No good thing will He withhold... Germany and a surprise visit to Greece

What have I been up to these past 3 weeks? As most of you know, I've spent majority of the time in Germany, with my friend, Steffi... So the bigger question really is what didn't I do or explore here?  I've travelled north, south, alone, with Steffi, via train, boat, car and foot, old castles and new towns.  Plus, on top of that, I had a quick, unplanned visit to Rhodes Island, Greece for 4 nights.

So wait, let's start at the beginning... Germany!  I really don't know how to summarize my time here.  Almost everyday exploring a new town.  I travelled to Cologne, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Berlin, Dresden (my favourite!), Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, Rudesheim and a boat ride on the Rhine, Black Forest, Dachau Concentration Camp, Neuschwanstein Castle, Lake Constance (or Bodensee as it is called in Germany) and Heidelberg.  I even attended a German Wedding!  So yes, was a full 2 weeks!

I can tell you, Germany is a country with a lot of history (and very recent history with Hitler and the persecution of the Jews), beautiful landscape and country side, beautiful architecture, good traditional food and then probably the country I am aware of with the MOST castles!  Man, it felt like every town had a castle :).  But as they say - a picture speak a thousand words, so in this blog, I will tell my Germany story in pictures (and not words).  Just know, it is impossible to post everything (oh, I wish I could), but this is a snapshot... Snapshot with A LOT of photos... Haha! 

Cologne Cathedral

German Wedding Photobooth

Beautiful city of Hamburg (it has more bridges than Venice and Amsterdam combined - just a FYI)

Berlin - small remaining part of the Berlin Wall

Berlin - Reichtag building

Berlin - Jewish Memorial

Berlin - East Wall Gallery - Longest remains of Berlin Wall

Amazing, Beautiful city of Dresden (def a favourite)

Wonderful time with Steffi and Hannes

One of numerous castles - this one is one of 13 on the river Rhine boat ride

Black Forest

Dachau Concentration Camp - One can never leave here untouched!

Schloss Neuschwanstein (do you see the familiar Disney Castle?)

Beautiful Lindau at Lake Constance (another favourite)

Roses at Insel Mainau

Thanks Steffi for an absolute wonderful time in Germany!

WOW Heidelberg!

With Steffi and Lisa (one of my new friends that I met in Romania) in Heidelberg

But, my time didn't end here.  Very impulsive and unplanned, I spent 4 nights on Rhodes Island, Greece.  I had a wonderful time of rest - physically, but also emotionally and spiritually (with the last two a definite testimony of God's goodness, grace and faithfulness!).  What a blessing!  The weather was nice and sunny, so I spent my time on the beach, exploring the old historical city of Rhodes and Lindos village and going on a jeep safari. Oh how I forgot how potent the Greek sun is (my body had the evidence... Ouch!)  

4 Beautiful sunsets (no editing on the photo!)

Old historical Rhodes town

Jeep Safari

Lindos Village

One of the hardest things for me to deal with is dissapointment.  Either in people (which does happen) or in plans (things didn't or isn't working out as I've planned).  And then it becomes this snowball of thoughts in my  mind.  While in Greece, the Lord had to bring me again to a place of complete surrender to Him - with EVERYTHING... including my plans and my thoughts.  He spoke to me through Psalm 84, which I want to share with you...

How lovely is Your tabernacle,
O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may lay her young—
Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts,
My King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
They will still be praising You. Selah
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.

8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9 O God, behold our shield,
And look upon the face of Your anointed.
10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
Blessed is the man who trusts in You!

This Psalm is just full of promises and blessings.  Blessed is the man whose strength and trust (vs. 5&12) is in the Lord.  And did you see the promise in verse 11?  The Lord promise me (and you if you are His child) that if I walk in His will, He will not withhold anything that is good from me.  Yes, I might be dissapointed that things are not working out as I've planned - but if He promise that He will withhold nothing that is good, then what He has planned is just so much better than my plans.  

Just two Psalms later, in Psalm 86, the Psalmist describe God's character as: 'But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering, and abundent in mercy and truth"  If this is the character of my Lord, and He promise me not to withhold any good thing if I walk in His will, then I can sure trust Him!  And so can (and should) you!.  He is in control.  He has it all planned out. He has the battle plan ready.  He just ask for my obedience.

I can't believe that it is only 3 more sleeps until I set my feet again on South African soil.  Oh what an amazing exploring, learning, adventurous, soul searching and growth experience this has been.  I thank the Lord for His faithfulness, goodness and guidance through it and through this all, He was (and still is) the best travelling companion because HE NEVER LEAVE ME NOR FORSAKE ME!

Much love,

xxx

Romania: Blessed, Amazing, Humbling

My oh my - how do you sum up my last 2 weeks in one blog?  With the amount of things I experienced and what the Lord has taught me I could have blogged every couple of days.  But my 12days in Romania was amazing! So be prepared for a long blog update...

The first 3 days in Romania consisted of travel, orientation and preparation.  The team consisted of 7 individuals (from USA, Switzerland, Germany and England) , a team of 7 from the OM transit team (from Australia, New Zealand, USA, South Korea and Germany) and 4 from OM Romania.  So given the big diversity of team members, we got to know each other in those first day and got an introduction into Romanian history and culture.  One of the things we did was "Amazing Race" through the city centre of Pitesti (our base for the outreach).  We had to communicate with Romanians, do, find and eat typical Romanian things.  Through this I realised just how different the culture is and with a very few speaking English, that language might be a problem) so my prayer was that the Lord would help overcome that barrier).

Team lunch

Amazing Race in Pitesti - eating some 'small salty fish' dish... not so nice ;)

Then on Thursday, 23 August, the cycling started.  We cycled to a nearby Gypsy village, where we spent the next 3 nights.  In those days we spent time in 2 Gypsy villages.  The Gypsies are about 3.5% of Romania's population and the largest group of Gypsies are based in Romania.  What we experienced is hard to put into words.  Materialistic speaking, these people have nothing!  Their houses are tiny with lots of people living together and often no running water in the house.  Very few are educated.  But they are a beautiful people group, spontaneous in their worship and very welcoming to foreigners.  With both of the Gypsy villages we had kids programs, youth programs 2 nights, prayer meeting and church together

Cycling outreach

Kids from the Gypsie village

Kids program

A definite highlight was the very first prayer evening, only a couple of hours after we arrived.  The prayer evening started 15minutes late and by then, there was only about 5 people there.  But we started anyway... With in about 20minutes, the church was so full that we had to bring in more chairs/benches!  Together with a guest band (Gypsies love music btw) we praise and worship the Lord together.  With about 12 nationalities gathered in that room, we all sang the same songs (each in its own language), worshipping the 1 True God!  The one that united these 12 nations.

12 Nations together

During the kids programs, I had the opportunity to do the teaching and had the opportunity to share the Gospel with them.  Twice using the colours or the "wordless Gospel"and a second time preparing a teaching on forgiveness.  For someone that is not fond of speaking in front of people, and like to prepare long in advance, the Lord gave me complete peace in my heart.  He also gave me the words and message (which we had very little time to prepare).  But the Lord used it - after the teaching on forgiveness, LOTS of kids decided to pray for salvation.  And that in itself blew my mind (Raluca said my face was one of pure surprise).  The fact that I formed part of the ALL mighty, ALL powerful God we serves' plan for that village.  During my time there I became very aware of the BIGness of God and how He doesn't need us.  Psalm 148 says that the whole universe praise God, including sea creatures and the universe.  To make it a little real, watch this video by Louie Giglio... But this BIG, amazing God, chose us to be part of His master plan.

One of my 'new gypsy friends'

Kids programme

Sunday School

These are just two of the highlights... I wish I could tell you all the amazing things that happened and about the people, but these villages will definitely always be remembered by me.

Our last two outreach days we parked the OM Bus 4 life in the city centre of Pitesti.  This bus sells Christian literature.  Our team reached out through handing out of tracts, street evangelism (approaching people and telling them the Gospel) and prayer.  This was an experience - something I've never done before.  During one of our street evangelising time, together with Oliviana and Andrea, we approached a women, explained the Gospel and she prayed for salvation right there.  Praise God for that.  With others, you could see that they were seriously thinking about what we shared.  The sad part though is how most people think they can get to heaven through good deeds.  In these two days it was beautiful to see how the different spiritual gifts in the body of Christ worked together to glorify Him.  I experienced how the Holy Spirit equips you with the right words and verses while sharing the Gospel and how important prayer and prayer intercession are during these outreaches.  On the last night everyone shared their stories and it was evident how the Lord worked in Pitesti during those 2 days and what a privilege (once again) to have been part of it.

The team

Bus 4 life in Pitesti city centre

Elya, Andrea and me having a Romanian Covrig

In Bucharest - having a typical Romanian dish

Those of you that knows me well, or have heard my testimony, knows what an impact 1 John 2:6 ("He who says he abides in Him [Christ] ought himself also to walk as He [Jesus] walked.") had in my life.  For those of us that says we believe in Jesus, need to walk as He did, following His example.  One example of the Lord that I was challenged on was that of Jesus' humbleness and servanthood in John 13:1-17 (Jesus washing His disciples feet - those that don't know the story, I recommend you go and read it).

The very first verse makes it clears why He did it - He loved them to the end.  His love for us is a love that never ends, but He also loves us to the fullest extent.  And then we read how Jesus washed His disciples feet.  Washing the feet of people was the job of the lowest servant in the household.  But Jesus, the most important person, did it.  He did all the preparations (getting everything ready to wash their feet) Himself and wash their feet.  It was a complete act of servanthood.  He didn't just talk about humbleness/humility - He gave them (and me) the example of it!  We ought to wash one another's feet (v14) is an attribute that marks Jesus' followers.  We all would gladly wash Jesus' feet but He tells us to wash one another's feet.  How about washing someones feet even though they will betray you?  Jesus washed Judas Iskariot's knowing what he was about to do.  Anything I do for someone else that wash away the grime of the world and the dust of defeat and discouragement is foot washing.  Am I willing to do that? Am I willing to do that to people knowing that they may betray me or have already?  The world criticise, but Jesus' way is different - it doesn't condemn or judge!

But like Peter, I struggle to accept others service to me.  This is challenging because we often show a servants heart by accepting the service of others.  By refusing it, it could be a sign of well hidden pride.  Dave Guzick, in his commentary explained that humility does not begins with the giving of service but by the readiness to receive it!

So I want to ask you:  If you say you are a follower of Jesus, do you follow His example?  Are you willing to wash another's feet, including people "lower" than you?  Or those that betrays you?  Spurgeon gave the challenge that "if there is a position in the church where the workers will toil hard work and get no thanks for it, take it and be pleased with it.  Covet humble work & when you get it, be content to continue in it.  There is no great rush after the lowest places, you will rob no one by seeking them."

What Jesus did that day, stuck in Peter's heart and mind and he wrote later in his letter..."be clothed in humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5)

It stuck in my head and heart... what about yours?

I arrived on Friday in Germany, visiting my friend Steffi.  I even got to attend a German wedding yesterday! 

To each of my new friends in Christ (Romania team from around the world) - MUELTEMESC for a wonderful, blessed time, unity in our team and memories forever!  Keep shining your lights for Jesus (with the joy of the Lord)

To everyone that is continuously praying for me, encouraging me and kept in contact so far - THANK YOU!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

*Praise God for the wonderful, blessed privilege to be part of His master plan

*Praise God for every person that committed their lives to Jesus during our time in Romania

*Continue to pray for those that prayed for salvation for spiritual growth and contact with other believers that are able to disciple these new believers

*And then last but not least - please continue to pray for me - for the Lord's guidance in my life

Much love

xxx