Posted in America by Josh Markland on 7/11/2011
I'm happy to report that we made it back without losing any luggage, and more importantly, any teenagers. The one father who playfully threatened to come after me if his daughter failed to return at the appointed date and time was especially happy. And I was especially relieved...
Thank you to everyone who prayed for us and supported us; the trip was a fantastic success. I've never had more fun with a group of teenagers than I had with these 14 young men and women. Their lives brought them from the far   corners of the country, Washington to Vermont, Arizona to Georgia. Quickly they opened up and bought in. I was surprised a bit by their collective hunger, both literally and figuratively. They were all seeking God in ways I could never have dreamed of when I was their age. And holy cow could these kids eat! I think the mini-mart down the road hit their quarterly sales goal during our visit.
But God showed up in big ways; ways that none of us expected on a little 10-day trip for high school students. He spoke to kids for the first time. One girl got a vision for the first time. We experienced God's power and love in seeing a demon cast out of a girl. And we literally watched a skin rash disappear after someone prayed over it. We played with orphans, 3 of whom were sisters, the oldest of which found their mother's dead body several weeks prior. We took care of some chores at a nearby elderly home, pulling weeds and washing wheelchairs. We played games with the kids at the school where we stayed. The list goes on.
Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico is a beautiful place, and I thank you all for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this trip. Please continue to pray for this team as they head back to their schools this fall, back to their normal lives. He is the same God at home as the one they encountered in Puerto Rico!
Here are some random pics from the trip:
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Posted in America by Josh Markland on 5/19/2011
Good news, folks. It's finally time to dust off my sleeping bag and backpack! From June 16th - July 1st I will be co-leading a high school missions trip to Puerto Rico through the Ambassador program at AIM. I'm extremely excited that AIM has offered me the opportunity to pour into the lives these teenagers, some of whom have never left the country before.
Though we will only be there for two weeks, this will be a very relational outreach. Our time will be spent partnering with local churches and ministries focused on kids ministry, visiting local orphanages and nursing homes, door to door evangelism, and sports ministry. Many Puerto Ricans live well below the standard for what is considered "poverty," desperately in need of hope and joy.
I was a freshman in high school the first time I left the country. The church that my family had just begun attending was sending a group of high schoolers to Jamaica for 10 days. I remember that when we got off the plane it felt SO hot outside. The bugs were huge. The shower water felt like glacier run-off after being in the scorching sun all day. People were living in fallen-down shacks with incomplete walls. My Jamaican experience definitely impacted me at the time, but I'm just now beginning to see even more fruit come from seeds that were planted on that trip. I know that the same impact will be had in the lives of all of these students and I'm excited to be a part of it!
As many of you know, Puerto Rico is of particular interest to me because of some of the dreams and visions that God has given me. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you can read more about that here. This will be my first time to visit the country and serve it's people; what I anticipate will be the first of many!
If you would like to partner with me, please click the "Support Me" tab on the left side of this page. The cost of the trip is just shy of $1,000. You all have been fantastic in supporting me both prayerfully and financially and I am deeply thankful. I ask you to once again join me in serving God's people overseas.
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Posted in America by Josh Markland on 10/12/2010
It seems as though I'm a little rusty at blogging. The preceding sentence is the product of fifteen minutes of trying to figure out how to begin this blog. Apparently clever introductory sentences are harder to come by these days. But hang in there, this thing is bound to get better.
Last weekend I was in the Richmond area for a few days, a last minute decision that was the result of both a suddenly empty calender and the willingness of Priceline.com to accept my pittance of an airfare offer. I arrived at the gate only to find that we had a plane but no crew. The website didn't mention that the discount ticket was "Bring your own crew" only. Lesson learned. While in town I received several requests for an update blog. My apologies for leaving you in the dark. I prefer to think of it as building anticipation. Nevertheless, here we go.
I returned home from the G42 Leadership Academy in June with clarity and purpose. The World Race was fantastic in that it opened my eyes and affected my heart, but I was at a loss as to what to do with that. Full of desires, interests, beliefs, and skills, I had no idea how to put them all together into something that made sense. However, while I was at G42 working on who I want to be in life, God began to show me what He wants me to do in life as well.
Since I was a kid I've dreamed of working in professional baseball. By working I don't mean being a baseball player, I mean working in the front office. I don't know why and I can't explain it, but it's always been there. I have a very vivid memory as a kid (maybe 9 or 10 years old) of my brother and our friend Matt going out to play while I stayed behind to  do research on baseball players in the Sporting News magazine that came in the mail. That's normal, right?
While at G42, God gave me a vision for how I can use my education, love of baseball, and desire to help those in need (specifically young men who grow up without a father). I'm going to become a baseball agent who serves both the business manager role, but also a discipleship role that ensures the growth and development of the man as a whole, not just as an athlete. For those unfamiliar with what an agent is/does, think Jerry Maguire. That's become my standard answer since a female friend of mine, after having heard a 10-minute, detailed explanation of what I wanted to do asked, "So, do you like want to be like Jerry Maguire?" Why yes, I suppose I do in some ways.
Nearly 25% of baseball players are from the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico, both of which are considered developing countries. Many come from large, impoverished families, some without a father present. While I'm certainly not limiting myself to only athletes from these two countries, I recognize a greater need in those places and would  thus like to devote a greater amount of my attention there. The remainder of my vision would include developing a  post-baseball career plan with each athlete from day one. If he doesn't come from extreme poverty, then let's take a trip overseas and experience that. I want to find out what grabs his heart and focus on what God's doing there. Focus on how that athlete can use his God-given platform to further Jesus' kingdom. Maybe that would be in the form of sponsoring Christ-based sports camps, or feeding all the children at an orphanage for the next 10 years, or funding micro-enterprise businesses as a means of providing sustained income to a community, or sending impoverished children to school to break generations of hopelessness, etc. etc. You get the point, there's a lot of need in this world.
I feel very strongly that God wants me to open some eyes in the baseball world to that daunting list of needs. To not only love people, but spur them on to action. However, you don't just fill out an application for this type of position. It's more like entrepreneurial sales with yourself as the product. Good thing I brushed my teeth this morning. To learn  some of the basics and get my feet wet, I'm currently interning with 2:8 Sports in Atlanta, a company that shares a similar vision to mine, only for NFL players. The sport isn't the same, but the principles are transferable. I've been learning a lot and feel very fortunate to have this opportunity. My internship ends in about a month, and at this point I'm not totally sure what comes next, but I couldn't be more sure of the direction that I'm heading.
There are several things that I would ask you to be in prayer about. First and foremost, please pray that I will be sensitive to the Spirit and patient to wait on God's timing when considering my next step. I tend to get overly excited and want to jump in right away, but that might not be what God has in mind. This is also a job that is commission based, which means I need to sign a client before I make any money. I fully understand that this will take time (maybe years), but I do need to cover my living expenses in the meantime. Please pray that God will provide me with some income opportunities that both pay the bills and provide me adequate time to continue working and preparing for this dream. And finally, please be in prayer for my first client. He is out there somewhere and God is not only going to radically impact his heart, but he's going to use him get this thing started and affect thousands of people. I pray for him nearly every day.
So, there it is in a nutshell. I've left out a great deal of detail, but I hope you get a glimpse of where I'm headed and why. I can't fully express in a blog how excited I am about this and I hope you are too. Thank you to those of you who have been praying for me and supporting me since the World Race, you are very much appreciated!
My apologies for the lengthy blog, but it's been 6-months since I last wrote. Kudos if you made it to the end. The end.
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Posted in Spain by Josh Markland on 3/28/2010
Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail, held in place by a blue bow. Those big, brown eyes shimmered under the glow of the streetlights as she smiled. He couldn't stop thinking about her since her first day at the office; she was perfect. This was the night he had been waiting for, a chance to get to know her during drinks and karaoke with their colleagues. No pressure.
As the night draws to an end, Tom and Summer help their drunk friend Mackenzie into a cab. As Mackenzie falls into the backseat of the cab, he perfectly, though a bit awkwardly, sets Tom up.
"He likes you. He like, likes you! Why don't you just tell her, Tom?"
The cab pulls away, leaving Tom and Summer alone on the sidewalk in silence. Smiling again, she asks him if that was true. He pretends ignorance and forces her to be the one who shows any sign of courage.
"Do you...like me?"
Tom had been a noodle of a man for the entire movie thus far. I was growing impatient with him. I actually yelled at the computer screen, "Be a man, Tom!"
"Yeah, of course I like you." Surprisingly, Tom is showing some gumption.
"As friends?"
And now comes the moment of decision. For an instant, a look of panic and fear washes across Tom's face. To answer "yes" means to take a risk, "no" would be a retreat back to comfortable. What's it gonna be, Tom?
"Yeah, as friends."
Sensing the fear, she gives him another smile and another chance. "Just as friends?"
"Yeah, just as friends. I mean, I don't know, I hadn't really thought about it. Yes, just as friends."
Tom, you blew it. I won't say how the rest of the movie "500 days of Summer" goes, but I will say that Tom never does act like a man. Not with Summer, anyway. His defining moment with her came on the sidewalk and he backed down.
I actually kind of hated Tom for the rest of the movie. Well, hated is a strong word. I guess I resented him because I could see some of him in me, in my past, and in other guys that I know. I even had a flashback to the park bench couple that I wrote about a few weeks ago, wondering if they got to the barren wasteland that they're currently in because the husband backed down during his sidewalk moments.
All of that was to say that I'm currently reading a book called "Next Generation Leader" by Andy Stanley. Yesterday I read a chapter that focused on courage in leadership and Stanley had some great quotes.
"Courage is your willingness to strap on your fear and move ahead."
"Without courage we will simply accumulate a collection of good ideas and regrets."
However, my favorite quote came from a story he told about a whitewater rafting trip with his sons. Apparently Stanley often preaches courage to his sons, forcing them to do things that they're scared of. That's right, I said forcing. There's something for you fathers to think about. Anyway, they're driving along the road next to the rapids and Stanley's 9-year old son, with a look of complete and total fear on his face, turns to his father and says, "Dad, I know I'm not going to want to get in the raft when we get there. Just make me do it anyway."
I think I read that quote about 5 times in a row. Then I prayed it. My example was dealing with love, but I'm not speaking specifically to that. I'm going to be more courageous in all things because a)I want to be, and b)I asked God to make me "do it anyway" and I know He'll hold me to that.
You have to take chances in life. I don't want to miss my sidewalk moments.
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Posted in Spain by Josh Markland on 3/8/2010
They didn't know what they'd find when the ships landed. That was the whole point, they were explorers; they were used to forging into the unknown. Since they'd left Spain 14 years ago, success had met them every step of the way. Cuba was now part of the vast Spanish Empire, but that wasn't enough. Their leader wanted more. He wanted Mexico and all of the Aztec Empire.
Hernando Cortez knew that Montezuma and the Aztecs, having conquered all of the surrounding tribes, would stand their ground. He also knew that, having only 700 men, the Aztecs outnumbered the Spaniards by 300-1. His men were nervous and, more than likely, questioning their leader. It seemed as though he was leading them into certain death. What Cortez did next must have furthered their doubts. To prove his commitment to the expedition and eradicate any thoughts of failure or a backup plan, Cortez burned his own ships. All of them. He was fully committed.
A sane person has a backup plan. Maybe even a backup plan for the backup plan. Plus we have an IRA, a 401k, health insurance, life insurance, fire insurance, car insurance, etc etc etc etc. The future is unpredictable, so we manage risk.
And I treat God the same way, as a risk. I'm not sure what He's going to say or do next, so I make backup plans just in case. I'm willing to listen to Him, but I feel better knowing that I have a Plan B. I want to make sure I don't get caught in a 300-1 man battle.
Cortez didn't formulate an escape plan before waging war, and he certainly didn't buy more life insurance. Nope, he did the opposite; he burned his only escape option. It was succeed or die. This was a battle that he was willing to stake his life on. Same thing with Christ. There was no backup plan; He committed his life to one sole purpose, and in doing so paid the ultimate price.
Cortez was restless in Spain. You can argue over some of his foolish decisions, but one thing is for sure; he was made to explore. It was wired into his DNA. He felt fully alive when he was conquering a new land. Besides, the ships were just going to take him back to the mundane, the ordinary. He didn't need that. He didn't want that. He was willing to stake his life on living out what he was created to do.
I've got a bigger fleet of ships than Cortez could have dreamed of. After all, life is unpredictable and I may have to settle when choosing a career, a wife, a church community. Better make sure I have some backup plans.
Or I could burn the ships and commit myself to the life I want. With so many unfulfilled sane people in the world, maybe a little insanity is a good thing.
Yep, I'm going to burn my ships now.
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Posted in Spain by Josh Markland on 3/6/2010
I actually wrote this blog last month, on February 6th. For some reason I haven't wanted to post blogs, so I held onto it. But now I feel like I should post it, so here it is....
I read a Proverb everyday according to the date. Yesterday was the 5th, so I read Proverbs 5.
"May your fountain be blessed and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth....may you ever be captivated by her love."
Yesterday was a beautiful day here in Mijas, Spain. The sun's rays were hot on my skin, a stark contrast to the crisp air. It was the perfect day for a walk. I wandered through the village for a while, half-exploring, half-escaping. The white-washed stucco walls were pure and bright, the flowers were deep shades of red, yellow, and purple. There was a faint drone of busyness which was more calming than anything. Somehow I ended up over at the lookout, a mountain top view of Fuengirola and the Mediterranean Sea. Not often having seen a mountain top view of the Mediterranean, I stayed for a while.
An older couple slowly made their way up the hill and sat on the park bench across from mine. He checked his watch and sat down on the end of the bench. She sat as far away from him as possible, the picnic basket acting as a buffer. For an hour they sat and ate. He stared straight ahead, slowly chewing a sandwich. She abruptly applied some sun screen, her head swiveling in every direction except for his. He checked his watch again and mumbled something to her. She began to eat, continuing to give her attention to anything but her husband. Proverbs 5 came flooding back into my mind. This was the most loveless picnic I have ever seen a man and wife share.
"May your fountain be blessed and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth....may you ever be captivated by her love."
My grandparents have been married for over 50 years. It's only been recently that I've really begun to grasp exactly what that means. Well, as much as I can grasp as a 26 year old who has yet to marry I suppose. Just like any couple who has been together that long, they've had plenty of ups and more than their fair share of downs. But for as long as I live, I will remember this about my grandparents...
They always dance together.
Whenever we have a big family event, my grandfather dances with my grandmother. Even this past summer at my brother's wedding, my grandfather wobbled out on the dance floor, threw aside his cane, and danced with my grandmother. He insisted on it. I'll never forget that about them.
It may seem like a trivial thing, but I don't think it is. I think that's his way of saying, "I'm glad we're sharing this park bench together."
I never want to have a picnic like the one I watched today. I'm always going to dance with her.
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Posted in America by Josh Markland on 1/20/2010
Tomorrow is the last day of Project SearchLight. We've had a blast, covered a ton of material, and seen God begin to reveal some dreams and passions in people. Here are two more blogs from the participants.
You Can't Do That! by Stephanie Pridgen on 1/19/2010
Presently I am reading The Calling by Brother Andrew. During my time on the Race I read his first book, God's Smuggler, which I highly recommend as well.
The following passage is one that really struck me as I read it earlier and I wanted to share it with you:
Back in 1953 while I attended the Worldwide Evangelism Crusade (WEC)
missionary training school in Glasgow, Scotland, I needed to find a
place to go for the Christmas holidays. I couldn't return home to
Holland because I had no money, and we weren't allowed to remain on the
campus.
I had spent much of the fall semester in bed with a back problem, and
I had found solace in the writings of the late Oswald Chambers -
especially his classic, My Utmost for His Highest. I had even
written to his wife, Biddy, about the blessing I had received. In her
reply she had invited me to visit her home in the south of England
sometime. So as the Christmas holidays drew near, I phoned her, and she
told me I was welcome to stay there. I didn't mention it to anyone; I
just went.
When I got back to school in January and sat down at the dinner table
with the whole group, Stuart Dinnen, the director, said, "So, where've
you been, Andrew?"
I said I had stayed with Oswald Chambers's family.
"What?" he said. "You can't do that!"
"Maybe not," I replied with a smile, "but I just did it."
How often do others say, "You can't do that"? Or you personally respond, "I can't do that"?
As Brother Andrew points out further on, sometimes a door is
closed until you start moving toward it, much like a supermarket door.
Our God is a God who can make the impossible possible.
Hello my name is Free by Melissa Betz on 1/18/2010
Ps 91: He will cover you under His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.
"Don't get attatched, she is going to die" 29 years ago a women looked
into the beautiful little face of her week old baby and promised her
that day that she would indeed live. Her hopes and dreams fading as
her child continued to not take in food, not grow, not thrive. She
would watch at night desperately for signs of life. In that time a
single nurse would sit at the child's crib and pray.
The womans name was Swanetta Willemsma and that little bundle of joy
she never gave up on was me. Throughout my life I suffered from
bladder, kidney issues. Phenmonia, Croup, Bronchitis, and the list
goes on. I spent many days at home in bed, some days in the hospital,
and lived on antibotics. I was the social outcast in gym class, they
didn't even bother picking on me. I was the kid that wet her pants in
class, because the sub didn't believe that I had to go every 5
minutes. It was hard on my parents, it was hard on my sister who
lovingly helped raise me, and it was hard on me.
Being the "sick" kid you slowly begin to
fade into the background. You stop taking risks because you fear you
can't do it. I grew up in pain physically and emotionally and with
little outlet to release it. Doctors had trouble finding a source to
everything. Some thought I must be faking it "No kid gets sick this
much." My mom suffered a simular story and therefore was convinced
that it was just my lot in life, and that it wasn't going to change and
I would end up sick just like her.
29 years of infirmity and fear. 29 years
of battling mindsets that told me I couldn't, including my own
mindset. 29 years of walking in a death sentence put on me from the
day I was born. 29 years that Satan has been trying to take me out by
infirmity. 29 years and the battle is won.
I woke up like any other day, aching,
tired. I have learned how to live with the pain. I have learned to
ignore it as best as I can and press into my day. I had learned to
except it. WRONG!. I no longer except anything. I woke up today
knowing God had something he really wanted to say. For the last 4
years I have truly believed that I could be healed of all the sickness
that plaqued my body. I thought I was speaking life over me and
believing fully for the healing to come.
But the thing of it is, the healing
came. It was done the day Jesus bore all our iniquities and our pain.
It was over then. It was the battle of the mind. It was taking
captive of my thoughts.
I have spent 4 years walking out freedom each day. I have had healings
of the heart again and again. I have had God drastically change my
mind, my attitudes, my behaviours, and habits. I have experienced
miracles of healing physically in many area. I grew an inch talller if
you can remember that time. But it wasn't done, God still was digging
in one big area.
Whether we believe it our not the Bible
says "life and death is in the power of the tonque" Choosing life,
means speaking truth about yourself. I am not talking name it and
claim it like "I am going to get a new car amen" I don't want the
things outside the promises of God. But God has given us promises in
His word and He says he will tear down and build up. He will take out
the things that are not of him, that are from the world, the result of
our sins, our words against ourselves and the words of death spoken
from others, and He will break the hold they had on you.
29 years ago a doctor handed my mom a
death sentence for my life, and now God has handed me a new life
sentence. A life of walking in his freedom. Today my heart exploded
with a new level of His love so deep, so profound, so overwhelming
that I weep at the beauty of it. It takes my breath away, and I am
so intimatly by my God. The truth is my name is Melissa Betz and I am
fearfully and wonderfully made. I am his daughter and as His daughter
he would go to the ends of the earth to fight for me. The truth is
that I am his, he bought me back from a life of sin and a death
sentence. He randsomed me and I am not bound to a life of sin, lies
and fear. The truth is he didn't do this for just me, he did this for
you and now he is calling you out to say "hello my name is free"
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Posted in America by Josh Markland on 1/16/2010
Continuing what I started yesterday, here is another blog from a participant of Project SearchLight. Her name is Teri Gunnink and she has a HUGE passion to share Jesus with the people of Haiti. She's in the process of assisting AIM to send aid groups over as we speak. Please keep Teri and the entire Haiti team in your prayers!
Tonight I'm Running by Teri Gunnink 1/15/10
Yesterday I was going at a nice easy pace of I would say 40
miles per hour.
Tonight I find myself speeding along the road of life going
100 miles per hour.
The earthquake in Haiti happened and then the response came
flooding in. When I left for Project Searchlight one of the things I wanted to
come out of it with was hearing a word from God about the timing of when I was supposed
to start something in Haiti. I also wanted to come out of it with some possible
networking.
Be careful what you ask for. Today I came on board with AIM
and will be helping mobilize teams to Haiti. I will be moving to Gainesville,
GA in the next 2 weeks to pursue whatever this is that God has me doing.
Our first efforts are going to be in assessing the damage
through our contacts. We will be sending teams very soon to help get food,
water and medical supplies to the area.
Once the immediate needs are being met we will shift into
our medium term goals. Sending teams during spring break and this summer.
The long term goals are to establish long lasting, kingdom
ministry in Haiti.
You can be a part of all of this with me. Between
coordination here and on the field I will be living off of support. My
job over
at least the next 6 months will be mobilizing people to help Haiti. My
heart is
100% in this effort. Once my new support account gets put together I
will be
sending a link if you would like to support me. Together we can bring
restoration to the physical needs of Haiti and redemption to the people
of Haiti through the Gospel Message.
In order for supplies to be delivered and people to get to
the field there must be people behind the efforts here in the states. I am one
of these people for AIM and I need your help supporting me while I am putting
all my efforts into doing this.
*** I still plan on traveling to Haiti with Canaan
Orphanage on February 28- March 4. my trip might be lengthened
depending on AIM's needs at that time. I still need to raise about $400
to go on this trip. If you would like to donate please email me:
terig85@gmail.com
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Posted in America by Josh Markland on 1/15/2010
I enjoy blogging, but I don't do it as often as I wish I did. Truth be told, I guess I don't always view it as a priority in my day. Maybe I think people won't care enough to read it, or perhaps I could spend my time more effectively doing something else. Whatever it may be, I just don't get to it as much as I should.
For the last week, I've really strived to serve the 14 participants in Project SearchLight. I want the coffee to be ready when they stumble in at 8am for worship. I want them to feel heard during our daily debrief sessions; to not have a single person who feels like their heart was missed during the day. I want them to have what they need to realize their dreams after they leave next week. I want them to do HUGE things when they leave here. Benny and the girls (or jets) aren't from my WR squad, but they're World Racers, and no matter which squad you're from, World Racers have a bond and feel comfortable with each other. My experience over the last week hasn't been any different.
But instead of continuing on about what I've experience so far during Project SearchLight, I'm going to pass on stories of what others are experiencing; stories that you may not have come across otherwise. Be in prayer for this group, they're special!
Posted in General Articles by Jennifer Denman on 1/10/2010
Bed Time Stories
There are 14 of us...seems quite small
compared to the 52 that I am used to being a part of. All but one is an H-squad alum...yet Helen
doesn't feel like an outsider. She's one of us. We are a different breed, I
think. We seem to thrive in a different
culture...not how America is a different culture than Thailand. It's more of a difference of lifestyle that
others just don't seem to understand, but we all do. We understand each other perfectly.
We've been apart for just over a
month...seems longer. Yet looking around
the circle we found ourselves in this morning everything felt so normal, so
familiar. I looked across the room at
Benny...I know his favorite ice cream and his obsession with hot chocolate and how much he loves to be on rooftops. Straight in front of me is Rachel, who makes
me smile from the inside out because of her larger than life personality and
how excited she gets when God gives her hearts.
Mel sits beside, like she did all year...and that seems so comfortable. Despite not being on the race anymore...simply
being in the same room with them feels safe. It's like a breath of fresh air.
Seth tells us what our next exercise is going
to be and I realize I not only know the food preferences and personal habits of
these people I am surrounded by...I also know their hearts. He says, "We're going to go around and I want
you tell me something or someone you saw this past year that 'tweaked' you...something that
made you think to yourself 'that is just not right'".
None
of us knows what is about to happen. No
one knows just how powerful 14 (plus a few extra) stories would be when told
one after the other. One by one, we lamented
the injustice of the children we saw in orphanages, some with not even the
ability to get out of bed. A couple
girls shared a story of watching a 19 year old African girl die of AIDS. There was a story of a street kid named Hueso
who captured the hearts of an entire squad...yet, that squad had to eventually leave
and go on to the next country, and yet believe that the love that was shown to
him was enough to save him from a life on the streets. A story of children and families living
literally on a garbage dump... one after the other...
The atmosphere in the room began to
thicken. It began to weigh heavily on us
as we recounted everything that we had seen this past year...all the needs, the
injustices, all the faces, all the names that had stayed with us and most
probably always will. By the time we got
around the circle, most of the room was in tears. Mel, half-heartedly joked that we could have
gone around a dozen more times and told a dozen more stories about all that we
had seen...but the thing is, that is very true, we could have.
Over come with emotion and very much
feeling the shift in direction, Seth, struggling to even speak, thinks it would
be a good idea to just pray for all of these people by name...one by one. And so we do.
With tear stained cheeks and blood shot eyes we all look up after some
time in prayer, having cried out to God to be the Comforter and Great Physician
and Provider to each one.
Fast forward to the evening...we are
all sitting comfortably in the house and our "house dad", Jeff, stands to make
an announcement. Sometime in the
evening, Seth has shared with him the stories of the day and how impactful the
time was for us. Obviously this has
touched Jeff greatly and even given him an idea. Realizing that we all have stories to
tell...stories of how Jesus is very real and present even in the most painful of
circumstances and stories of how coming in contact with the hurting and poor of
the world has changed us...he wants to give us all a chance to tell our
story.
Now he doesn't want to take us out
to dinner with he and his wife and hear about our trip, or sign up to receive
our blogs...he wants to invite each one of us, one at a time, to be a part of
putting his children to bed. He wants
His children to hear stories about the compassion of Jesus, the love of Christ
and the healing powers of God! What an
amazing and humbling idea. And actually,
what an honor! So, for the next two
weeks- Brittney, Brooks and Bennett will fall into slumber with the words of
missionaries running through their heads.
My prayer is that their dreams will be filled with visions of themselves
doing signs and wonders all over the world in the name of Jesus. Who knows, maybe this will be the time in
their lives that God plants the seed of a dream that they will one day walk out
as a mighty woman or man of God!!
So, our experiences on the World
Race will be for the next two weeks bed time stories. But they are more than stories, they are
testimonies. Powerful re-telling of
encounters that changed our lives, and the mere act of sharing them will change
others as well. Tonight as I a fall asleep
I think my mind will be full of faces and names and experiences...I don't know
how I will choose just one when it is my turn to put the kids to bed.
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Posted in America by Josh Markland on 1/11/2010
It's been quite a while since my last blog, but I want to fill you all in on what I'm currently doing. I'm still in Gainesville, GA working at the Adventures in Missions home office. I've been working in the Marketing Department to promote all of the various AIM brands as well as participating in the AIM Innovation Team. Our first project as an Innovation Team is currently underway. It's called Project SearchLight.
As The World Race has continued to grow, it's become very evident that we need a follow up to the 11 months on the field. Some participants have come home knowing EXACTLY what God has for them next. But the majority come home confused, not knowing what to do after such a life-changing experience. It's tough to find where your passions, skills, plans, and the world's need all intersect. It's tough to find your voice. So we created Project SearchLight.
Right now we've got 14 ex-Racers in Gainesville finding their voices. They all have passion. They all have skills. They all have the ability to put those passions and skills together. And they've all DEFINITELY tasted the vast collection of world needs. For the next two weeks, we're going to find where all of those things intersect. We're going to pray, to seek God's direction.....and then we're going to make some plans.
They racers have changed the world, but they've still got a lot of changing left to do! These are some incredible men and women of God. Please keep them in your prayers. The foundations to some HUGE Kingdom plans will be laid this week. How exciting is that?!
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