Tuesday, July 21, 2009

3 Days-[Christina]

well hello again to you people back home. Much has happened, but the only thing I can can really remember is the 72 hours of prayer....aka 24/3 prayer for those of you who do not want to do the math. ;)

once again thank you so much for keeping us in our prayers!! I'm sure other people have blogged about this, but there has been much encouragement that has come from Tsao Ya. Alan, Amy, and Jenny have all accepted Christ and they shared their short testimonies with us and it really moved me because just in the few days that we knew them they came to faith. They also came to all three of our praise nights because they wanted to despite the 30 min drive. They didn't ever want to leave. It was just awesome to see how much they wanted to know God and just awesome to know that they know that God is there and listening to their prayers! YAY :D

SO...now on to the intense three days. So we had 72 hour prayer and I did not think that I would last for the 2 hour shifts because I have never done that much prayer before...unless it's at a worship night. I was also asked to cover worship for part of it as well and I had never lead worship by myself on piano for 2 hours. To top that all off, Josh asked the worship leaders to choose a day to fast, so I chose the first day not realizing that I was actually suppose to be fasting the next day as well. So I fasted the 2 days and on the last day they asked us all to fast because it was the last day and it was mind blowing to me, but I felt God saying, " You can do one more day because I will give you the strength that you need to last!" and I did, so I ended fasting all three days. That is the most I have ever fasted. One thing that I had actually learned about fasting was that it helps open up your heart to receive more from God and to grow in things. now the only things that I had been doing for the past three days was worshiping, praying, sleeping, and reading my bible. I can definitely say that God has opened my heart to all of these things aside from sleeping actually...

Side note: yeah instead of increasing the want to sleep GOD decreased the amount of sleep because I felt that he wanted me to stay up more and spend more time with him.

But yes, I find much more joy in spending time with God through prayer, reading my bible, and worshiping. Everyday there was always a new joy that God put in front of me and I really saw how much fun it is to spend time with God. I would have my 2 hour shift for praying and I would find myself in there for an hour or two longer going into the wee hours of the morning =.=, but that's okay because I really did find joy in spending more time with him. I also cried out to him in prayer and I know for a fact that he has heard my prayers and will be answering them. Another thing that God has really placed in my heart is a brokenness for the people of this country, my family hear, and most of all my brother. My heart was broken before, but it is eve more broken now.

I think that these three days have been the most challenging days in my walk with God because I missed out on a lot of good food, I was quite light headed by the end, and I was beyond tired, but God stuck with me and helped me to the end. I know that I gained much strength from this and hopefully instead fasting for 3 days I can fast for more.

Tomorrow...well technically today we are going to be going to Tien Liao...what I call the time of the typhoon. Pray to God that a typhoon does not hit that area cause it becomes a much harder place to live. Please pray that we make it there safely and that at the school we would be able to tell the kids about "josh" aka JESUS and that they would really open up their hearts so that God could enter into their lives.

Fun story: so last night when we were done praying, we all broke fast, but I didn't. So everybody was hungry and they decided to go to the wonton place...and I was kind of sad, but that's ok. then today for lunch we had a sushi buffet!! YAY good food...mmm. ^.^ I totally only at the first 10 dishes and I was done because my stomach had shrunk and I felt like my stomach was going to blow up. But it was good cause we id a walrus dance and I could fit just a little more in. I was just really happy that I got to eat the good food after fasting. :) and when we went to the wonton place that was the first time in three days that I had stepped outside into the open...it was so refreshing!!!!

Thank you for the continuous prayer...miss you guys that I know...GOD BLESS!!

1 comment:

  1. Hey guys, this is Sammy
    Whoever reads this first, please tell everyone else.

    I Miss you guys so much, and I'm so sad I'm not there.

    Please say hello to everyone from last year for me! I really want to hug them, but I can't.

    And now...I'm crying...

    I'm not there in person, but I am in prayer. Keep me updated, and pray for me, too.
    It's a very different battle back home, and I'm having a hard time keeping my head up.

    This blog has been such an encouragement to me, and it has really reminded me what the fight is all about.
    Like God, I can't see any of you or touch any of you (even though physical touch is my love language) which kills me, but you are all so alive in the words that you write. Also, like God, I'll be seing all of you soon =)

    In the meantime, I'll enjoy praying for you all.

    Love you all.
    -Sam

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