A Vision Tour of the Heart
Before I begin, I want you all to know that these newsletters are more than just updates on what God is doing in my life on the outside, but they are also about what God is doing on the inside, my heart. So, sit with me and let’s see what’s in store this time!
Well, I’m back from South Asia and it was a TIME! 3 months of my life where I was living in a whole other world! My time there was *beautifully difficult* and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. In South Asia, I believe My Father revealed a lot about my heart. I’d like to let you in so that you know that God is always at work, even if it doesn’t seem that way, rather it seems pointless.
When I arrived in South Asia, I was coming from the Middle East. I was already one and a half months into my trip and the ME took a lot out of me! At this point, I was physically sick but even more homesick. Not a good combo… yet I had 3 more months ahead of me. As I laid in bed defeated with my stomach turning in knots, I questioned, “how am I going to do this?”. It seemed IMPOSSIBLE. So, I took it day by day. The first step being, getting over this sickness! Once that was done, I was ready. Still missing home but pushing through and trying to enjoy myself. Praise God He had given me people to be open and honest with about how I was feeling. Our host family would check in to see how Macey and I were doing every week. I appreciated the wife’s help in this area.
Nevertheless, My Father had a plan for me being there and I had to believe that. One lie the enemy would repeatedly throw at me was, “there’s no reason for you to be here. Go home, you’re better off there”. Now one thing Rob Douglass was always good at in our culture class, was reminding us that we should always go with no expectations. I failed, haha! I expected to see so much fruit in ministry. I wanted to see people be saved, lives transformed, or witness crazy things that would grab the attention of supporters back home. I know this trip only consisted of 3 months, but I just wanted to see God move. I thought it’d be in that way. If you know God, you know He is always moving, but I failed to see it at this time.
A leader back home helped remind me what a vision tour was supposed to be. If I saw fruit in the ministry, great, but if I didn’t, then great! My job was to learn and seek the Lord. To scope out, then get alone with Him to seek His will in it all. So, I did that. In the end, I still didn’t understand why I spent that time there, but when I came home and processed everything, I saw why, and I finally came to peace. This is how God moved…
Through trial and discomfort, He allowed hard things to rise to the surface. Trials reveal what’s in the heart. What was in my heart? Fear, loneliness, pride, and a firm grip on MY identity, MY home, and MY plans. The thing about believers is that we are sojourners. God has given us a house on this earth, but our real Home is heaven. In my return back home, I felt weird. I didn’t feel like myself, although I know I was happy to be back with my family, I still didn’t feel like me. I wanted to be myself again, I wanted to have my joy which I felt I lost. Being away from home, away from the people you love, really brought me to understand that in My Father is everything that I need. He is my joy when I’m sad, my comfort when I need a hand to hold, and my person when I’m lonely. But more than that, He is God! He is the Creator of the Universe, the Savior of the world and He does great and mighty things! I realized that back at home, I was relying on so many things. There were things that propped my faith up. So, when it was all taken from me, I felt it, and later I saw it. Everything that God allows is a blessing, but don’t forget Him in it all. He is the main source, the ONLY one you need, because He is God, Jehovah Jireh!
Other than that, Macey and I got to experience what it was like living in South Asia together and she was an amazing travel partner! We made many friends and had awesome God given conversations with girls about our faith and Jesus.
SO, about those girls in the middle photo of the bottom row… Being in South Asia, gave me the chance to really understand the reality of those in the 10/40 window. *Story Time* The couple I stayed with at the end of my trip had made friends with a girl while at the store. They shared with us how they were able to have her over and share the Good News with her. When we got there, we had the chance to meet her and her friend and make a meal together. I had so much fun with these girls! It cracked me up because they were so interested in Macey and I. These girls asked so many questions! “What are your parents like? How many siblings do you have? What do you do at home? What do you think about our country?”… all of it! I appreciated it because it made me more comfortable to ask them questions right back. At some point we got to talking about their family life and their futures. Suddenly hey asked us, “will you have a love marriage?”; meaning would we marry someone that we love. “Yes, of course”, we said. They proceeded to tell us that they could never. We asked why. Of course only to hear what they thought about it. The way these girls talked about waiting for their parents to pick their husband, sounded so nonchalant, like if it didn’t bother them. Of course, it didn’t because they’re walking the same journey as every other girl in their country. I know this may not seem like anything crazy because this was normal at some point even in the States, but there’s more to it. Marrying a man means marrying into their religion as well. One of the girls told us that she was Catholic/ Hindu because when her parents married, her dad was Hindu and her mom, Catholic. Which means that she and her family are both. The girls asked us when we marry, will we marry someone who is in our religion. We proceeded to explain that it is necessary that we do. Although we have freedom to marry who we love, we still look for certain things. Number one being that he loves Jesus like we do and we went into the reasons why. It was good conversation but they had never heard anything like this before.
What Now?
So “what now?”, you may ask. Now, I will be on my way to The Philippines! Starting January 2026, I will spend 10 months there. Here’s the plan… Last year, SGWM realized this; The Philippines is the perfect place to have a Sending Hub! The Philippines is an open country right next to the 10/40 window. This means that here, Christians from closed countries in Asia can come and learn about Unreached people groups, be equipped in the Word of God, be trained in ministry, and sent back to their own countries as the Lord leads. With that, God has opened doors for us to host a Calvary School of Missions to bring light to those who are interested in missions but don’t know what it is. We will kick off the year with a CSOM (Calvary School of Missions) in order to bring the heart of missions in the Unreached to the Calvary Bible Institute (CBI a Bible college) that is already there. Then, my friends Macey, Deprii, and I will serve alongside the CBI being Missions Discipleship Coordinators and Administrative Assistants! This CBI has a vision for Church Planting in Southeast Asia and beyond and we are here for it!
When I was planning my trips to South Asia, I was blown away at how much the Lord was providing the finances for me to go. This time, I am sure He will do it again. What was amazing about people giving, was that the body of Christ was involved in Jesus’ command to go into all the nations and preach the Gospel. You guys were sending me with your love, prayers, and your finances. I thank God for each and every one of you who have been supporting me on this journey. The fruit that comes of this trip is not only mine, but yours too!
I am working on a budget for the year that I will be living there. I have 3 months to reach 80% of my budget before leaving to the Philippines. So, I ask for your prayers in this. Please pray that the Lord would provide for me. We’ve heard it said, “if it’s His will, it’s His bill”! If the Lord puts it on your heart to give a one time donation OR become a monthly supporter, I would greatly appreciate it!
For now, that’s it! Thanks for reading. If any of you would like to meet up to hear more, I am more than happy to do so. I’d love to fellowship and hear what God is doing in your lives as well :).
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