Albania

Gino is back home. Still getting adjusted to the time difference.  Here is a video put together by one of the team mates. We wanted to share this with all of you as well. God bless -

A glimpse at Gino's last trip...

Gino has been working hard at getting the details on his last trip to Kosovo done which will be sent out to our team. It's long but it's detailed and will share about each place visited. (If you aren't part of our team and would like to be, feel free to contact us.) One of the teammates put this video together and we wanted to share it with those who wish to see a bit of what went on while they were there. Thanks to all who were praying for him and us while he was there.

Painted Prayer

Many times God will use a song or a passage in scripture or even a sermon to plant or burn an image in my mind. I cannot let it go at times. This week a song has been in my heart, actually it's been in my heart for a few weeks and I've been wanting to paint but haven't been able to. I've attached the song for those who'd like to hear it. It's called "Set a Fire" by Will Reagan and United Pursuit. I kept envisioning a ballet dancer dressed in a costume that looked like swirls of fire and dancing in a way that looked like fire was bursting around her. I was finally able to sit down and paint today. I call my paintings "painted prayers" because honestly I'm praying these songs, scriptures, and sermons over myself, family, and others depending on the picture. In this painting the dancer is holding onto what looks like ribbon. It's to represent the holy spirit pouring out from her. It's floating a bit wildly and slightly out of her control. I hope and pray that I live madly in love with my Savior. A love that lights all around me - to a point that it's uncontainable or uncontrollable. I hope this painted prayer will encourage you and make you smile and say "I want more of you God, I want more of you God." - Love Laura

One Wish...

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away and everything is NEW."

Romans 12:2 "Do no be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God - what is good and well -pleasing and perfect."

I wanted to share with all of you what God has been doing in my life personally these past 6 months.  God has been transforming me and changing me and stretching me and challenging me in ways I would never have even fathomed or thought possible years ago. I am learning that God can use us in so many different ways. And every day, every week, every month, every year - can and will look different when you make yourself available to His will for your life. What do I mean? God has taken this terribly shy, fearful, homebody, introvert - and just turned me upside down. And I am saying "this is good". This is hard, but this is good. I could tell you 6 months ago that you were crazy if you thought I'd be called an artist or painter. I'd have called you insane if you thought I'd make an good Sunday school teacher and would turn down singing in church because really my passion was now to teach 6-11 year olds. I would say you were crazy if you told me I'd look forward to every Sunday being with those kids and digging into God word. I would have said you were crazy if you told me I would commit to doing street evangelism in my community - let alone willing to even think about doing it. And yet here I am about to share about a specific challenge God brought before me and I'm so glad he did. 

A few weeks ago Gino came home from his early Friday morning prayer group and said that Richard Sharp (he is part of OM) was going to have a booth at our Founder's Day Carnival.  My neighbor thought of me and wanted to know if I'd be a part of her group. They were going to be doing his "One Wish" outreach. What is "One Wish" you say. Well I'm glad you asked. This is an amazing foundational tool that Richard Sharp has created throughout years of doing street evangelism. This man and his sweet wife Rachel love the Lord so much. They genuinely love people and want them to have a friendship with God. They care - you can hear it in their voices when they talk to you. You basically ask a stranger a question and then use a bracelet, if they allow you to, to explain God's wish for their life. There's more but pause so I can give you my dilemma. 

I am very shy. Approaching strangers is a nightmare for me. I stumble over my words, I worry how will I look to them, will they hear me, will they think I'm crazy. As you can see, it's a very "me" centered type fear. Well I think I looked wide eyed at Gino and said "what?!?" a few times to him. He kindly assured me he hadn't committed to it for me. To which I replied - I will pray about it. A knot had already formed in my stomach. I also had a shouting match with God in my head because Gino had been so excited when he originally heard about this and was even wanting to blog about it and share it with our churches back home to see if they'd want some of the bracelets and tracts. I remember saying "What the heck!!! Lord you know Gino was so excited about this. Why in the world am I being asked to do this? Why?????" Surely you don't want me to do this right? Right?" - As I wrestled with this over the weekend, while the kids were playing out front I ran into Penny my neighbor. She asked about what I thought and I told her I'd pray about it but I was scared because I tend to stress out on what to say after "Hi, how are you?". She laughed and said "well that gives the Holy Spirit room to speak and lead us." That stayed with me. Also as I journaled if I should do it - the song "I'm not ashamed of the gospel" by Hillsong popped into my head over and over again." I knew in my heart from the beginning God wanted me to do this. If I was too afraid to say yes - then I'm ashamed of my God. There is a serious problem if I am ashamed of my God.  So I told Gino - I'm suppose to say yes. There's nothing to pray about anymore. I'm going to say yes. I had peace about it until the day of. I kept praying that God would just open my mouth to speak like he did for the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. I prayed that the Holy Spirit would give me courage and a voice because I felt I was like Moses.  I am not skilled in speech Lord. 

So Friday night came and I went. It was for an hour as there were many who volunteered to work in shifts. So now I will return to what the point of what this event was about. "One Wish". We were to approach people (I was paired with Penny) wearing our One Wish T-shirt and One wish bracelet. We were to ask them, "Have you been asked the One wish question." If they were interested we'd ask them. "If you could have 1 wish from God for you today, what would it be?" Depending on the answer we would ask them if we could say a 1 sentence prayer just asking God to help their wish come true. We then would ask them if they knew that God has 1 wish for them? We then would ask them if we could quickly show them on our bracelet which had 4 pictures - what God's wish for them was.  I will not go through everything but if you want to learn more - please let us know. This is something that you can use anywhere. Richard and his wife have used this at airports, getting a haircut, friends, family, talking to someone in line or at checkout, etc. It's such an awesome tool that you can use. Such a sincere question. You can also look at www.onewish4u.com to learn more. 

So I was scared. But Richard Sharp said "you're scared, I'm scared, let's all be scared together." Gino also reminded me gently "Laura just remember why you are doing this. This is all for the love of people. You love them, you want them to be aware of God's hope and love." I still could barely eat but it helped. So I went.  I realized as we were there that God was giving me training. He allowed me to pray with 2 women. Both said they were Christians but they let us into their lives. They got to a point where they shared with us and we were able to pray for them. One was very reserved especially but by the end she and I were chatting and talking about kids and she allowed me to pray for her teenage son to make wise choices because she was nervous about leaving him alone the carnival. I was terrified about approaching people but I could see God had surrounded me with such an amazing group of women and he was showing me how to do this. How to be genuine, how to love strangers. I feel like God said "My daughter you are being trained. You thought I was going to use you to speak into someone's life but I am hear to speak into yours. Learn from these godly men and women." It was an amazing night and honestly I felt like the time went by so quick. I had an urge to keep doing this. Who am I? Who is this girl I see in the mirror. Who is the person I've become? Well, as we drove home the ladies were saying how we should keep doing this, keep practicing this so that this becomes part of us. We decided to try to do this once a month. And I said yes without hesitation. What? Lord you have transformed me because a couple weeks ago - I would have avoided my neighbor and hid in the closet. What mighty powers our God has. So God willing, November 1st will be our 2nd outing as a group and I pray that God will give me the strength to approach at least 1 person. The night I went there - 2 people for sure decided to accept God's hand of Friendship. To be a part of that event was so encouraging to me. I know God has his reasons for taking me there. I'm so glad He did. 

I wanted to thank our ministry team and to encourage them that we are being given opportunities to reach not only across the world but also in our own backyard. Thank you for being a part of this. Please be praying for the people who came across us that weekend. Pray that the seeds planted grow. Pray that those who did accept God's hand of friendship will get plugged into a good church and get into God's word. Pray that God will give me boldness in times when I'm scared. Pray that I get an opportunity to talk to even just 1 person through God's 1 wish for them. Pray for Richard Sharp's ministry to grow. This is such an awesome thing he is doing. He has used this all over the world. Jesus will always use us in different ways but when it comes to sharing God's hope - this is such a great place to start.

Let us all allow you to transform us God. Help me lay aside pride and my own agenda and instead seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. May we all be allowed to impact this world for your glory and to help lead others into an eternal friendship with you. Amen.