Thankful

In light of it almost being Thanksgiving I thought I would do a post on what I am thankful for so here it goes :)

1. For a wonderful husband who works hard to support us and has a passion for God that is inspiring.
2. For exciting opportunities to share the gospel 
3. For a great family and extended family that cares for us and loves us
4. For weekly meals at my parents
5. For my cat (i know this makes me sad lol)
6. I am thankful for Jesus and the fact that He came to die for a wretch like me
7. I am thankful that God forgives me every time I screw up
8. For a random job at Bath and Body Works during the Holidays
9. For a pick up in substitute jobs
10. For an encouraging few months after a rough August

Im pressing on...

Empty Lot

          This past Friday night Chad and I drove to our church, like usual, for Friday night PIE (our evangelism team). We went and opened up the church and.....waited.....and waited.....and waited.....for people to come. Nobody came. Not one soul. This is not the first time Chad and I have been the only two who have shown up and participated in PIE. For a whole year it was just Chad and I. And I was ok with that.
         It was hard to want to go out this past Friday. This is a mortifying admission as I read it, but its true. I felt sorry for.....well I'm not sure what. I was upset. Upset that there are more people who go to gospel choir concerts, crafting events, women's and men's luncheons than go out to share the gospel with those who need to hear.  Chad and I were in a passionate discussion about this exact topic in the car on our way to the Riverside Plaza for some evangelism. My mind was racing with frustration, resentment and disappointment. I was struggling with motivation for PIE that night. Instead of letting these feelings get the best of me I decided to pray. I asked God for forgiveness and help. I asked Him to encourage me, for more laborers, and for motivation. I also asked Him to change my attitude from frustration to compassion.
         After having a quick dinner at Panera, we headed out to the Plaza to do a few laps of tract distribution and conversations. To our dismay the Plaza was completely dead. I mean DEAD. There had to be about ten people walking around outside total. Wow. Not good from a tract distribution standpoint. I said a silent prayer and started walking around the vacant plaza. Chad and I started out together, handing out tracts to those we passed by. He then stopped and started chatting with two high school age guys, and I kept walking around passing out tracts.
         It was at this time that I noticed a young lady sitting on a bench in a Chipotle uniform. She looked like she was either on a break or had just gotten off work. As I was walking her way, I tried to hand some gospel tracts to a middle aged couple who walked by. The bill I was passing out had a picture of President Obama on it (I figured it was appropriate since he had just been reelected). After they took them and looked at the picture they promptly gave them back. I told them the bills were not political in any way but they would have none of it. Unfortunately that opportunity was lost. It did open the door for me to share with Kristen who had witnessed the whole commotion while sitting on her bench. I walked over to her and handed her one, being sure to say they were not political in any way. I then shared what they were about. I asked her if she had any sort of religious background, and she shared that she believed in God but that was about it. She believed that when we die, that it is the end, nothing else, no heaven and no hell. This is a convenient position to take because it allows for no consequence for sins nobody to be accountable to. I was able to share the gospel with her, she seemed to understand what I was talking about. I clarified who Jesus was, just in case she was unsure and encouraged her to read her bible (she said she had one) and not just trust what a person says. I also encouraged her to seek God out like it says in James 4:8a "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

        After speaking with Kristen, I continued passing out tracts to the few people walking around the Plaza. After a few minutes I noticed a couple of young people reading the tract I had given them a few minutes earlier. Since Chad was till sharing with Clayton and Joseph I decided to go over and see what they thought about what the tract said. When I asked, the young man Robert was still reading it. They said they were unsure about it. I asked what their religious backgrounds were, Robert said he was a Christian and Alondra said she was Catholic although not practicing. I then asked them if they knew where they would be going when they died. Robert said Heaven and Alondra said she did not know. I then asked them how they knew they would be going to heaven (or not ). Neither knew. I asked if they knew what the Gospel was....both said no. I went though the 10 commandments with them. Both had admitted to lying, stealing and being angry with others in their heart (which God considers murder see Matthew 5:21-22). I then asked them if they would be innocent or guilty of breaking Gods law. They knew and admitted they would be guilty. They also admitted that if they died that night they would end up in hell. They were clearly concerned. I shared a bit about life and how we are never guaranteed another day, the importance of getting right with God before its too late. I also shared the gospel with them. The gospel is that Jesus the Son of God came down to earth and lived a perfect life while here. He died on the cross for our sins and was buried and rose again three days later and is in heaven with God (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). I told them that they needed to get right with God . That they shouldn't put it off. That eternity is a long time. I shared how Great our God is. I let them know that there is nothing we can do to earn heaven, but repentance and faith in Jesus who is the Way the Truth and the Life. If you are not sure what will happen to you when you die, you can know. You can have peace, repent of your sins and trust in Jesus today. As it says in 1 Peter 2:24 "and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed."
        All in all this was a very encouraging night of evangelism. Something Chad brought up after we prayed in the car was that if we had not gone there, those people would not have received a tract and Kristen, Clayton, Joseph, Robert and Alondra would not have had the gospel shared with them.  God answered my prayers and then some. He gave me courage to speak with some strangers. He encouraged me and caused my attitude to change as soon as I stepped foot onto the Plaza. This Friday night PIE was full of prayer on my part, and I know God heard. Please be in prayer for those who were spoken to, those who received tracts and for God to bring more people with a passion for Him and the lost to join the PIE team!

~N

Spurgeon on Tracts

“I well remember distributing them in a town in England where tracts had never been distributed before, and going from house to house, and telling in humble language the things of the kingdom of God. I might have done nothing, if I had not been encouraged by finding myself able to do something … [Tracts are] adapted to those persons who have but little power and little ability, but nevertheless, wish to do something for Christ. They have not the tongue of the eloquent, but they may have the hand of the diligent. They cannot stand and preach, but they can stand and distribute here and there these silent preachers. They may buy their thousand tracts, and these they can distribute broadcast.”

Friday: Robert

          A few Friday's ago our PIE (Pizza Intercessory prayer Evangelism) team went out to the Block of Orange for evangelism. It was pretty spur of the moment because Chad and I usually go somewhere local. Well I was feeling a bit nervous going out and tagged along with Chad...usually I go out by myself. It was pretty exciting because we got to see other believers out sharing the gospel that night in a very crowded mall. As the night wore on, I had handed out a good amount of tracts but had not spoken with anybody. I really wanted to but was nervous (yes I still get nervous, even after 6 years!!).

The Block! 

Near where I talked to some teenagers

        Chad and I were nearing the end of the tracts we had bought and were preparing to leave when I saw two teenagers sitting at a table. I noticed they had already received a Harvest Crusade flyer. There was a group there handing those flyers out to invite people to the crusade, I got a flyer too which made me laugh. Well, I thought I should still give them a tract so I did. Then I walked away, but noticed they stacked it on top of the Harvest Crusade flyer and put a cup on top of them. Chad and I walked a bit more and turned around to go back the way we came. I saw the two teenagers there still and something inside me just pushed me right up to them and asked them what they thought of the tract. They stared at me blankly which caused me to ask them if they had read it. They said no. I shared with them that it was a Million dollar bill with the Million dollar question on the back which is " Will you go to heaven when you die?" I told them its the million dollar question because its the biggest gamble they will ever make, their life.

The Million dollar bill

         After asking them that question they said well, I don't know. Then one guy said "We have had several people talk to us already today." So I asked if it was still ok if i talked with them and they said yes. So I started asking them if they had kept the 10 commandments, if they had ever told a lie, been angry with another person or stolen anything. They admitted to doing all of them...i was sure to let them know I was guilty of breaking them too. At this point I ask them if they would be innocent or guilty of breaking Gods commandments and they both said guilty. Then I asked if the would go to heaven or hell. Immediately Robert says in a bit of an angry voice " I am a Muslim." I was caught off guard, but asked "Is what i am saying offending you?" He said no and I asked if it was ok if i kept talking to him and he allowed it. It was great to talk with him and listen to what he believed and I was able to share what the scriptures teach and challenge him to read the Injil (the first four books of the new testament because Muslims can read them). He told me he had a bible at home, which shocked me honestly. Most of the Muslims I have encountered did not and they did not want one when it was offered to them. I encouraged him to read it and check out the claims of Christ. He believed that if he did enough good he would get to heaven when he died. I was able to share a scenario where you are in court for a bad crime. I told him that even if I had done a lot of great things before and after the crime like helping in an orphanage and working with developmentally disabled kids the judge would still find me guilty of the crime I committed. God is the same. I told him to pray to God and ask that God would show him the right way. Before I left I tried to encourage them and let them know that all those Christians who had come up and spoken with him were only doing so because they cared tremendously for him and his soul. I wanted him to see that we were not trying to be a downer or upset him but share the good news with him and teach him who God is and how Great he is. I hope he saw how much God cares about him that he sent so many of his followers to him that night. Please pray for Robert and his friend, that they would repent of their sins and put their trust in Christ alone and that God would be glorified!


~N

Snapshots: Rosebank

               While in South Africa we spent one day seeking and sharing with a specific people group. This group was the Jewish people. Of the countries with the most Jewish people living in them South Africa was number 11. I had no idea that there was a large group of Jewish people living in South Africa. I guess South Africa is not called the "Rainbow Nation" for no reason :) There are about 75,000 Jewish people living in South Africa with 50,000 in the very town we were staying in. We had a hard time finding Jewish people to share with but found a few. I was able to talk with a guy named Gabriel who was from Israel and was working at a Dead Sea products kiosk. He was very intent on selling us his product so it was a bit awkward talking with him. The gospel was not really shared but we did ask alot of pointed questions about the afterlife and shared what we believed about each topic. Gabriel was living for the moment and insisted he had no regrets in life and wanted to do what was satisfying. Sharing with people who are working was difficult for me and this was the first guy we shared with so i felt very uncomfortable as if i was bothering him. I could share with a stranger on the streets any day, but a person who is trying to work and make a living is a different story. It was a hurdle I had to overcome while in South Africa. Please pray for Gabriel's salvation.
         I was also able to share the gospel with Lisa who worked at a wig shop on the third level in part of the mall. She said many Jewish women wear wigs to cover up their hair so only their husband sees their natural hair. She was very confused by this (as were we). Lisa shared that she was a former Jehovah's witness who was starting to attend Seventh Day Adventist services. She seemed a little confused, naturally, so I was able to talk with her and encourage her to read the bible, which she admitted to not really doing much of. I shared that salvation is a free gift, not of works and that she needed to repent and trust in Jesus for salvation. She seemed genuinely interested and thanked us sincerely for taking the time to talk with her. Please pray for Lisa. Pray that other Christians would be burdened to share the gospel with her and to love her. Pray that she would be convicted of her sin and that God would draw her to Him. Pray for her salvation.

Just a portion of this gigantic mall!

some portions of the mall were three stories or even four!

Another portion of the mall (three stories!!)

         After a few hours of struggling to find our specific people, I decided to find anybody willing to talk. We went into a store called "House of Isis" that sold religious icons and paraphernalia from every religion I could think of. What really struck me about this store is that it was in a public mall. Where I live I do not really see stores like this in the mall, I only know of one in down town that sells items that are used to cast spells and such. This store was also pretty busy, people were going in and out and buying things, asking the workers where certian icons were. It was filled with people searching, it was very sad and eye opening at the same time to see these people believing in rocks and statues that have eyes but cant see and ears but cant hear. There was a tarot card reader, an aura reader, fairy dust, dream books, pictures of Jesus, Buddhist statues, Jewish icons, Chinese blessing and luck charms, the evil eye, Hindu gods, religious books, pagan items, crystals, healers, hypnotherapy, essential oils and so on. I walked in and looked around the store. I started praying about who I should share with, knowing I needed to share in this store. I went and grabbed an icon I came across while I was in Israel, the Hamsa Hand. I took it up to the woman working at the register and asked her what it was. She did not know and started referencing a guide book for religious icons. She discovered that it was called the Hamsa hand which protected the wearer from the evil or envious eye. After she told me about it, I asked her if she believed that it worked. She shared that she was unsure. I continued by asking her what items in the store she used or believed in. She told me that she had been raised Christian but was starting to follow the teachings of Buddha. I started asking her what Buddha taught, but she could not answer anything. She had just started studying she said. I was able to share the gospel with her and encourage her to read the Bible. She seemed receptive but not willing to repent at that moment. Please pray for her salvation and that she stops working at that store.

The store, notice all the icons?

Tarot cards

Some religious necklaces sold in the store, note the crystals in the background

The two thumbed hand icon I found

~N

Pardon the interuption: Gabriel

        I'm in the middle of sharing with you all (by all I mean Chad and some friends/family I know read this blog) a few snapshots of what happened while serving in South Africa. Today I am going to talk about something that happened at Friday night Pie.
          For those of you who do not know, PIE stands for Pizza, Intercessory Prayer and Evangelism. My husband and I lead an evangelism team at our church and we go out every Friday. This past June we were unable to go since we were in South Africa, so last week was our first week back on the saddle. I was totally excited and ready to go.We went to a local shopping center. It was packed because of the release of the new movie Batman. Some on the team were a bit wary because of what had happened the night before in Aurora, CO. I assured them that God is in control and His will would happen that night.
        What was neat about this specific PIE is that it fell on the second night of Ramadan. Ramadan is an Islamic holiday that lasts for an entire month and consists of fasting while the sun is out. They fast from food, drink and sexual relations with their spouses. When the sun is down those fasting are allowed to break their fast and eat food. There are usually large celebrations and parties when the fast is broken. This fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. When I was in Africa this summer, I met some women who were making up some of their fasting the month before Ramadan. One was nursing when Ramadan occurred last year and was unable to fast. Apparently they can "make up" a fast they miss any other month of the year. They can make up each day consecutively or separately. She chose to fast every other day. When she asked about if i celebrated Ramadan, she was shocked that I did not. I was able to share with her about Jesus, and why I fast the way I do. That I fast because I want to, not because it is required of me by my faith. This was a whole new concept for her and one she seemed to struggle to accept.
          Before we went out to share the gospel that Friday we prayed. Chad and I have been praying for Muslims every day during Ramadan using this specific prayer guide. That night I prayed that we would encounter some Muslims though I did not keep my hopes up because I knew they had been fasting and we would be out right when their fast would end. Vanessa and I went to our usual spot handing out tracts to those going to or leaving a movie. Then one man turned and said "I like this, it has good questions." The tract is called "What if" and is full of questions starting with What if. Some of the questions are: What if you could live forever? What if you were breathing your last breath right now? What if you had your conscience for a reason? This man was intrigued by the questions and we started talking. His name was Gabriel and he had just got off from work. He told us he had written a book which had passages from the Bible and Koran in it. This instantly sent bells off in my head and I asked if he was Muslim. He was and said he was going home to break his fast. He then shared a bit of his story. He was born into a family of Christians and was raised a Christian. Sometime later, while in prison (for what, I do not know!) he started reading the bible and said he noticed quite a few contradictions. He then said he found a Koran, started reading it and was converted. He then went on for quite a while about random contradictions in the bible such as Jesus never saying He was God (according to him yet we know that Jesus says He is God in John 10:30-31, 10:9, 11, 14:6, 11:25 and this was the very reason He was crucified!) Yet Gabriel was unwilling to accept the truths of scripture. I was just starting to steer the conversation towards the gospel when his wife and son came and he had to leave. Before he left he took my email address and promised to send me a copy of his book. Please pray for Gabriel, that God would reveal Himself to him and that Gabriel would be convicted over his sin knowing that his good deeds will not cover up his bad deeds. I know this because the scriptures say in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 "The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil." Please, if you are trusting in your own goodness to get you into heaven you are making the biggest gamble of your life. You and I will never be good enough on our own, but God sent Jesus who was perfect to die in our place and take our punishment so that we could be set free from the bonds of sin. If you have ever lied, stolen, looked with lust or been angry at somebody you (and I) are guilty before God and will be judged for our actions like Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 says. The bible says "The wages of sin is death," we earn death and judgement by God for the evil deeds we do here. But God sent His son Jesus down here to live a perfect life and die in your place, to pay your fine. He was crucified and buried and rose again on the third day to prove he was God and had defeated death. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life and no man can come to the father but through me." Trust in Jesus, repent of your sin and put your faith and trust in what Jesus did for you. Do it today. What if you just took your last breath?






~N

Snapshots: Angelo

           In South Africa over 5.6 million people are currently living with AIDS. It is said that there are over 1.9 million AIDS orphans in the country. Statistics say that about 70% of children have lost their mother to AIDS. In 2009 some 310,000 South Africans died because of AIDS. These statistics are startling. Those are not numbers, they are people. They are brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, mothers, fathers, husbands, wives and so on. It is so easy to look at these statistics and continue on, but glance back at them and really think. Each number is a PERSON. A person whose life has been destroyed by a debilitating virus.

one of the many Soweto funeral parlors

            We visited a very well known squatter town named Soweto. This town has such a high rate of deaths due to AIDS that they have to have multiple funerals a day. Driving through the town our driver pointed out that there were police officers stationed at the intersections in the town. He said that because of the amount of funerals they have a day, the officers are there 24 hours directing traffic when a procession happens. This is daily life for these people. 
           This summer I was able to visit a hospital where those who have AIDS go to get their medicine for the month. I can honestly say that I was a bit scared to go to the hospital. I learned about AIDS when I was in the fifth grade. We learned all about Ryan White, a young boy who had a blood transfusion before they screened the blood for diseases and contracted AIDS that way. We learned how AIDS was transmitted, not by air, or touch but through bodily fluids of any kind. So I knew when we visited those who had AIDS in the hospital that I could not contract the virus simply by talking with them. I honestly had no idea how these people would look or what kind of shape they would be in. Before we went to the hospital we made sandwiches to hand out. Apparently if they do not have a meal before they take their medicine, it is ineffective. Unfortunately most people are so poor that they can not afford any food to eat. We were there to remedy that problem and share the good news in the process. As we were walking up, the woman who was with us said "I usually do not go to this hospital because the people here are in really poor conditions, so be prepared." As soon as she said this I was nervous. Walking into the large brick hospital we saw signs for various ways to prevent AIDS that made us chuckle. We also saw rooms and rooms filled to overflowing with people waiting. Each person (not a number or statistic!) had AIDS and was waiting to see a doctor to get their monthly treatment and medicine.

Reminds me of Angelo

            After going to various rooms to hand out sandwiches and praying for many people and sharing the good news, I decided to sit near a woman about the age of my mom who was all alone. I introduced myself and started talking with her. In the middle of our conversation she said "i am so glad you came here to give us sandwiches, I was very nervous to come to this appointment today but since I have been talking with you I have calmed down and am not nervous anymore." She had two girls, was divorced and hiding the fact that she had AIDS from her employer. While I was talking with her a young man came up and sat down next to me. He was visibly nervous and shaking as he sat. He blurted out "Are you a Christian?" and spilled his cup of tea all over my purple skirt. He asked me to pray for him and started pouring his heart out to me. He said he had just lost his fiance due to AIDS, that she had died suddenly and unexpectedly. He also said that their son had been taken away from him by her parents after her death and he can't see him anymore. He said that they are telling his son that he (Angelo) does not love him anymore. Angelo was visibly crushed about this, crying and pleading for prayer. I ran and grabbed Chad because I figured it would be better to have a man to talk with him and Chad was able to share the gospel a few times with Angelo. I was able to offer a few comforting words as well and we prayed with him. As we started praying Angelo just started crying. He seemed so relieved to have us pray for him. It was so heartbreaking to see this man who has had so much hardship because of AIDS. I have no idea how he got AIDS or how long he will live, but I do know that God did not have us at the hospital the very day he was there on accident. Angelo needs Christ, he needs the forgiveness that is only available through Jesus's death on the cross. When he died for the sins of all. He needs the comfort that only God can bring. Please pray for Angelo and his son. That man was just skin and bones, and at the end of his rope.  Please also pray for those affected by AIDS in South Africa. That God would bring believers into their lives to love them and share the good news with them. That they would see that it is truly good news and put their faith and trust in Christ! Going to the AIDS hospital was one of my favorite things we did in Africa! I was so sad the second time we went that I was sick with the flu and could not go! Isn't it funny, the one thing I was most nervous of doing was the one thing I loved the most? The one thing I would go back to Africa to do every day instead of once the whole time we were there? WOW.

Some of the sandwiches we made

The AIDS hospital

This is not even half of the sandwiches

Some info

Way funny sign

~N