I wanted to blog at least one time before the week closes out for our time in Canada. I am so grateful to the Lord, for this experience that He has blessed me with! My brother intentionally placed me with the younger children ages 5 and under. I was really excited about the opportunity to work with the younger kids. God has given me a gift in creativity and teaching a sport to younger children will stretch to the point of a necessity to use creativity with them! Along with teaching them how to play baseball, I have been given the opportunity to lead the Bible study time with them! I chose to share Bible stories with them with the intention to closing out the week tomorrow by directing the children to how Big God is!
Running different baseball drills have been quite interesting! Holding the attention spans of 4 to 6 years old is not an easy task! I have been very thankful for the other leaders that helped with the younger children! Especially Kristian, my awesome French translated! Let me tell you... Holding younger children's attention is already a huge task but when there is a communication barrier, the level of difficulty raises to a ridiculous level; however, it is at times like these when God really shows His strength through our weakness! I am so amazed by how God has torn down this huge barrier throughout this week! Nothing is impossible with God! Even when we are faced with a situation that is way past our limits, God shows up in the mightiest way!
I am so thankful for how God works through the most difficult situations in life! It is also easy to feel discouragement when faced with hard situations! In these moments it's easy to forget the power of God in the most of tough situations and we rather complain about them than looking to HIM for guidance and direction. Also when we are faced with these types of situations, we realize just how much we don't know and how incapable we are when it comes to life. When we are weak, He is strong! We must remember His promise from Matthew that follows a command! Go, and make disciples of all nations... And remember that I will be with you always!
Remembering His promise,
Twiga
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Canada Missions
Well we have been able to minister to different areas in Quebec so far since we arrived. We are staying with a sweet family in a city called Rawdon. They have been tremendously hospitable! They are a French speaking family that also know English which works out best for us haha... I do know some French, so it is kinda neat that I can understand a little here and then! I have also spoken a little French to a few people while I've been here and it was really cool to know that I at least have made a little connection to a different language speaking area!
The first place we ministered at was a little church named Renaissance Church here in Rawdon. We are actually staying with the pastor of the church here in Rawdon as we minister in Quebec. We did a lot of yard work for the Renaissance Church: mowing the grass, cutting down hedges, weed-eating and some other things. It is a small little church that is located a few miles away from the town of Rawdon. It is so interesting because everything is in French wherever we go! After we finished, we went back to the house and spent time getting to know one another. I am grateful to be serving with the students that are here with my brother!
Then, Saturday we helped put together a fence for a family on the outskirts of town. We got to use a chainsaw and sledge hammers: manly tools haha... The family we helped made us lunch which was so good! They made sausage and pork! I ate good for sure! Later on we went to a fair in Rawdon to help clean up afterwards. I had opportunities to talk with the people out at the park, which was where the fair was held at. The church has been aiding this fair for several years now and when we arrived they knew that we were with the Renaissance church immediately by our presence! What an amazing doorway to gospel presentation!
Sunday, my brother and I, along with a few students from my brothers student ministry led worship for Renaissance Church. I was so thankful for the opportunity to help lead in worship! I was also grateful to be a part of ministering alongside my older brother, Jason! I am so proud of his zeal and love for the Lord and in relaying the message of the Cross to others! Jason preached on Galatians 2:20 and how as we move forward, we must be hidden in the cross as we live our lives! He spoke about how we must not look at the cross and the saving work of Christ and then move forward in our own strength but that the cross must always be present every day of our lives! Gelatins 2:20, Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in Jesus Christ."
After church I went out to the park and played with Emma, my niece. It was so fun to hang out with Pookie, the name my brother an sister-in-law calls her a lot. Me and my brother then went to throw baseball at the baseball field, which brought back memories of my childhood. I am so thankful for my family and being here with them in Canada this week! Oh, and I also had the opportunity to be a part of Elijah, my nephew's bath time, which was a blast!
Tomorrow morning we start up the baseball camp with a range of 20 to 40 kids! Please pray for these kids and their families as we minister to them through how we act around them and engage in conversations with them. Each day one person from our group will speak on a different narrative that reveals the gospel. We will cover creation, the fall, redemption and restoration, then my brother will bring all of those narratives into the centrality of the gospel! I am excited to see the Lords work this week!
Takin the gospel to Canada,
Twiga
The first place we ministered at was a little church named Renaissance Church here in Rawdon. We are actually staying with the pastor of the church here in Rawdon as we minister in Quebec. We did a lot of yard work for the Renaissance Church: mowing the grass, cutting down hedges, weed-eating and some other things. It is a small little church that is located a few miles away from the town of Rawdon. It is so interesting because everything is in French wherever we go! After we finished, we went back to the house and spent time getting to know one another. I am grateful to be serving with the students that are here with my brother!
Then, Saturday we helped put together a fence for a family on the outskirts of town. We got to use a chainsaw and sledge hammers: manly tools haha... The family we helped made us lunch which was so good! They made sausage and pork! I ate good for sure! Later on we went to a fair in Rawdon to help clean up afterwards. I had opportunities to talk with the people out at the park, which was where the fair was held at. The church has been aiding this fair for several years now and when we arrived they knew that we were with the Renaissance church immediately by our presence! What an amazing doorway to gospel presentation!
Sunday, my brother and I, along with a few students from my brothers student ministry led worship for Renaissance Church. I was so thankful for the opportunity to help lead in worship! I was also grateful to be a part of ministering alongside my older brother, Jason! I am so proud of his zeal and love for the Lord and in relaying the message of the Cross to others! Jason preached on Galatians 2:20 and how as we move forward, we must be hidden in the cross as we live our lives! He spoke about how we must not look at the cross and the saving work of Christ and then move forward in our own strength but that the cross must always be present every day of our lives! Gelatins 2:20, Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in Jesus Christ."
After church I went out to the park and played with Emma, my niece. It was so fun to hang out with Pookie, the name my brother an sister-in-law calls her a lot. Me and my brother then went to throw baseball at the baseball field, which brought back memories of my childhood. I am so thankful for my family and being here with them in Canada this week! Oh, and I also had the opportunity to be a part of Elijah, my nephew's bath time, which was a blast!
Tomorrow morning we start up the baseball camp with a range of 20 to 40 kids! Please pray for these kids and their families as we minister to them through how we act around them and engage in conversations with them. Each day one person from our group will speak on a different narrative that reveals the gospel. We will cover creation, the fall, redemption and restoration, then my brother will bring all of those narratives into the centrality of the gospel! I am excited to see the Lords work this week!
Takin the gospel to Canada,
Twiga
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Bonjour
I have now officially spent a full day in Canada! I arrived in Burlington, Vermont Thursday at 12:30 pm. Vermont has some really beautiful land! There were farms everywhere. It was really interesting because I had just encountered The Statue of Liberty and the huge city of New York 3 hours earlier. Talk about going from one extreme to the other haha...
When I arrived to Vermont, I met my brother and his group out at the front of the arrival area. I was completely surprised because a week ago he had mentioned the possibility of bringing Erin, and it was not supposed to work out. As I went back to the rear of rental car, Jason mentioned he had a big surprise for me! I opened the door and I saw my nephew, niece and sister-in-law! I was so shocked and excited at the same time! I don't get a lot o opportunities to see them, so this is a very rare and exciting opportunity! Getting to hear them say uncle Eric is like sweet music to my ears! I am so thankful for time that I will have with all of them!
I jumped in the car and we were on our way to the great land of Canada, EY! An hour and a half in our trip we found ourselves at The Border, another first time experience for me. There have been several first time experiences for me on this trip so far. When we arrived in Montreal, I was quickly reminded of my days in Atlanta, except for everything around me was covered in the French language haha... Just forewarn everyone, driver are crazy in the city of Montreal!
In just under 4 hours, we arrived in Rawdon, Canada. Beautiful country everywhere! Farms, extravagant Catholic churches, and beautiful lakes! Canada truly has beautiful land all around! We pulled into a subdivision where the house we were going to stay at was located. My brother was connected with a pastor of a small church of 35 in Rawdon. Ron and Isabelle are a wonderful couple an have been a joy to be around. I am very thankful for there hospitality and friendship! Please pray for their chuch Renaissance Bible church, as they seek out more people to come fill the church.
Well, that was the premise of the arrival. I will blog on the ministry we are doing later. I am very glad to be here and thankful for God using me to be a light in the darkness! Just something to keep in mind while you pray for us: Canada has one Bible believing church to every 20,000 people. A tough reality for me to hear!
Taking the gospel to Canada, Twiga
When I arrived to Vermont, I met my brother and his group out at the front of the arrival area. I was completely surprised because a week ago he had mentioned the possibility of bringing Erin, and it was not supposed to work out. As I went back to the rear of rental car, Jason mentioned he had a big surprise for me! I opened the door and I saw my nephew, niece and sister-in-law! I was so shocked and excited at the same time! I don't get a lot o opportunities to see them, so this is a very rare and exciting opportunity! Getting to hear them say uncle Eric is like sweet music to my ears! I am so thankful for time that I will have with all of them!
I jumped in the car and we were on our way to the great land of Canada, EY! An hour and a half in our trip we found ourselves at The Border, another first time experience for me. There have been several first time experiences for me on this trip so far. When we arrived in Montreal, I was quickly reminded of my days in Atlanta, except for everything around me was covered in the French language haha... Just forewarn everyone, driver are crazy in the city of Montreal!
In just under 4 hours, we arrived in Rawdon, Canada. Beautiful country everywhere! Farms, extravagant Catholic churches, and beautiful lakes! Canada truly has beautiful land all around! We pulled into a subdivision where the house we were going to stay at was located. My brother was connected with a pastor of a small church of 35 in Rawdon. Ron and Isabelle are a wonderful couple an have been a joy to be around. I am very thankful for there hospitality and friendship! Please pray for their chuch Renaissance Bible church, as they seek out more people to come fill the church.
Well, that was the premise of the arrival. I will blog on the ministry we are doing later. I am very glad to be here and thankful for God using me to be a light in the darkness! Just something to keep in mind while you pray for us: Canada has one Bible believing church to every 20,000 people. A tough reality for me to hear!
Taking the gospel to Canada, Twiga
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Do You Believe?
So here I am doing laundry and packing for my trip to Canada with my brother and a team from his church he serves at! I cannot believe that this trip is already one day away. Tomorrow morning at 6:30 am, I will be flying up to Burlington, Vermont and we drive 3 hours up to the Montreal area. Next week we will be running a baseball camp with kids and most importantly we will be putting the saving work of the gospel in action! Yesterday at work an older man that works under me began talking to me about how he doesn't hold a believing view in Hell. First of all this is very typical of my encounters at the warehouse! God moves constantly there and I must be entirely intentional in my evangelism when roaming around my department, while leading these people. I just smiled when this particular man opened up to me because I knew that somehow God was not only at work in this warehouse but also in the process of readying my heart for this trip. God is always at work! The problem when it comes to sharing the love of Christ to people is that we aren't always prepared! Paul points out that we should prepare our minds for action! We are always in the midst of Spiritual Warfare! Paul also made it very clear that we should place our minds on the things above: holy things, godly things, gospel-driven things! If we allow it, our minds can be running a thousand different directions! And each and everyone of those directions can potentially have nothing to do with the gospel! So how do we set our minds on the things above? How do we bring this gospel-driven mindset to the front of our thoughts and then place it into action? Well firstly, we must PRAY! The Word of God tells us that if we ask God for things we need, things that are eternally significant, He will give them to us! Secondly, in order to be gospel-driven, we must READ the Word of God! It's not just a piece of literature, it's the Living, Breathing, Communicating, Double-Edged Sword, the Word of God! We must treat it that way! Do not simply read it and walk away! Believe what it says! As you read it, ask God to reveal Himself to you! Ask Him to hide the Truths that you are reading in your heart, so that when you do encounter others, the gospel will then flow out your actions and you will speak important truth into the ones that you are speaking to! Thridly, Beware and Hold Fast to The Truth! Ephesians 6 clearly demonstrates that we are at war! Paul reveals that it is vital to put on the Full Armor of Jesus Christ! This is not to be taken lightly! Satan is not stupid neither is he oblivious of the Truths that we hold to! Satan also knows that these important Truths are very much for REAL! He will do everything possible to deceive us and throw us off our pursuit to sharing the saving power of Jesus Christ to the lost! One other thing I would like to share from my heart... Well, it's an answer to a question. We call these journeys, mission trips, but when are we to begin a mission trip? When we arrive to our ultimate destination? Or does it start at the very first encounter that the Lord presents us with? We are always to be ready to share Jesus Christ to people! So when I find myself next to a teenager on the plane I am flying off in, my goal to share the gospel is right ther and then! What is our purpose in this life? Why did God create us? To Know Him and make Him Known!
These truths do not only apply to people heading overseas or to a different part of the country, But to every individual that calls Jesus Christ their Savior! It applies at work, at school, while you go out to town to do errands, if your a mother and your at home raising your children. Wherever you are, Be prepared! Be Gospel-Driven!
Do You Believe?
Then what are you doing about it?
Believing that the power of the Gospel is always at work,
Twiga
These truths do not only apply to people heading overseas or to a different part of the country, But to every individual that calls Jesus Christ their Savior! It applies at work, at school, while you go out to town to do errands, if your a mother and your at home raising your children. Wherever you are, Be prepared! Be Gospel-Driven!
Do You Believe?
Then what are you doing about it?
Believing that the power of the Gospel is always at work,
Twiga
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