Posted in General Posts by Michelle Johnson on 5/18/2010
27 million people around the world today live in slavery. It's unbelievably horrifying, right? How human beings can think they have the right to treat other people as mere objects will forever baffle my mind. Absolutely disgusting. What a portrayal of Satan's power in this world. But I refuse to accept that's the way it has to stay. So what am I, a 24 year old marketing coordinator-turned-missionary from Orange County, California going to do about it?
I will become an abolitionist. I will work with the enslaved to help free and then empower them in that newfound freedom. I am going to take on my responsibility and become an abolitionist for the cause. It's no longer enough to simply think or talk about change. All of us must initiate action within our sphere of influence - whether you a teacher, hair dresser, doctor, housewife, coach, pastor, artist or policeman. Awareness is the beginning. Action must follow. So many people in America are oblivious to the fact that human trafficking is a real issue and happens a great deal in America. Yup, I was one of them. I grew up vaguely knowing trafficking existed but thought it only rarely occurred and in other "less developed" nations. Because I didn't hear about (or pay attention to) trafficking in Orange County, I wrote it off - out of sight, out of mind.
Yet God chose me to go on a 5 week human trafficking research trip through Asia, in the midst of my World Race experience. I had no idea of what I was getting into at the time, but knew I'd better follow the Lord's calling. Now, looking back, there is no denying what he was waking me up to and his desire to use me as an agent of change. My life moving forward has direction. This trip has wrecked me in the best possible way. My heart breaks for the enslaved and exploited women and children like it hasn't ever before. For the first time, I feel an unquenchable passion burning inside of me and I know it's never going to fade. I want to actually do something about this injustice. There is no way I can just ignore it and go back to my life of complacency. God opened my eyes in the most real way and allowed me to glimpse oppression firsthand. I now have a responsibility to share with others and to do something about it. Although I am only one person and it is easy to begin feeling hopeless about really making a difference with issues this complex... I know that even one life saved matters. So I am going to fight!
Yes, I have only spent a few weeks researching and studying about trafficking so I am no expert. But meeting with organizations that are really making an impact - increasing awareness, implementing prevention and victim relief programs - does give me hope that God is at work and change can happen. I recently read the book "Not For Sale" and it was incredible. It gave insight to the types of trafficking that occur all over the world. It not only gave the hardcore facts and data but also told the tragic stories of people actually living through and surviving slavery. Not only did the stats startle me, but the stories made a lasting impression on my heart in a way that I cannot even begin to explain.
The end of the book really challenges people - everyday people - to get involved in combating this issue. Not everyone is called to go overseas and lead raids into brothels, but why not host a dinner to show a documentary about the sex slaves in Thailand? Or perhaps sell jewelry handmade by women who were able to get out of slavery and are now earning wages for their work. Maybe you are a lawyer or government official - start petitioning for anti-trafficking laws in your city or state. Make life about reaching out to the oppressed, as Jesus did. "The spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness the prisoners" (Isaiah 61:1) . I say we can make a difference and end slavery in our lifetime. Join me in the fight. Become an abolitionist.
Check out Not For Sale's website for more info about how to get involved:
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Posted in General Posts by Michelle Johnson on 4/2/2010
My friend Laura Meyers and I are currently meeting with organizations who address and combat the huge problem of human trafficking. We will visit India, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Our goal is to find strong partners in which World Race ministry teams can work alongside. Laura just wrote the below blog and I wanted to share it with everyone as well.
In America, for the most part, the sex industry is hidden underground. In India, you see lines of older women inviting men into small rooms where younger girls will be locked up and allowed out to meet the customers. And here in Thailand, human trafficking is very in your face, out in the open, prostitution. With rows of Go- Go Bars, women in the windows, girls hanging on poles, and men (lots of older men) with young Thai girls on their arms.
In 2001, the number of prostitutes in the world is estimated at 40 millions, 75 % of them aged between 13 and 25. Every year, about four million new women and children fall victim to the world trafficking for the purpose of prostitution. Each of these women has a story. They have a name, a face, and all have a story to tell about how they ended up in the commercial sex trade.
Today we went to a ministry and to find the ministry office they told us to look for the "Super Pussy" sign (sorry to be crude but it's the harsh reality) and then you will see their sign "Rahab Ministries."
Every night over 4,000 women/men/and children work in the bars on this street alone.
All of these things begs the question,
"Why don't they leave?"
The answer is simple really: they are slaves. They have been sold and bought for a price, for someone's pleasure. Sometimes sold by their family members, sometimes taken from their homes and then beaten and sold to a brothel owner or bar, others have been tricked with false promises of a better future. Others have gotten married only to be trafficked by their husband who becomes their pimp. Know that most of women in the GO- GO Bars are being forced to do it physically and/or mentally manipulated by the people around them. In fact, when asked 97% of prostitutes said they would leave prostitution IF THEY COULD.
60 % of men who arrive at Bangkok International Airport come for sex tourism.
I don't want to come across as being angry but I am... and righteously so. Nobody should be forced to sell his or her body. Nothing about that is okay! Nothing about being beaten and raped daily is okay.
Maybe instead of asking the question, "why don't the girls just leave?" we should ask...
Why do nearly a million men come to Thailand every year to buy sex?
Since when did it become okay and acceptable to buy a child's virginity?
When did it become all right to buy another human being for sex?
What happened to sex being sacred within the bonds of marriage?
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Posted in General Posts by Michelle Johnson on 2/23/2010
God is so amazing with his surprise blessings and is perfect at knowing exactly what we need when we need it. We've been helping at open air crusades these past few days - which are held in the village marketplace and basically consist of worship, prayer, preaching and evangelism. It's been awesome to see God work and for hearts to be changed. My teammates have really stepped out in their giftings within ministry and I feel like that has definitely paved the way for us becoming unified as one.
The second to last day of crusade, I met a thirteen year old girl named Lucy and we ended up having a really good conversation. I found out she is a believer and attends a nearby church with her family. Anyways, I asked her if she'd come to the crusade the following day and if she'd bring all her friends too. She said she would and that she'd be on the lookout for me too. I felt a connection with her and truly believed I would be seeing her again. She totally reminded me of the middle school girls I led in my life group (small group) back home.
Sure enough, I ran into Lucy at the crusade and she was with five friends whom she had invited! I was introduced to Mary, Naomi, Gladis, Olive and Caroline. We hung out during the whole crusade - asking each other questions and laughing about random, silly stuff. It was great. Then as we were saying goodbye, an idea popped into my head (definitely leading from the Holy Spirit) to start a small group with them. So I went for it. I asked the girls if after school, around 5PM the following day, they wanted to come to the church I've been staying at to do a little Bible study. They immediately agreed and seemed genuinely excited, which made me really pumped. I tried not to think about wondering if they would actually show up and focused on trusting that God would work it out perfectly.
The next day, 5PM came and went - no girls to be found. I started to get a bit discouraged and decided to just pray. Then, almost immediately after I prayed, the girls walked up to the church door! We spread a sheet out on the grass and started talking. I shared about what it looks like to be a rebel for Jesus and not to be ashamed or afraid of living out our faith, no matter what people think. Worldly teens are busy doing things like drugs, drinking, having sex, disobeying parents... So to be a rebel is to go against the norm - which looks like doing things such as reading God's Word, praying fervently, evangelizing, putting others before yourself, staying pure until marriage. We taught each other some worship songs, both in Swahili and English, and prayed. Then, I introduced them to the fabulous game of Uno. They were all about it and didn't want to stop playing. We have probably been through like 20 games of it so far.
The girls are showing up each day to continue doing small group, and they bring new people every time. A couple of boys have now joined the group too!
God just blows my mind. He knows how passionate I am about teenage girls and how much I miss leading and mentoring my middle school girls back home. To have this opportunity here in Africa is so encouraging and just furthers my desire to work with youth when I return home!
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Posted in General Posts by Michelle Johnson on 2/11/2010
We're in month 2 of Africa and already month 7 of this crazy World Race experience. Last month my team was in Lira, Uganda where we worked with a large church, Victory Outreach. Our team split up and helped with a variety of projects and ministries, according to which we felt most passionate about and interested in. There were many believers there and everyone was extremely welcoming, friendly, and genuine. The church body is totally thriving and it was so encouraging to see how they operate and reach out to the surrounding community. There were countless opportunities to jump in and join the church in serving. For four days, we participated in a large youth conference (with about 500 attendees!) We attended and spoke at different cell groups (small groups) every Wednesday night. Some of our team helped with Sunday School training, some preached at the church's "lunch hour prayer" or the radio, and some will completed file work in the Compassion Children office of the church.
We stayed in a compound which also included the pastor's home. I loved it - I will never forget the 13 staff members who I really got to know during our stay. Very quickly they became like family and they taught me much about African culture. I learned how to cook true African dishes, and they taught me traditional songs, dances, and some of the language. Through these relationships the Lord truly energized me and gave me strength and life. I had been feeling somewhat drained - emotionally and physically at the end of Turkey. God yet again showed me how important it is to build relationships and to encourage and spur one another on in love and good deeds. Once the month came to an end it was so difficult to say goodbye to everyone and I will miss them dearly. I hope one day to return back to Uganda to visit my friends at Alpha, and hopefully bring my family along to meet them as well.
Now, we find ourselves in a small village off the east coast of Kenya - Mpeketoni - for a month. Things are somewhat different here and I am desperately trying not to compare last month's experience in Lira to the time here. We are staying in a church and working with a bishop who oversees many churches in the area. His name is Bishop Maurice and he lives with his wife, Mama Emily, and their children, in a small house next to the church. We are working with Team Ninja and one of the main ministries we are getting involved in here is door-to-door evangelism. I love it. A few of us walk the village with a translator from the church and choose a few doors to knock on!
I went out with my teammate Emily and two translators a couple of days ago and had a very awesome experience. We met two women and started a conversation with them - asking questions to find out about their life and situation. Their names are Mary and Jesinda and both had been to church in the past but currently were not attending. Their husbands were not interested in the whole God thing. Mary and Jesinda knew of Jesus but hadn't committed their lives to Christ. Before I even really knew what was happening, Emily and I both just started sharing different Scriptures with the women. Their faces showed they were listening intently and were interested. I started to get excited! We shared that they didn't need to go to church to be saved - they simply needed a real intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. After more conversation on what that intimate relationship really looks like, Emily asked if Jesinda would like to accept the invitation and commit her life to God. She said yes and Emily led Jesdina in a beautiful prayer. We asked Mary if she also wanted to pray and she said she did. Then I prayed for her - and it was definitely the Holy Spirit's leading because I had never actually lead anyone to Christ before. It was amazing to know that it was completely the Holy Spirit just giving me the words and it is such a huge honor to be used as a vessel for the Lord. Even if he brought me over to Kenya only for this reason; it is reason enough for me! These women's lives will never be the same because they now have the Lord. No matter the struggles they go through, God will be there right by their side. They have each other to encourage and grow in discipleship and can be a huge example to their husbands. I was fired up leaving their home and am totally stoked to go knock on more doors for the Kingdom!
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Posted in General Posts by Michelle Johnson on 12/13/2009
It's funny how things change. When I first signed up for the Race, Turkey was nowhere to be found on the route. Now, here I am spending the month of December in Istanbul. Surprisingly though, this country has been my favorite so far on the trip. We are staying in Taksim, a large suburb of Istanbul. Many people know English, and it has been a blessing to be able to communicate. This place reminds me of New York - busy, crowded, full of life, shops galore... More and more I am discovering just how much I enjoy the big city life. God has definitely provided again - we are living in a cute little apartment right in the city - with Team Unwritten in the apartment above and Team Ninja directly below. It's very homey, welcoming and warm. We've been hard at work to fill the place with homemade Christmas decorations, and even found a miniature tree which we've adorned with multicolored lights and garland. Oh, also, there are four Starbucks in the area which definitely contributes to my reasoning for thoroughly enjoying this city!
Ministry-wise, we get to be ethnographers for the month. We were given a specific, unreached area of Istanbul in which to meet locals and initiate meaningful conversations about their lives, finding out about their background, family, education, occupation, religion, dreams, aspirations, and whatever else the Lord prompts. Basically, we are conducting interviews, taking notes on the conversations, and then sending that info to our ministry contact here in Turkey for possible missionary placement in the future.
I am super excited about engaging and building relationships with the Turks and have gotten the opportunity to meet a few younger high school and college aged girls. I am learning that ministry is really a lifestyle - being intentional about my surroundings and environment and the people I come into contact with on a daily basis. Ministry is not necessarily a painting project, orphanage work, or VBS session. Everywhere I go, my focus needs to be completely on Christ and how he's leading me to act or respond in a situation. Ministry is not a 9-to-5 job in any sense and it has taken me awhile to comprehend that. It's all a matter of orienting my entire life around the Lord - not only at certain times when I feel like it.
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Posted in General Posts by Michelle Johnson on 11/26/2009
"A Heart That Prays" (from Elizebeth George's book "Women After God's Own Heart")
Some have had kings in their lineage,
Some to whom honor was paid.
Not blest of my ancestors-but,
I have a mother that prays.
I have a mother who prays for me
And pleads with the Lord everyday for me.
Oh what a difference it makes for me-
I have a mother that prays.
Some have worldly success
And trust in riches they've made-
This is my surest asset,
I have a mother who prays.
My mother's prayers cannot save me,
Only mine can avail;
But mother introduced me to Someone-
Someone who never could fail.
Oh yes...I have a mother who prays for me
And pleads with the Lord every day for me.
O what a difference it makes for me-
I have a mother who prays.
Yesterday, my mom sent me these words as part of one of the sweetest, most sincere letters I have ever received... expressing how thankful she is for my dad, 3 sisters, and myself. I am so thankful to have a mother who diligently prays for me each and every day. She is such a strong prayer warrior and has helped me understand how vital prayer is to my life. Since I have been on this Race, she has been faithful to lift not only myself, but the entire J Squad up in prayer daily (and she is a bit obsessed with reading and commenting on every person's blogs!) I feel so incredibly blessed to not only call her mom, but best friend.
And to all the J Squad moms, we could not do without your dedication, genuine concern, endless encouragement, heartfelt prayer, and loving support. You all are amazing... thank you for sacrificing your children this year as we seek to bring Kingdom to the nations. We love you so much. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Posted in General Posts by Michelle Johnson on 11/18/2009
For the next week or so, we're staying in Rama, a village in northern Israel, close to Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee. It's beautiful here... I went on a run yesterday and ended up in a grove of olive trees, with the view of gorgeous rolling green hills in the background. Yet again, the picture of Jesus possibly walking through the same area boggles my mind!
We are working with a Christian church and one of our main ministries is to develop relationships with people in the community. This totally excites me and I am pretty pumped up about doing it! Yesterday turned out to be a pretty amazing day. I listened to a sermon that really hit home - centered around 2 Peter 1:5-8 which talks about adding on virtuous qualities. "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection." I saw straight up saw some intense brotherly affection, "Philadelphia", yesterday as Chelsea, Hope and I were visiting homes in the community and inviting people to the church. One of the first homes we stopped at ended up being such a blessing. Immediately after we said hello through the screen door, this couple invited us (perfect strangers) inside their home. They beckoned us to sit down at the kitchen table and offered us Coke to drink (because all Americans love Coke!) This older Arabic couple were in their late 50s and spoke very little English. The man was super friendly and he had a laugh that reminded me of my own grandpa. I love how laughter translates the same to every culture! The couple never once showed frustration about not being able to clearly communicate and treated us like queens the entire visit. After a bit, the couple's daughter came home and was able to speak to us in better English. She translated for her parents and told us that they wanted us over for dinner that night! We eagerly accepted (how could we turn down free food?) and said we would see them at 6 for dinner. The night turned out to be so much fun! The meal was incredible, and the wife worked hard to make everything perfect. The food seemed endless and we were all stuffed by the end. She made a delicious tea called 'Louisa'... all-natural, lemony goodness, that I am pretty much obsessed with now. She even gave me two huge bags full of the stuff! The conversation was very uplifting and we ended up learning a good deal about the Arabic culture and what life looks like living in Rama. The endless hospitality blew me away. At one point, they even offered us to stay the night at the house.
When does anything like this ever happen in America? It seemed unreal. After this experience, I now feel compelled to be way more generous, inviting, and interested in others. I need to share the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon me. With Thanksgiving fast approaching, it makes me think about how I want my Thanksgivings to look a bit different here on out. I want to invite others (even strangers) into my home for a meal, for fellowship, and to share some genuine love. I so look forward to next year - to be able to invite those over who don't have a family to share the holiday with, or those who can't afford anything special! Warmth, kindness, generosity... often so contradictory to what others regard as important characteristics. Most times we care more about comfort than character. As believers, we get to pursue these virtuous qualities and we have the Holy Spirit guiding us towards righteousness. If we are ever increasing in these qualities, we will be effective for His Kingdom.
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Posted in General Posts by Michelle Johnson on 10/26/2009
We attended the Willow Creek Summit Leadership Conference this weekend and one of the sessions touched on how change is good and a necessary part of life. The speaker mentioned "bright spots" as being the slight glimmers that lead to implementing change. Bright spots are the proof we are capable of solving our problems and then are able to really change. However, a slight different meaning came to mind as I began to think about our time here in Bulgaria over the past month. What would I consider to be the bright spots?
Sure, Bulgaria was chalked full of good times and memories I'll always cherish - tree painting and planting, gorgeous scenic drives, a traditional wedding, foosball tournaments, Bulgarian Thanksgiving and birthday celebration, intense poker games, encouraging team worship nights, The Office episodes, home-cooked dinners and powerful church services. Our accommodations were across the board and equally as unforgettable - a theology school, cozy hostile, and magazine-worthy apartment, to mention a few. Yet, I wouldn't consider any of this to be the true bright spots of Bulgaria. God has kingdom on his mind and is just itching to be able to entrust me with His plans. What have I been doing to honor Him in that?
I began thinking about the relationships I've formed with several Bulgarian youth, all of whom God specifically orchestrated for me to meet and share His love. Every one of these instances has been a direct result of me actually listening to the Holy Spirit's prompting and urging to initiate the conversation. Pretty much every time, it's a battle. Do I take that step forward and let God do His thing through me, even when I'm not in the mood, afraid of the person's response, or just plain lazy? These relationships are a result of my choice to say yes and to act in faith and confidence that my Lord will take over. The words "more of you and less of me" have started to come to life this month. I know it's not of myself to initiate conversation with two college-aged girls, Gery and Nadia, while they were in the midst of an ecology project in Starbucks. I know it's not of myself to meet 12 year-old Maria at a playground and then spend a couple of hours shooting basketball at the nearby court. I know it's not of myself to hang out at the local high school and wait for classes to get out for the day, only to strike up a conversation with Lily, Monica and Elaina. These searching, "too cool for school" teenagers so need the Lord. God is in pursuit of every one of these girls - Gery, Nadia, Maria, Lily, Monica, and Elaina - and He just might want to use me as a vessel to get their attention.
I desperately want to experience more of these glimpses of Christ in me each and every day. I want to feel, see, hear, and know the Holy Almighty God I humbly serve! I want to proclaim His great name boldly to every person I encounter. Lord, may the vision of you be the death of me. "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man I would not be a servant of Christ." - Galatians 1:10
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Posted in General Posts by Michelle Johnson on 10/11/2009
It has been an interesting last couple of days here in Bulgaria to say the least. We'd been working with an evangelical church in Sandanski, a city about 3 hours from Sofia, Bulgaria's capital, for about a week. Our team felt like God was telling us it was time to move on - to Sofia. Of course, going along with the idea of this month being about "Asking the Lord", we really didn't know where we would be staying. We only knew we wanted to couch surf for a couple of nights (Oh yes, it's legit! Check out the website - www.couchsurfing.org). It's a worldwide network for making connections between travelers and the local communities they visit. We thought it'd be a great way to really get into the Bulgarian culture and reach out to something other than the Christian community. So, we found two random hosts to stay with for a night a piece and were on our way. The first host was a sweet 19 year-old girl named Amelie who had 3 flat mates. Her apartment was nestled in the heart of the city and she graciously took us around and shared all she knew. That night, after cooking an amazing meal together in her tiny kitchen, we ended up hanging out by the local theatre & park area, which seemed to be a pretty popular spot for high school & college-aged kids. The vibe was chill... I was enjoying chatting with a couple of Bulgarians and sharing a bit of what brought me to the country. Then the place really got going when a few girls started a little fire throwing routine. No joke, they just busted out their balls of fire on chains and began impressively twirling them around - major skills! It was unlike anything I'd ever seen, certainly not what I'd see on a typical night back in California. By the end of the night, one of the girls had me trying it out too (well, minus the fire!) It was awesome. Maybe fire throwing will be something to include in my future ministry?
The second night was quite a different setting - but an equally unique experience. We moved on to stay with a couple, Ivan and Terry, at their vacation house, about 20 minutes outside of Sofia. After quite the trek, we pulled up to their cabin - amidst gorgeous, massive mountains. The scenery was unbelievable and I never expected Bulgaria to be so serene and diverse. We spent the evening getting to know Ivan and Terry, who turned out to be couch surfing veterans. Terry recently returned from 10 months of straight couch surfing around the world! They were very interested about our trip too; it was an open window to share about how God is truly leading our lives throughout this journey.
Then yesterday turned out to be the biggest wild goose chase I've experienced so far on the World Race. All said and done though, it turned out to be well worth the craziness. I'll explain... I found out a friend, Mara, whom I'd grown up with at my home church way back when, is actually now a long term missionary here in Bulgaria. She lives right in Sofia with her husband, David, and their 2 year-old daughter. I'd been in touch with her through email and she invited my team over for a traditional dinner last night. This all sounds simple enough - except for the mere fact that we had no idea how to get to her neighborhood. It was completely on the other side of the city from where we were staying. After many minutes of deciphering maps, about 5 different tram and bus rides, probably miles of walking, desperate questions to random Bulgarians for help with directions, and a confusing taxi trip, we landed at Mara's apartment. We all caught our breath and regained our sanity, and were blessed by the American company, Christian fellowship, cultural insight and exceptionally delicious Bulgarian food!
We realized the day turned out to be a somewhat intense team builder. I think we rocked it together - a couple of us took charge leading the way, and the others willingly followed without asking questions or making unnecessary comments - and not one of us really complained. At one point, we pretty much cried out for help from the Lord and he answered by getting us to our destination. I am confident these "super fun" days will occur, probably often, on this trip. I hope we will respond in a manner of first asking God for the help and then working together as a strong team to get through it - whatever it may be.
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Posted in General Posts by Michelle Johnson on 9/30/2009
It's month 3 already! Unexpected change of route - Bulgaria. Our only direction - to pray and simply listen. Listen to the Lord and where he's leading. So, we (Fuel and Proclaim i61) are doing just that. We've been here for 4 days and so far, things have been falling into place. God has really been showering down blessings this week - helpful Christian contacts, places to stay, good food to eat, free Wi Fii, hot showers, and real beds. It has been quite a contrast from last month's living situation, but coming out of that, I am so much more grateful and appreciative for the simple things in life. I never thought I'd say this but instant coffee has about replaced my previous daily Starbucks addiction (well almost!) I have to check my attitude in it all though. Would I be ok if Bulgaria wasn't the best of circumstances? What if every single month on this World Race was rough... extremely trying and uncomfortable? Ultimately would I be able to trust Him through it all?
Yesterday morning we were spending a chunk of time in prayer, listening and hearing from the Lord. I am growing to absolutely love these times of personal, one-on-one conversation with God - something I have only recently started to understand and value. As teams we are making an effort to really press into what God has for us here in Bulgaria. We can't rely on anything but Him and so we come to Him in utter dependence - patiently waiting for His leading. Where to go, who to work with, how long to stay in one place... it's all up to Him. Until this point, I wouldn't have been ok without a solid game plan. I love schedules, knowing what's coming up next and being the first to find out information. God's been teaching me that I need to leave that up to Him to guide my life. As all this was running through my head, a specific worship song came to mind and I just stood there, filled by His amazing peace. I was overwhelmed by the presence of freedom - I am ready for Him to work through me in any way; to mold me and truly make me His own.
"Your voice has stilled the raging storms. I wait on you and wait for you to lead me. Your still small voice brings me hope. Restore my soul and let all my earthly strivings come to cease. Take from my soul the stain and stress. There will be no death, no pain, the things of old will pass away. Let my ordered life confess the beauty of your peace."
I've heard the song a hundred times but never have I grasped what it fully meant. Then it hit me - this is what I'm doing right now. The stress of having to have it all together is no longer there. My life is no longer consumed by rigid schedules, goals, control, or performance. I've never felt more free in my life and yet I have no clue what's going to happen after the Race, in a few months, or even a few days. I'm perfectly content with that. I'm living in the moment of exactly what God has for me and I'm investing all of me.
Here in Bulgaria our teams still don't have everything figured out. I love it - I am confident He will show us the way and make clear our path and direction. Who knows... maybe we'll do a little couch surfing, stay in a random hostile, or hit up a church floor. Whatever it is I'm ready and pumped to Bring Kingdom!
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