Enjoy these pictures from our trip to Atlanta. During the trip, we toured and visited different international villages in the morning, did service projects in the early afternoon, and later in the afternoon, we helped with an after school program which helps international students with their homework. After the homework was complete, the kids joined the vacation bible school that the team put together. The Lord was definitely at work where we went, and it was a pleasure to join in and experience what He is doing in this part of Atlanta. I do believe our team went away with broadened views and a new (or refreshed) outlook on life. Thank you for all the prayers for this trip. They definitely were not in vain. (Luke 6:37-38)
Here's some pictures and video footage from the past Saturday with our Burmese friends. We began the day at Lulu's apartment discussing discipleship and praying together, then we visited a small family whose children are pictured below to the left. The youngest child had been in the hospital so we wanted to go visit the family and pray with them. At the last stop, the people prepared a meal for us. After enjoying it together, we prayed for them and left. It was a great day full of fellowship with some of our Burmese friends.
I do ask that you'll continue (or begin) praying for the Burmese community in Nashville. We challenged each of the three ladies we spent the day with to pray that God will show them someone that He has for them to disciple just like Jesus had the 12, but even more so, the three (Peter, James, and John). In the same way, Paul trained Timothy and Joshua followed Moses. If you are not currently discipling someone, then ask God to show you the "Timothy" that He has for you, and I encourage you not to delay in investing in their life.
Also... Watch these videos so you have a better idea of who exactly you're praying for. Two of the ladies (Lulu and Mun) have been in America for almost two years so they've been Americanized in a way, but they both have a heart for their people and want to see the Burmese community influenced and impacted by God in a big way. The other lady, Jacienda, has not been in the U.S. as long so she doesn't speak English yet, but we've been able to connect on a number of occasions through the universal language of laughter. All three are very generous and so kind towards us, and I'm very excited to see what the Lord is going to do through them to impact Nashville.
Here's a couple of verses written from Paul to Timothy concerning discipleship:
"Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you."
-2 Timothy 1:13-14 (ESV)
"You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything."
-2 Timothy 2:1-7 (ESV)
Here's some pictures from Puerto Rico:
1. Christian, me, Abbicide, and Kennielle
2. The team, Pastor Jorge, school faculty, the principal, and students gathered around praying.
3. The headmaster of Creekside Christian Academy (CCA) playing games with the students.
4. A few of us eating lunch with the students in their school cafeteria.
The Lord went before us and opened doors as we got to minister to the local elementary school in Arecibo, PR. Not only did we get to meet some needs by working on a physical ed. room, painting a special ed. room, and cleaning up the campus, but we also were able to go into the classrooms of a public school and teach about Jesus Christ (This was huge. We were told that we weren't allowed to since it was a public school). The Lord definitely opened doors for us to walk through the whole week. The team also served the kids and played games with them during their lunch breaks as well. Overall, it was a great week, and I do appreciate all the prayers put into it by you. Please lift up the students who heard the good news of Christ, and the team who went as the Holy Spirit does His work in their lives. Thanks.
