Testimonials
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| Mike Fri, 3 July 2009 18:54:43 +0000 |
I have gone on 2 trips to the Galapagos Islands Ecuador in 2007 and 2009. On both trips 2 of my teenage children accompanied me. Both where a fantastic experience all though entirely different. I personally grew in Lord as a result of the trip being able to share Jesus with those that where so open to the gospel was an amazing experience. On both trips the number of people that accepted Jesus Christ was more than I could have ever imagined. The growth in the Lord for my kids was also amazing. One story was when we went to the Island of Florena the first couple that I shared with accepted Christ as their savior. The man then left right away and ran into our national director Diego in town and told him about what had just happened, It turned out that this man was what they call the President of the island and had much influence(Man of Peace) He told Diego that the new church plant could use the old Catholic church building on the island for the future services.
In Christ
Mike
In Christ
Mike
| Lisa Fri, 3 July 2009 18:54:12 +0000 |
Well, I’m home from Ethiopia…safe, tired, and with a head full of thoughts and a heart full of emotions. It wasn’t an easy trip. The travel was LONG (literally to the ends of the earth and back), the African air was dry and dusty, the natives were restless, and the thought of eating anther travel-size can of chicken salad with tiny little crackers IN MY LIFETIME is enough to make me want to vomit.
NOT that I’m complaining, mind you. After spending a week with the Ethiopians in four different villages, I realize I have NOTHING to complain about. Unlike them, I’ll wash my clothes more than once this year, I’ll eat more in 3 months than they’ll eat in 3 years, and instead of grabbing a walking stick for the 10-mile trek into town, I’ll simply hop in my car.
I had the privilege of spending 5 days ministering to these people…dispensing eyeglasses to those who needed them (incredibly, most of the 70-80 year olds had perfect eyesight!) and giving wheelchairs to the crippled. We shared the gospel to anyone who would listen and prayed with as many as had the courage to accept Christ as their Savior, knowing the opposition and persecution they’d encounter.
The dominating religion is Orthodox. The Orthodox priests are tough cookies to crumble. They looked rather majestic…tall and thin, large dark eyes, chiseled face with a pointed chin, turban on the head with a draped cloth around their shoulders. They had a tendency to anger quickly at the very name of Jesus. In one village, they actually tore up the bibles and tracts we gave them. As our bus drove away that afternoon, I looked back to see the torn pages all along the ground.
Later that night, God reminded me of my Hindu friend who had one day asked God, that if He really existed, to reveal Himself. Moments later, the wind kicked up and a piece of paper attached itself his leg. When he looked at the paper, it was a page from a gospel tract. God did reveal Himself! I couldn’t help but wonder if God had not brought us to this village and allowed the bibles to be torn so the wind would blow them to those villagers who might be praying similar prayers. His ways are so far above our own!
Not all those we ministered to were hard-hearted. Many of them had sweet dispositions with appreciative smiles and kissable cheeks. A few hundred of them left with tears of repentance and acceptance of God’s perfect Gift. Those were my heroes. I wondered, as they bowed their heads in prayer and humility, if I would have been as brave if my life had been on the line as theirs was.
A week in Ethiopia has changed me. I saw the mercy of God in action; mercy that holds back a hand from obliterating the unappreciative; mercy that heals a 7-year old crippled boy’s feet so he wouldn’t need the wheelchair offered to him; mercy that freely forgives the worst of sinners. Jesus says,
“freely you have been given, freely give.” I’m gonna work on that one. God help me.
Thank you for your fervent prayers. Keep them coming. They are still needed to break the stronghold that Satan has on those villages, to open the eyes of the blind, and to protect those who are freshly His.
May God bless your faithfulness!
Much love,
…Lisa
NOT that I’m complaining, mind you. After spending a week with the Ethiopians in four different villages, I realize I have NOTHING to complain about. Unlike them, I’ll wash my clothes more than once this year, I’ll eat more in 3 months than they’ll eat in 3 years, and instead of grabbing a walking stick for the 10-mile trek into town, I’ll simply hop in my car.
I had the privilege of spending 5 days ministering to these people…dispensing eyeglasses to those who needed them (incredibly, most of the 70-80 year olds had perfect eyesight!) and giving wheelchairs to the crippled. We shared the gospel to anyone who would listen and prayed with as many as had the courage to accept Christ as their Savior, knowing the opposition and persecution they’d encounter.
The dominating religion is Orthodox. The Orthodox priests are tough cookies to crumble. They looked rather majestic…tall and thin, large dark eyes, chiseled face with a pointed chin, turban on the head with a draped cloth around their shoulders. They had a tendency to anger quickly at the very name of Jesus. In one village, they actually tore up the bibles and tracts we gave them. As our bus drove away that afternoon, I looked back to see the torn pages all along the ground.
Later that night, God reminded me of my Hindu friend who had one day asked God, that if He really existed, to reveal Himself. Moments later, the wind kicked up and a piece of paper attached itself his leg. When he looked at the paper, it was a page from a gospel tract. God did reveal Himself! I couldn’t help but wonder if God had not brought us to this village and allowed the bibles to be torn so the wind would blow them to those villagers who might be praying similar prayers. His ways are so far above our own!
Not all those we ministered to were hard-hearted. Many of them had sweet dispositions with appreciative smiles and kissable cheeks. A few hundred of them left with tears of repentance and acceptance of God’s perfect Gift. Those were my heroes. I wondered, as they bowed their heads in prayer and humility, if I would have been as brave if my life had been on the line as theirs was.
A week in Ethiopia has changed me. I saw the mercy of God in action; mercy that holds back a hand from obliterating the unappreciative; mercy that heals a 7-year old crippled boy’s feet so he wouldn’t need the wheelchair offered to him; mercy that freely forgives the worst of sinners. Jesus says,
“freely you have been given, freely give.” I’m gonna work on that one. God help me.
Thank you for your fervent prayers. Keep them coming. They are still needed to break the stronghold that Satan has on those villages, to open the eyes of the blind, and to protect those who are freshly His.
May God bless your faithfulness!
Much love,
…Lisa
| Carla Fri, 3 July 2009 18:52:25 +0000 |
I have had the blessing of being involved as an email prayer warrior coordinator for several e3 partners missions. I have felt more connected, not only with the e3 team and the nationals who have invited us in other countries, but with the interpreters and those God has appointments for on each trip. It has helped to hold us "pray-ers" close having information about the country and trip before the team leaves. It is wonderful to be able to share the prayer requests and Scripture verses with the other prayer warriors for each trip along with updates from the team while they are gone and reports from the team upon their return. Corporate prayer with the other prayer warriors each day pulls me closer to the mission and especially to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. It is also a blessing to "meet" so many of my brothers and sisters on this side! Thank you e3 for letting me travel with you.
Praying with you so that no one should be left behind,
Carla
Praying with you so that no one should be left behind,
Carla
