Mind-Blowing

The last two days have been incredible. My life perspective has taken a dramatic turn. I often feel inadequate or as if my words can in no way truly express my feelings and what I have learned even in the last two days. But I will try to explain to the best of my ability.
All of my life has been a product of rich intellectual and financial blessing. Most people living in the American Christian culture (in a general sense) have had similar opportune life experiences. Of course there is nothing inherently wrong with opportunity and blessing. I've recently questioned why the American life often seems to be so despised by other people. From time to time I observe non-westerners ranting about why Americans are so ignorant and obnoxious. I now have a more clear idea and understanding of why it can be so difficult for others to adapt to the American culture. Our major complaints concerning the most minor issues ranging from cafeteria food to the clothes we wear are despised by those who have been forced to complain over sexual abuse, human trafficking, and disease.
I have not been more challenged in all of my life than in the past two days in my adjustment to the Sri Lankan culture. I have encountered the most hospitable people who have lost more in life than anyone I currently know. The Sri Lankan people have completely gone out of their way to show respect and honor to us as their guests. The cultural mindset here at the camp in Sri Lanka is, "God blesses His children that they may bless others". "God does not bless His children so that they may learn to expect blessing after blessing".
I have been monumentally challenged in my faith. I realized after last night that my faith is weak. I am weak. And I embarked on this trip terribly unprepared. I have received a glimpse of what it means to really trust in God when everything seems to be chaotic. I have often proclaimed, "All we must do is trust in God, and all will be okay". As I survey my life up until now, I have realized that the "all" generally is okay because the "all" is really not much of anything. Yesterday I met a man who embodied Abrahamic faith. No planning. Faith. And in five years, a completely sustainable community sheltering more than 80 people has been built. This community basically lives off of its own resources. They have chickens, pigs, cows, fish, turkeys, fruit, educational resources, a library. This cycle is eliminating poverty through creating a self sustaining, holistic community based upon a faith that says, "God will provide in His own way, in His own time."
It is the most refreshing thing to find such a profound theology springing and flowing not from extended book reading (as a primary means to doing theology right rather than a secondary means) but proactive faith. A proactive faith births the unlocking of mysteries containing the most profound yet simple theological truths. Fellowship with God opens the door to faithfully trusting in Him. It all begins with faith in God's promises. A man selling a plot of land for $20,000 gives it away for $12,000 when approached by the founder who mentioned that God had a plan for the land. With a 10 acre plot of land and no money left over, the founder continued to step out in faith and eventually a self sustaining community was built. More than 20 self sustaining communities have been built up around the country. That kind of faith does not have at its core a "Jesus and me" theology but it is centered on the belief that God is missional and in His heart He desires the expansion of His family to include peoples of every tongue and nation.
I have greatly enjoyed my time thus far, and have been spending time with the kids, playing soccer, frisbee, praying with, conversing in English as much as possible, learning from the culture, and helping prepare newly built structures for the housing of more than 200 youths coming for a camp. I believe I am learning exponentially more from Sri Lankan people than I can ever teach them.
Tomorrow we are going to the first session of an inner healing conference which will be led by the founder of the Kithu Sevana ministries, Adrian De Visser. After that we will be helping at the youth conference being held at the camp wherein more than 200 Sri Lankans who have yet to place their faith in Christ will be attending. Pray for the team. Pray for me. Pray that we will be free from spiritual oppression from Satan, and that we will be filled with an unspeakable desire to fellowship more with God and truly lean on Him in everything.
In Christ

I'm making this post a quick one because I'm at a wifi station in the Singapore airport not too far from the Sri Lanka gate. It's been an exciting past few "days"! We were in Hong Kong this morning and the scenery was wonderful! We spent a few hours traveling around in Singapore today and I must say that I loved the place!
Please continue to pray for our team as we will be arriving in Sri Lanka in about 5 hours!

Expectations and Anticipation

There's a plane departing from Los Angeles to Sri Lanka. On that plane, I will be. What will this trip look like? I usually make it a point to avoid having many expectations. What will be the outcome? I'm not sure. I do know, however, that somewhere I'll find the work of God's hands displayed. I guess you could label that my life philosophy. An open heart. An open mind. God, mold me.
My desire is to place every expectation under the overarching expectation of myself to find God and His light wherever I end up. And if that light should be absent, my prayer of expectancy becomes one under a desire to represent the light of Christ in the dark.

As I eagerly embark on this new journey, my hope is that the Spirit of God would continually revitalize me. I've asked God to saturate my heart and mind with reflective hope, lively joy, calm peace, and maturing love for the relationships with the children, teenagers, and adults I meet.
There are still yet countless prayers to be prayed on behalf of those in Sri Lanka who have lost parents, wives, husbands, children, those who have been sexually abused, and those who have yet to hear the profound Gospel message. A Holy God crucified His own Son to make clean a Wretched people for the ultimate Kingdom cause, the Glory of God. And being a Father, He glories in the delighting fulfillment of His children discovered in the newness of being, offered through the death and resurrection of Christ. The Kingdom and family of God has a place for the Fatherless, the widow, the sexually abused, and the homeless.
We travel to Sri Lanka to further the Kingdom of God. In our hearts. In their hearts.