Am in a bush
on the backend of the wilderness and finds out who he really is. For
40 years Moses ran from his destiny and in one moment he discovers what
he was made to be. He leaves this encounter with Love and frees a
nation from 400 years of slavery. The same thing happens to Gideon. He
is hiding in fear from the enemies who are robbing his destiny. He sees
the I Am on the threshing floor and in the next moment he leaves his
fears behind and leads a nation into freedom. Just think about the
disciples after the crucifixion. They have locked themselves in a room
hiding in fear. All of a sudden, the I Am walks through the walls and
they see perfect Love standing before them and touch the scars in His
hands and feet. The men who had fearfully locked themselves in that
room came out and changed the world. The fears that once paralyzed them
no longer held them down, because they found out who they really were
and how much they were truly loved.
A broken generation is
crying out somebody tell me who I am and what I was born to do. They
are wandering through the wilderness looking for Love. My dream is to
see this generation encounter the eyes of Love and find out who they
truly are. Last month in the city of Dublin, Ireland I began to see a
flicker of this dream burring into reality, as we gathered with 400 kids
from all over the world to seek the face of the I Am. In between the
conference sessions we slipped into the back part of the hotels pub and
filmed this simple video of this song in one take. My great friend Luke
Skaggs joins me on his fiddle.
Paul
comfort the mourning. Though my World Race experience has ended, I
remain wrecked for the ordinary.
