"But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.4 Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.5 Fear not, for I am with you..."
Isaiah 43:1-5
 |
| Two world-changers |
I awoke on Sunday morning at 5:00 am after a night of tossing and turning and roach killing. I read the Bible and the book "Kisses from Katie", the story of Katie Davis and her journey with God from middle class Tennessee to the impoverished villages of Uganda, Africa. She went understanding and obeying the most important commandments. Matthew 22:37-39
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." She loved the people beyond language barriers, filth, disease, and sin. She formed relationship both in the natural and in the spiritual and was persistent in her communion with the Lord in every step of the way. In doing so she is one of many examples of a servant glorifying their adored Master.
We headed out after breakfast with bags of food in tow. With the humid air on our backs and the beauty of Thailand and its people before our eyes, we were ready to serve. We were ready to listen to those who felt that no one was hearing them. To care for the abandoned. To be the hands, the feet and the mouth of God. To love Him above all else and those we were about to encounter. We must have visited at least 10+ homes that day, all consisted of elderly couples and those that had been widowed. The stories were many some heartbreaking, some joyful. Here are a few of their stories, unfortunately their names I don't know because my memory is poor, so I apologize.
This couple as of last year were blind, they were paid for by a supporter/team member of Shepherd's Staff to have surgery to improve their vision. The man told her that if God restored his vision he would believe. His vision was partially restored along with his wife's vision as well. According to the team he was in higher spirits than the year before which was encouraging but he still struggled with inner demons. He struggled from depression. He had frustration with the fact that his family did not come to visit him and his wife anymore. He never mentioned anything about accepting Christ, however we are hopeful. We ended our time praying over them and their house, that it would be filled and evident that the Spirit of God was near speaking things that Isaiah 43:1-5 spoke of to the Israelites and was now being spoken into this couple's weary and broken hearts. That was my prayer.
The visit was with another woman who had no husband and had recently lost her son to suicide this summer. She talked about her pain for the longest time. As if no one had asked her until this moment. She choked back tears in an effort to attain a strong composure. What she needed was a good cry a strong hug and The Comforter. We ended our time by praying for her as well.
 |
| Pastor's granddaughter, followed us everywhere |
Another couple that we visited were some of Shepherd's Staff's favorites. The team had dinner with them the year before. They are believers who live with their son and granddaughter. Their son struggles with drugs, which causes them pain. Their granddaughter is finishing up high school and desires to go to college afterwards if she has the funds to do so, which is not likely. Their granddaughter was gorgeous and they were so proud of her. She has blessed them by living with them, which from what I could see, not many her age stick around. All of us girls were drawn to her quiet and gentle spirit and were encouraged by her presence in the couple's home. We prayed over them and over her. A few of us expressed interest in supporting her through college since it wasn't that much in American dollars. My heart hopes to see her again someday! I don't have a picture of them unfortunately because of that sweet girl to the left. She took my camera and proceeded to take a bunch of blurred pictures until my batteries died. One minute you're like the plague to them the next their jumping up and down with your camera in hand and swinging from your arms. What joy!
This is solely what our day consisted of, which made me more than happy! Hearing people is what I love to do the most because being heard is apart of my own testimony as well. Being caught in darkness no matter what form it takes, is still darkness. And there is no darkness that the Light of the World can't penetrate. People are searching for that Light even if their unsure of what to do with Him when they find the Light. I believe they just want to know that there is a Light out there to break their darkness. People are dying to know the Savior like the one in Isaiah 43. And if we in Shepherd's Staff as God's servants can do that for one person at a time, that's enough. Enough for all the heavens and those on earth to rejoice!
 |
| Elder we visited; I laugh just seeing his smile |
"People who really want to make a difference in the world usually do it, in one way or another. And I've noticed something about the people who make a difference in the world: They hold the unspeakable conviction that individuals are extremely important, that every life matters. They get excited over one smile. They are willing to feed one stomach, educate one mind and treat one wound. They aren't determined to revolutionize the world all at once; they're satisfied with small changes. Over time the small changes add up. Sometimes they even transform cities and nations, and yes, the world.
People who want to make a difference get frustrated along the way. But if they have a particularly stressful day, they don't quit. They keep going. Given their accomplishments, most of them are shockingly normal and the way they spend each day can be quite mundane. They don't teach grand lessons that suddenly enlighten entire communities; they teach small lessons that can bring incremental improvement to one man or woman, boy or girl. They don't do anything to call attention to themselves, they pay attention to the everyday needs of others, even if it's only one person. They bring change in most ways most people will never read about or applaud. And because of the way these world-changers are wired, they wouldn't think of living their lives any other way."
 |
| Boomer Sooner |
 |
| Extra hot standing in a rice field |
-Kiss from Katie (Forward by Beth
Even in the ordinary we are extraordinary because of Christ Jesus. We go from weakness that is turned into life changing strength when we give our testimonies over to God to be used. We are in the world but not of the world and it enables us to be world-changers not just in the physical but in the spiritual which translates into eternity. No one could ever convince me that any other life is better without Jesus Christ. Amen.
www.shepherdsstaffco.com
http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/
This couple as of last year were blind, they were paid for by a supporter/team member of Shepherd's Staff to have surgery to improve their vision. The man told her that if God restored his vision he would believe. His vision was partially restored along with his wife's vision as well. According to the team he was in higher spirits than the year before which was encouraging but he still struggled with inner demons. He struggled from depression. He had frustration with the fact that his family did not come to visit him and his wife anymore. He never mentioned anything about accepting Christ, however we are hopeful. We ended our time praying over them and their house, that it would be filled and evident that the Spirit of God was near speaking things that Isaiah 43:1-5 spoke of to the Israelites and was now being spoken into this couple's weary and broken hearts. That was my prayer.
People who want to make a difference get frustrated along the way. But if they have a particularly stressful day, they don't quit. They keep going. Given their accomplishments, most of them are shockingly normal and the way they spend each day can be quite mundane. They don't teach grand lessons that suddenly enlighten entire communities; they teach small lessons that can bring incremental improvement to one man or woman, boy or girl. They don't do anything to call attention to themselves, they pay attention to the everyday needs of others, even if it's only one person. They bring change in most ways most people will never read about or applaud. And because of the way these world-changers are wired, they wouldn't think of living their lives any other way." 
