Today is a day of first! October 1st, my first video blog, and my first year anniversary with UWM.
I don’t have any money to pay for this healing….
I received this update from a missionary that I get to work with that is living and working in China. It blessed my heart and made me question how big is my faith in my God. He is still able to do the impossible and He is still at work today!!! Prayer is a powerful gift that the Father is just waiting on us to use because He knows that it is an opportunity for His power and glory to be on display.
The elderly woman’s joy faded into panic as she anxiously told us that she could not pay us for the healing she had just received. We had met her only moments before as she sold snacks to travelers at a rest stop. She was walking with difficulty, and we offered to pray for her. As we prayed, the pain in her legs caused by rheumatism disappeared! While praying for her legs, we noticed she had a hearing aid in her left ear and we asked if we could also pray for her hearing. She told us she had been completely deaf in her right ear since she was a child and that she had very little hearing in her left ear due to a burst ear drum that hadn’t healed. We prayed for her again, and her right ear Immediately opened up! After more prayer the hearing in her left ear became more and more clear. Because Tibetan monks charge for their spiritual services, she thought we, too, would want her to pay. When she told us she had no money to pay, we told her that it was Jesus, the creator God who loves her, who had healed her and it was completely free. A huge smile crossed her face, and she began to cry as she thanked us and thanked Jesus. We encouraged her to call upon the name of Jesus regularly because he created her and loves her. As we got back in our vehicles to continue our journey she walked away smiling with her hearing aides in her snack basket.
This is just one of the amazing things God did during my recent trip to a Tibetan area in our province. Ours was one of seven teams made of up other missionaries and visiting ministry school students that participated in this outreach, and each team had incredible testimonies of salvation and healing. We are so thankful for the way God is demonstrating His Kingdom among these unreached peoples!
What are you praying for and how certain are you that He is able?
…do justice, and to love kindness…
One out of every six people on earth live in India, and by 2025 it is projected to overtake China as the world’s most populous nation. India is growing as a world economic power and potentially as a great missionary sending nation. The church has grown rapidly in many parts of the country, especially in the south. At the same time, a high percentage of the world’s unreached peoples are in India.
At UWM (United World Mission) we have a team of families that live and serve in Patna India. This team is what I would call game changers. They are making a holistic impact on the people, economy, families, and spiritual aspects on this part of India. This team is also some of the most selfless and loving people I have been privileged to know let a long serve with. Where they live is known to be one of the poorest, dirtiest, and toughest places in the whole world! I have heard other missionaries that are serving in China, central Asia, and other places that say that they have no idea how this team does it. Just a small example of how poor this area is, they use dried cow poop to build fires to cook their food. That’s pretty extreme in my book!
I feel blessed to be apart in a small way of what they are doing in India and would love to share some info and stories of what they are actually doing. Our team has developed a micro-finance loan system to bring hope and change to economically depressed communities. Through partnership with Indian church planters, God is using this community development tool to pave the way for the gospel and to bring about eternal hope in the heart of India’s unreached communities.
Mercy Economic Development International Concern (MEDIC – Bihar) which is a faith-based charitable trust seeking to enrich the lives of the poor of Bihar through community transformation with micro-finance initiatives. The vision of MEDIC is to Build Sustainable Communities with Hope for the Future by providing economic, educational, medical and holistic opportunities to the poorest of the poor. They have projects in micro-finance (MEDIC), wells and hand pump projects, sewing centers for woman, education, and looking to start-up a program for youth.
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)
If you feel a draw to serve with or support this ministry I would love to have you contact me. Please be praying for this team and the new believers in this area of India.
Feel free to check MEDIC-Bihar out on Facebook or at their website here.
Off to the races!
This year is off to a fast start with a ton of really cool things in the making!
I feel like I am starting to pick speed and understanding with my job and ministry roles at United World Mission. I don’t feel as much like the new guy who has no idea what is going on, which is very comforting. Since I returned home from Thailand (I will be writing some more about my time and experiences there later on) I have a deeper sense of who our field missionaries are and what we are doing in the way of work/ministry. In my first couple of months I felt a bit lost trying to catch up on who and what is going on around the world but now feel like I have a better handle on things…at least in Asia because I went to the Asia Conference. I am planning on writing up some stories and bios in the next few weeks on these unbelievable people who I get to serve with in Asia so be on the look out for those. You will want to know all that God is doing among some of the most unreached, really cool stuff.
Now I am looking to learn my African fields and missionaries so I can best serve them. In getting to know some of our leaders in East Africa via Skype I have been reminded how much I love Africa! Talking with them over the past couple weeks has spark so much excitement and conversation in the Rouse House about serving in Africa again together soon. We just can’t get away from the cool God stuff that is happening and could happen in that wonderful place. We will see what God has in store in the days and years to come.
At home in Charlotte, I have been able connect with so many people from around the country that are interested in missions. I LOVE this part of my “job”. I get to talk with people about the passions, calling, and conviction to “GO” that He is putting in their hearts. My role is to encourage and coach them on when, where, how, and what…all radical life changing decision with radical world-changing possibilities. Some may wonder, as I did in the beginning days, how I am impacting the nations by not living overseas and being a field missionary. My answer today is, I may have one of the biggest impacts because I am apart of sending, training, preparing, encouraging, and inspiring ordinary people to go do extraordinary God work around the globe. That is absolutely THRILLING for me to think about!
I am also involved in some team development, Expansion opportunities (Opening up new countries or creating new ministries opportunities…this is so fun!), and Partnerships (local churches, ministries, organizations, etc). I love the flexibility to learn, grow, and be developed so that I can find what my sweet spot is and work with in my wheel house. UWM is a GREAT place to serve and work! I really do believe that I am so blessed!
As always, The Rouse House is extremely THANKFUL for each one of you that pray, support, and give to us so that we can do what He has called us to and be who he has created us to be!
If you would like to know how you can partner and support the Rouse House please click here. We are asking God for a handful of people to help fill the $500 a month need in our support raising budget so that as a family we can take advantage of more opportunities to serve in missions. We would love for YOU to pray and consider joining us.
The Rousehouse 