Half Way Point

So to start off with I have to apologize for the lack of updates in the last 3 weeks. It has definitely been a busy time but thankfully I have some time now to rest. It's hard to believe that this trip is already half over. When I got here it felt like time was creeping by the first couple of weeks and once things picked up and I began to get into my routine, time has gone by much faster. I guess the saying is true that time flies when you're having fun.

The last 3 weeks have been filled with our team taking on a little bit more than what we already do. Our missionary spent a week in London with the IMB and that week my two team mates and I held the fort down so to speak. Once he returned the next two weeks were devoted to doing things to help get our Haiti team all ready to go. They are currently in Haiti this week and I would like to ask you to pray for them as they help rebuild homes for people who haven't had one in a long time.

If there is one thing that I could pass along that has really stuck out to me, it would be the Bible Study we had a couple Thursday nights ago. We are going through the book Radical by David Platt and in one of the first couple of chapters he talks about Christians and missionaries who are in countries where they have to have church in secret. A couple of the girls here thought that it would be a good idea to have our Bible study in the same fashion that week and so we did. As I walked to the study that night, I tried to put myself in the shoes of those missionaries who have to do that. Walking alone to a place that is a secret and showing up at different times and then sitting in a pitch black room with no heat, no music, no chairs...no nothing. We kept the heat off that night so it was kind of chilly (some people might say it was cold), didn't turn on the lights, didn't play any music and sat together as a group in the midst of candle's. We whispered as we talked about our subject that night and it was incredible what was felt that night. I think it is something that everyone should try at least once with a study. I think that sometimes the Gospel can get lost in the middle of trying to make everything else around you fancy to a certain degree but when you gather as believers in a place with just the Gospel, you're mind focus' in because honestly the Gospel is all you have and need in those moments. Thus is the case with our brothers and sisters in Christ in certain parts of the world.

I would also be lying if I said that I didn't hit a couple day stretch where I had low points of just wanting to be home. I figured that it would happen at least once but before I came I had wondered how I would respond in a place with no family or really any friends. As I reflect on the time that I have spent here so far, it has been a great experience and I have learned a lot about God and about myself in God. I think living in a place where the Gospel is so common can blind a person to the lost world around them. I know this has been the case for me. I don't think I can or could ever look at people the same again when I've spent everyday for the last 2 months in a place where 99.5% of the people I walk by could spend an eternity separated from Christ.

After a month I can say that a lot has happened, personally and with others. I've met some awesome people and built relationships that have felt older than just a month, I've seen some good times in this ministry and some frustrating ones. The past 3 days have been the most revealing as far as my personal life goes.

While here, I'm taking a Intro to Missiology class for Seminary which has been a great class to take while out in the field. Over the weekend, I watched and listened to my first two lectures of the class which were introductory lectures and the foundation to what we will study later on in the semester. As I watched the constant theme and message was go, go, go. On our second lecture outine, there was an outline that had the percentages of the world as far as evangelism goes. They were labeled World A (unreached areas), Evangelized (break through areas) and "Christian" (areas with easy access to the Gospel). The other column was the percentages of where full time ministers were serving. A shocking 91% were in the "Christian" areas, 8% were in the evangelized areas and only 1% were in World A. 1%...that's it.

While all of that was marinating in my mind, yesterday I had sort of an "off day" where I had a lot of down time to catch up on rest, hang out or do whatever. After shoveling snow (sounds like a blast I know!) I decided to start reading a book for class. The book is called Bill Wallace Of China. It's a book about Bill Wallace (didn't see that one coming did you!) who was from Knoxville and his story of how he left his comfortable life in Tennessee to go do medical missions in China right before and during World War 2. Talk about a brave man with courage! I read the first 3 chapters and then went to the girl's apt for dinner. As I was walking and listening to music, tears began to come to my eyes. My first thought was God why do I tear up when I think you are telling me something?!? I continued walking and began to realize that God was revealing to me that my life was meant to be served Internationally long term! As I started to process this and wonder about it at the same time, the song By Your Side by Tenth Avenue North came on my ipod. The only words that stuck out to me to make me realize this song was on was, "Please don't fight these hands that are holding you."

Wow. So much so fast. As I have had time to sit back and process this a lot has gone through my mind and a lot of emotions have been felt. Joy, fear, excitement...you name it I probably felt it. But looking back it makes perect sense. I went to Spain to get my feet wet Internationally. I came home and had a lot of questions that could only be answered by going back out for a longer period of time. I came to Canada to experience and find out that this is going to be my life!

It is definitely an exciting time and a sense of awe that I'm being used for this amazing task. I ask that you be praying for me as I continue to go through each day here and as God reveals more.

He's Not That Far

As I sit here and do some reflecting, the one thing that continually comes to mind is how frustrating spiritual warfare can be (if you allow it to get to you) in a place that is dead as a doornail. The biggest thing is how mentally draining it is when Satan has a stronghold on a place and uses it to try and peck away at the light that enters. Even while I'm typing this, the internet keeps going in and out.

The spiritual deadness of this place is everywhere. It looks dead, feels dead and can find you at any moment. Today it seemed to find me more than normal. This morning as I was walking to campus on a nature trail close to my house, I was praying and enjoying the brief 10-15 minutes of being away from people. This is a good spot to say it's not uncommon to see students pass by while walking but usually no eye contact is made or words are spoken. This morning was different. I passed two girls that were having a conversation outloud that I didn't want to hear. It was a conversation that just screamed spiritual darkness and came in a moment while I was praying. The next thing came while having a meeting with the guy who is over the athletic facility about using the gym for a night for only an hour to start a sports ministry. Even though it was positive, it felt like a win/lose situation. We can have the gym to start our ministry but we have to wait until after basketball and intermural season. This only leaves us with a month to try and get it off the ground. The last thing that happened today was being informed that a package of children's supplies we are intending to use at the French church to get a children's ministry started failed to reach me because I didn't live at the address that was placed on the package. UPS thought this was reasonable grounds to send it back to Tennessee.

After all of this that has happened today, it was easy to feel like I'm fighting a losing battle in which God seems far off. This, in a sense, felt like my Goliath. I was simply reminded in a couple different ways that God hasn't gone anywhere. Tomorrow night I'm leading a study on chapter 3 of the radical book and the topic is titled "Beginning at the end of Ourselves" and as I looked at my notes I saw the story of Joshua and Jericho. This is a great image of what can do with our limitations and it encouraged me that God loves to put us in situations where only he can come through. Wow! Me of all people should realize this by now with the way the past few months has gone but it's great to be reminded.

The second thing was while discussing about a Sports Night on Friday night. This night is to raise money for the people going back to Haiti in a couple weeks. I remembered that Lecrae had made a video after he returned from his trip and I showed it to the girl who is in charge of the Sports Night. As we watched the video and listened to the words, some in particular screamed out to me. After Lecrae goes through the song talking about how there seems to be no hope and God seems to be far away, he ends the song with verses from Psalm 62 and with the words "Even though he seems far, we can trust that he is not that far away." Wow again! So sitting here tonight and typing this, I know more days will come where it seems nothing can be done to break through the walls of darkness that surround this place but after two short and reassuring times, I know with God's power anything can be accomplished and I can trust that he is not that far away.

Bringing In The Focus

After a couple weeks of being here, I've been able to see the different things that are happening to plant seeds and tend to the field to use ministry language. In the last week I have had chances to settle in and build trust in the new found relationships with the different people involved. This has also given me a chance to think and pray about what the next step is in my time here.

To update on the events in the last week, I had a chance to go to Montreal last Monday night with a few people from Sherbrooke to a Church Planting Strategy Meeting for the providence of Quebec. The meeting was in all French unfortunately but I was able to pick up here and there some things that they were talking about. The main goal (I think) is to plant 1,000 churches by 2020 in this providence and also to have more French churches in this area.

Tuesday through Friday my team and I spent the day at Bishop's University continuing to try and build relationships with people and then try to draw them to the different activities we have going on. On Tuesday nights we meet at a house called "The Cottage." This is a place where a family opens up their home, cooks a meal for free for college students (who wouldn't pass that up!) and then just hang out for the rest of the evening. This allows us to meet new people and continue to build on the relationships with people who we've already met. Wednesday night we went to the University of Sherbrooke to check out a Bible Study that they have on campus. They kindly started in English for us but naturally went to speaking French to finish out the study but I was gracious for the chance to be able to at least know what the discussion was about! Thursday nights are the big night to disciple the Christians in the town. We have a thing called Down Under, where this semester, we are going through the book Radical by David Platt. We meet on Thursday's to discuss a chapter and then throughout the week we meet in smaller groups to try and get on a deeper level with the book.

On Saturday we got to experience our first ski trip since coming to Canada. For me this was my first ski trip ever so definitely new territory! Just for the record I didn't fall! It was a great time with friends just getting out and experiencing parts of the beautiful creation around us here.

Going back to what I mentioned at first about the next step here, we had a meeting this morning to talk about just that. Some thoughts I've had is about the focus on evangelizing or discipling. I think that there needs to be an emphasis on both but I also believe that more emphasis needs to be placed in the area of discipleship. With only a short time here, it is necessary to plug into other people who will be here after we are gone so that things can continue to go on. Jesus had only 12 men that he continually poured himself into so that when he left they were ready to continue what Jesus had started. He discipled the 12 so the 12 could disciple many more and the ripple affect continued.

Along with this, I am thinking about joining another member of the team in researching on starting some kind of organization that is similar to FCA on the campus of Bishop's. With a lot of emphasis on athletics, this would be a great way to reach out to those believer's as well as the non-believer's who love to play sports.

Please continue to pray as we map out what needs to happen next. There are a lot of opportunities to do great things and also pray that we are lead to the people and area's we need to focus on.

First Week

It's hard to believe that I have only been here a week. As I was riding in the car yesterday going around town with our supervising family, we were talking about how it has felt like we have been here for a month. To me this week has seemed like it has been a busy week full of things but at the same time slow in the fact that the things we are doing haven't fully picked up yet. The students at Bishop's University (where I am serving) just started a new semester this week and have started to settle back into classes, which means that the ministries here are kicking back up as well.

Monday morning our team met on the campus of Bishop's to talk about the culture and the things we should expect while being here. After that, we spent the afternoon hanging out and just trying to get to know our surroundings on campus.

With a leader who believe's in using spiritual gifts and talents, he wants us to find the things we enjoy, do them and impact that certain thing for Christ. So with this, I decided to go on a prayer walk around campus Tuesday morning. The best way to allow God to open up your mind to the surroundings is by bathing it in prayer. To be honest after spending time praying on campus, I felt nothing. I felt as if that campus was dead and Satan had such a stronghold on it I couldn't feel anything.

On Tuesday afternoon I had the chance to go with one of the local pastors to what is called the QHOP (Quebec House of Prayer). This is where all the local pastors get together once a week and pray for the people of Quebec and the impact that they are having for Christ. I didn't know what to expect when I went to this meeting so I just sat and listened at first. At the beginning of the meeting, they went over an outline and discussed what they are calling "Unity Sunday" which is tomorrow. All the churches in Lennoxville are gathering together for one big worship service on the campus of Bishop's. Once they finished discussing the outline for Sunday, they began to pray. This was an open time where the men just sat and popcorn prayed for about an hour. I felt so humbled during and after this time because each man prayed with such unselfishness to themselves and with an openness to God and for what He wanted for them. They prayed for the town, the people, the campus, the students, the stronghold Satan had and for the expansion of the Gospel. It was such an encouraging time.

The rest of the week has been spent with time on campus and with the people that I have come into contact with. Wednesday night we got to go sledding at the local golf course and Friday we went to the Bishop's basketball games and then spent time with new friends at the apt of the other Hands On members.

With some reflection after a week into it, I feel like we have both made progress and not made progress. I feel like we have made progress in the fact that the friendships we have built with each other as a Hands On team and the people we have met are stronger then just a week old and with that it will lead to more friendships and deeper ones. I feel like we haven't made progress in the fact that this town is so dead spiritually. I feel like I have walked into a whole different world then the United States spiritually speaking. The United States is on it's way to being a full blown postmodern world as compared to Quebec which is already there. I get the sense that people are cool with what others believe until it looks like you are imposing it on them because it brings back memories of the oppression. I know that with this it will be difficult to minister without getting frustrated and at times the discouraging feeling will come that it may not look like anything is happening but this is a marathon and not a sprint. If I get discouraged then I will loose focus of the end goal in mind for the time I'm here.

I ask that you be praying for Unity Sunday with the churches of Lennoxville and for the ministries here as they get back into full swing during this semester. If I feel like so much has happened in just this first week, I can't wait to see what unfolds as each day comes.

Trust God

Greetings from Canada! The past couple of days has been an adventure to say the least. Friday things started off well from Knoxville and the fun began in Detroit. When Ashlee and I arrived we found out that the airlines had over booked our flight to Montreal and were told that we might not have a seat. The next flight to Montreal was Saturday morning at 10am so we were in a bit of a bind. After about 10 minutes Ashlee received a seat on the flight but I was still waiting. After talking with the people who would pick us up and finding out that they wouldn't be able to come get me the next day, we basically told the airline that I had to get to Montreal on Friday and if they couldn't do it then to please find another airline that could. It's amazing what those words will do because I then immediately received a seat assignment and we flew to Montreal.

After getting to Montreal, through customs and immigration, more fun arose. I went to go pick up my luggage and after watching every piece of luggage pass by me twice I went and told a person at the Delta desk that my luggage may have been missing....turns out it was and it was put on another flight to Montreal and would be arriving 2 hrs later in the night. So I had to go through a ridiculous process that sent me to a customs person and then back to the Delta desk. Luckily my luggage was delievered on Saturday afternoon and everything was still there.

As for the first couple of days, it has felt kind of lonely. I have met some friends but so far haven't really been able to actually spend a significant amount of time with other males like I have at home. I know this will change in the upcoming days because the students are not back from break at the University but so far it has taken some getting use to. My apartment is in the basement of a house so it is underground and it gets dark really easy and very early so that is something that will take getting use to.

As we have learned about the culture here, it has brought it home that I am no longer in the "Bible belt." Citizens here were oppressed by the Catholic church and because of this they have rebelled against it and don't want any part of religion or church. The people of Quebec are in the top 20 most unreached people groups in the world. To put this in perspective, 40,000 of the 7 million people here claim to be a true follower of Christ. That is .5% of the population.

Our leader was telling us about his family and their journey to Quebec and something that he talked about was "barefooting." This basically means that you are dropped off in a place and trust God to provide and work. He wants us to experience this for ourselves and in a way this is what I was asking for. What is it like to live and serve for a significant amount of time away from home and loved ones? Luckily our town is small and everything is within walking distance and those times will be good for thinking and prayer. This morning while walking to Ashlee's apartment I acknowledged the fact it was just God and myself on this journey in a way during some thought and prayer. In these first couple of days I can't see yet what the purpose is until students begin coming back and I begin to get in the routine of what I'll be doing but I do know one thing....I just need to trust God.

For His Glory, Not Mine

Well it's here. After all the thoughts, the prayers, the struggles, the waiting and preparation, it's here. In just a few short hours I'll be moving to Canada to serve in ways that, at this moment, I have no clue about. These past couple of days have really started to make this all real and it's hard to put it into words other than what is getting ready to happen is The Great Commission at work. One of the things that I will be doing is leading a study on the book Radical by David Platt (which is an incredible book). In chapter 4, Platt talks about the Great Commission being a command and not just something that a few people are called for. One of the questions that has come to my mind a lot of times on trips and even after I get home is why has God blessed me with so much and not someone else? The answer to this question was revealed to me at the end of the chapter when he placed an e-mail from a woman who had served in Guatemala. This was her answer to that question, "That is why God has given me an income and education and resources. God saves me so that the nations will know him. He blesses me so that all the earth will see his glory."

This is why I'm blessed and have so much...so that I can take that and show the world his glory and through that someone else may experience the same thing!

I want to thank everyone for the many prayers and support in the time leading up to this trip and I carry that with me as I travel and serve. I want to ask that you continue to pray for me and the team that goes. Pray for the people in Canada and the lives that we will come into contact with and walk with each day. I also ask that you pray for the things that God has prepared us for and the things that he is preparing for us. Each day he prepares us for those things that have already been prepared and that is an incredible comfort. 

Two of the songs that I have leaned on in the last couple weeks have been Lead Me by Sanctus Real and Something Holy by Stellar Kart. Each of these songs have lyrics that I've made my prayer and will be my prayer while I'm gone and these words are simply this, "Father give me the strength to be everything I'm called to be. Oh Father show me the way to lead them...Father lead me cause I can't do it alone." The other one is this, "We were born to be apart of something holy, bigger than you and I."

And lastly as I head out, a prayer that I've taken (that has been my motivation) from a person in my life that she made hers on her last trip is this, "I am ready to fight the battle for their souls. Here am I. Send me."