Okay...cheesy title I know, but it really really was! Not 'heavenly'
because it was perfect (though it sure was close!), but 'heavenly'
because it was a GIFT FROM GOD!
The night we got engaged, we met the sweetest newlywed couple from
Colorado who offered to help us find a good place for a honeymoon. We
were thankful, assuming they would help us find a less expensive place
since they knew the area. We had no idea that they would find us a FREE
CABIN!
That's right- I said FREE! Meet Shelley & Mike Krause, the
generous couple. Having never met us, they volunteered to let these two
poor missionaries use their cabin for FREE! We were blown away!
So, off we went to Colorado. We spent almost a week
in our beautiful free cabin in the mountains. We also got a FREE
upgrade in our rental car, and spent 2 days in a condo in Breckenridge
for 1/2 off!
THANK YOU GOD!
The trip was wonderful, with the perfect balance of relaxation and
adventure. We enjoyed the beauty of Colorado, took drives in the
mountains, walks in the snow, and a shopping trip here and there. We
also had plenty of time to rest, hang out together, and catch up on our
movie watching :)
At the end of our honeymoon we took a couple of days to spend
with some of our supporters in Colorado, some of our AIM/World Race
family, and with Mike & Shelley (the couple who let us use their
cabin). That's when we found out some very exciting news!
Mike fixes computers and sends them overseas to missionaries in
need. He happened to send one to Swaziland. Little did we know, it was
to our AIM Discipleship team in Swaziland! Then...it got better. It
turns out Mike & Shelley go to Vanguard Church,
where Rick Clapp is pastor. Rick and Rusty met in Swaziland (the same
year Rusty and I met in Swaziland). Rick and his wife just adopted 2
babies from, you guessed it, SWAZILAND!!!
It is extremely difficult to adopt from Swazi, but Rick found a new organization that made it possible, Hawaii International.
We decided to go to church on Sunday and luckily, we got to meet the
two children from Swaziland! It was amazing to see that little boy and
little girl in America! I could barely hold back the emotion. Seeing
their success was so encouraging, and we are praying more children are
adopted from Swaziland soon! Please pray along with us, as well as
praying for the Clapp family
as they adjust to having 2 new children.
Overall, it was an incredible time. I couldn't think of a better
way to start our marriage! Thank you to all of you who made it
possible. Mike and Shelley- we hope to celebrate this new friendship
for years to come! To everyone else we got to spend time with in
Colorado, THANK YOU! You refreshed our spirits!
Well,
if you couldn't make it to the wedding, and you haven't guessed by now-
WE'RE MARRIED!!! Sorry for the extended absence on my blog! As all you
married couples know, life is busy taking care of someone else too!
It's been a wonderful 7 weeks so far, so I'll try to catch you up in
the next few blogs...
The wedding was beautiful! We couldn't have planned more perfect
weather. After such a stressful season of moving, planning, and some
mishaps the week before the wedding, the day came off without a hitch!
Seth Barnes, Andrew Shearman, and Michael Hindes
were there to marry us. We were so thankful to have our 'spiritual
fathers' there to be a part of our special day! The presence of the
Lord was there. The ceremony was so special to us, and included
several of our friends who provided the most beautiful music.
We also had many friends and family members who attended. Lots of
our AIM family came, including many of Rusty's World Race squad
members, and some of my girls from my South Africa team last year! Thank you all for coming!
Seeing everyone truly meant the world to us! We danced and celebrated
at the reception before driving away in my Granddaddy's old
convertible.
Looking back, I'm filled with gratitude. We never could have
afforded the wedding we had. My parents blessed us, but many others
blessed us too! From gifts and discounts to free services, God provided
down to the last detail! I have a long list of "God Did" details that
truly blows me away. It amazes me to see just how much the God of the
Universe cares about the most intimate details of our life!
So now I'm married to my best friend, enjoying life with him every day. He is the greatest gift of all!!!
-----------------------------
*To see all the pictures from the wedding, visit this link:
To read our story and see pictures, click here and here. We were blessed with our photography at a very special rate from my dream photographer and friend, Jane Johnson.
She is an amazing woman with a huge heart for missions (she donates 25%
of her session fees to the mission organization of your choice). If you
have any photography or design needs, please contact her! She is absolutely incredible!
Guatemala
A country aged with beauty and rich in history, Guatemala is the
perfect place to initiate your World Race experience. Outside of its
aesthetic appeal, it is a country in desperate need of God's touch.
Gripped by poverty and bound to a spirit of religion, the people of
Guatemala are hungering to see the kingdom of God invade their lives.
World Racers radically change the atmospheres that they find themselves
in. So the kingdom of God that Guatemalans are eager to see? You'll
bring it to them in the form of relationships, hard work, and miracles.
Nicaragua
The nation of Nicaragua has unfortunately been dubbed one of the
poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Littered with
hopelessness, addictions, destitution, and poverty, you'll have the
opportunity to ransack this place with God's love through slum
ministry, door-to-door outreach, VBS, and more. Plus, Nicaraguans are
just cool.
Nigeria or Cameroon
Who hasn't ever wanted to go to Africa? For the World Race, western
Africa is an entirely new experience. Help us unearth God's kingdom and
new ministries in this land ripe for revival, miracles, and growing
churches. Are you thirsty for adventure? You're sure to get a dose of
it this month.
Ghana
The country of Ghana is an old friend of Adventures in Missions (AIM)
and we're beyond thrilled to go back by sending the World Race.
Ghanaians are ready and willing to hear the word of God preached, to
have their orphans and widows cared for, and for a miraculous move of
God to bust out in their country. World Racers prepare yourselves –
this month is going to be unforgettable!
Pioneer Africa
Twice during your World Race experience, your team will take a month to
ATL (ask the Lord) for a new mission field. He may lead you someplace
in the middle of a buzzing city or somewhere that can't even be found
on a map. Either way, it's a time of listening to the Lord's voice and
following him with true abandon.
Romania
The northern regions of Romania are home to the gypsy people. Though
strangers in their homeland and forgotten by society, the gypsies are a
strong and vibrant people who embrace the light of Christ in an
inspirational way. Here you'll teach English, lead sports camps, live
life with the gypsies, and more. Check out the video to learn more
about the gypsies.
Ukraine
The country of Ukraine is plagued with a dark history. Caught between
its past oppression under the USSR communist regime and the desire to
be accepted by Western society, Ukraine is a land of many ups and
downs. Thankfully, there's hope, light, and life spreading like
wildfire throughout this nation in the message that the World Race is
bringing it. Is it the kingdom of God coming in power? We think so.
Pioneer Eastern Europe
Reminisce on the memories of pioneering Western Africa... because
you'll be doing the same thing in Eastern Europe. God's been waiting
for a generation to go claim nations as its inheritance, to usher in
his kingdom all over the world. This is your month to ask the Lord how
to do that in Eastern Europe. Ready for some adventure? You'll get it
this month.
Vietnam
One of the many exciting things about the World Race is that we take
the Gospel to places that don't want us to. It's not that we're
rebellious; it's just that we're eager to share the love of Jesus with
as many people as possible. The Church in Vietnam is thriving, although
underground. Gripped by communist rule for decades, Christians in
Vietnam are eager to be grown and encouraged in the faith. So this
month, you're going to risk a little and visit this country that has
become a dear friend to many on the World Race.
Cambodia
Do you remember learning about the Holocaust in school? What about the
Khmer Rouge? More than likely it's an unfamiliar name. Less than fifty
years ago, Cambodia experienced one of the most gruesome genocides
known to man where over one third of the country's population was
slaughtered. Still in recovery from their past, the people of Cambodia
are thirsty for hope. With some of the worst slums in the world,
affluent human trafficking problems, and a growing number of orphans,
Cambodia is crying out for help. The World Race answers that call.
Thailand
Have you ever been to a bar loaded with prostitutes who don't want to
be there? What about a small village in the countryside abandoned by
the world? You'll find both experiences heralding you in Thailand. With
nearly two million people estimated to be stuck inside of prostitution
in Thailand, it has become one of the most popular places for sex
tourism. We recognize this as a bad thing, so we've partnered with
several ministries that reach out to those in the bondage of darkness.
Change lives in the city and rock worlds in the countryside. Thailand's
sure to capture your heart.
Want to know more about the World Race? CONTACT US!
Interested in going on the World Race? APPLY HERE!
This month is your opportunity to become a part of something big,
something revolutionary, and something that cannot be stopped. All
across the world there is a movement of radicals changing the world.
And this is your chance to step in and become a part of it.
How do you join the movement? It's easy. You invite others to become a part of it.
:: Week 1 :: May 4 – 9 ::
Distribute! Distribute! Distribute!
That's the easiest thing to think of this week. Print of this flier
and plaster it all over the place. Dorm rooms, your college campus,
coffee shops, community boards, news stations, bathroom stalls, or your
car window. Just get this thing in front of peoples' faces. Invite them to get their hands dirty and become a part of the movement that you're a part of.
:: Week 2 :: May 10 – 16 ::
Grab coffee.
Everybody likes to hang out in coffee shops, so why don't you? Gather
a group of your friends, take them to Starbucks, tell them about the
World Race, and invite them to join the movement. You can even give them one of these. The best part? This week, the first 30 people to send an email here get a free $10 Starbucks gift card to buy their coffee with. (And your email address will NOT be used for anything else... promise).
:: Week 3 :: May 17 – 23 ::
Don't change.
One of the most humorous things about being a part of the World Race is
that you wear the same thing all of the time. So this week – don't'
change. Make a World Race t-shirt, wear one that you already have, pin this to a t-shirt, or if you want a free World Race shirt, send an email here (available to first 25 who respond May 17-23). C'mon, everybody's doing it...
:: Week 4 :: May 24 – 30 ::
Network the movement.
We're all a part of some online community, and if you aren't, then you
surely have your own network of friends. This week, use whatever
method imaginable to invite people to join the movement of radicals
going to 11 countries in 11 months. Have a house party. Write about
it on sidewalks with chalk. Plaster it on your Facebook status. Do
whatever it takes.
Alright, so as you've seen in my last two video posts, the World Race is changing and impacting lives out in the nations. But, this next blog is about how God is transforming the lives of the people that go on this thing.
Last week we had training camp in Gainesville, Georgia for the June 2009 team. Now, this group will begin their trip in just a couple months down in Central America, BUT before that happens each World Race squad must go through a week long training camp.
Eighteen
years ago I became ensnared by the attractive web of hardcore porn. I
was a six year old Christian and the 18 years that followed have been
full of many different struggles. I mean, I'm sure we can all attest
to having mommy and daddy issues, issues of self-worth, loneliness,
insecurity, and hopelessness. I experienced all of these and more. It
was all big stuff, but the porn, that eventually grew into a drive for
sex, continued to be a CRUSHING burden with no escape in sight. I did
experience growth and success in areas of my life and even bared fruit
in the name of Christ, but I never experienced deliverance, deliverance
that we all read so much about in the Bible. That is until this
Thursday, April 2nd, on AIM's training grounds.
After five days of experiencing freedom from my generational
family sin, feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, the need for
female attention, and a laundry list of others, we began talking about
spiritual gifts like: prophecy, healing, visions, and intercession.
After Pastor Mark finished speaking, he invited any member of our 34
person team, who wanted more of what God had to offer, even if we
weren't sure about all this stuff, to come up and be prayed for. I
knew that I wanted to receive any gifts that God would give me, so I
walked up, trying the whole time to fight off the doubts that continued
to grow in my mind. You see, after experiencing days full of emotional
freedom, and a pouring and softening of my heart, it was strange that
on this night I didn't feel a thing, nothing at all. As I'm standing
there, waiting, Matt, one of our leaders, looks up at me from praying
over a friend. He gives me a huge smile and points at me while
mouthing the word, "You!" At this point I knew it was time to get down
to bitness.
Continue reading at your own "religious" risk, because I'm about
to blow the top off that box you've kept God in all these years! I'm
not really sure why I fell, but as Matt and Pastor Mark began praying
over me, I lost my footing and Matt slowly lowered me to the ground.
They never stopped praying, even for a second. Pastor Mark walked off
to tend to others, while my brother Will
walked over to replace him. At this point I had begun to shake
sporadically . I would experience short bursts of intense shaking, or
a long sting of gentle shaking. My left hand began to take on the
form like that of a stroke victim and my mouth was locked in some form
a "O" shape. I began to feel something moving in my arm and mouth as
well. It was as if my body were numb and asleep, without the needling
pain that usually accompanies such sensations. As my convulsions grew
bigger and more intense, I started sputtering. The men praying over me
were encouraging me to speak in tongues and inviting the Holy Spirit to
work through me. All the while I was thinking, "Hmm, this is getting
pretty weird, but I guess I'm starting to speak in tongues!"
Matt heard my sputters and urged me to speak louder. Will was
beginning to praise God, but his heart was telling him to, "Rebuke!"
Will was confused, "No God, this is a good thing! He's speaking in
tongues and your Spirit is on him. This can't be bad!" But his heart
continued to shout, "Rebuke!" He was getting frustrated, so he opened
his eyes. When he did this, what he saw and did after his eyes were
open confirmed what his heart was saying. At the base of my throat was
a giant lump and when Will put his hand on the lump, I think we all
knew at that moment it wasn't the Holy Spirit I was manifesting, but a
demon! "Holy s--t...it's a demon," I remember thinking. The intensity
of Matt's prayers increased and I could literally feel the air around
me growing thicker as my convulsions and their prayers grew in
paralleled unison. Once Matt felt that it was a demon, he began asking
God to give him its name. He prayed louder and harder! "Give me a
name Lord! I need the name!" That was all Will needed to hear and he
finally confirmed his heart with his mouth and shouted, "I rebuke
you!" Matt immediately followed that with the demon's name, "Sexual
shame!"
My eyes shot open! My body took on a mind of its own! I had no
control, but I felt everything. Anger, so much anger! Their hands had
been on me, but they lost their grip as I tried to pull away. I
started for the left side of the room, but by this time they had
tackled me back to the ground. I was clawing the ground and screaming,
"Nooo! Nooo! Nooo!" With a guttural scream that came from something
deeper than myself. It was full of fear, power, and hate. I was
literally dragging the two of them across the room. They never stopped
praying! Time seemed to slow down and the two to three minutes after
the demon manifested itself seem much longer now as I'm remembering
it. By this time two more guys on our team joined Matt and Will in
holding me down and praying over me. I remember seeing Warren and AJ
with their faces taking on intense forms of prayer as the demon was
trying to fight them off. Four men were trying to hold me down and I
was still dragging them as I fought. I was so strong! Then there came
the turning point...
I literally felt a weight come over me, that was so heavy, I can
only assume was the hand of God. The demon was powerless, but I could
still feel the intense hatred! Somehow during this time they flipped
me onto my back and Matt had begun praying into my face as loudly and
powerfully as he could muster. The demon looked him square in the face
and the hate grew more intense! It was hard to believe! My screams
of, "Nooo!", turned to curses of, "F--k you! F--k you! F--k you!" They
never stopped praying. The process climaxed and the Spirit of God was
upon me. The demon had no choice, but to flee, he was beaten.
I immediately felt an incredible peace. I was sweating, hoarse,
and exhausted beyond measure, but there was a giant smile on my face.
I knew and felt God's love in the deepest parts of my soul. I had been
given freedom, a word that has become the theme of my life these past
days. I finally recognized the power of God's people and the strength
he's put in all us Christians! The box of religion that I've always
put him in was laying pieces around me. "Thank you Father," I breathed.
--- If you have any questions, I encourage you to ask!
This is pretty big stuff for most of us. It was big for me! But I
believe that our God is capable of anything! He loves you and wants
you to know that He sent His son to set you free!
Here is another excellent story of how the World Race and Adventures in Missions (AIM) is impacting lives in Swaziland. It was put together by July08 racer, Katie Rowland; and it features January07 racer, Morgan McKeown.
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last."
Most you, my readers, know that on the World Race, participants travel to 11 different countries over a period of 11 months. On the surface it may seem that a few weeks to a month in each country is not enough time to truly make a difference in the lives of the people we minister to. However, in 2007 and 2008 we sent out three teams each of those years, and this year we are sending four. Now not all the teams, but most follow along a similar route so we can come back into the same locations and build upon the relationships and work established by previous World Race squads.
Here is an example of just that. This story takes place in Swaziland and was put together by July 2008 World Racer - Katie Rowland.
This is a bit of a random post, but my mentor, Michael Hindes, posted an interesting blog about a week ago documenting his reading list over the last year. To check it out click here. Dude's been reading, like 50 books a year for the last 20 years.
I've been meaning to post my own list and ask you folks out there to join in. I'm curious what ya'll have been reading lately. Please feel free to leave a comment with your list.
Here we go, in order, starting from January '08 to now:
1) Seven Seasons of the Man in the Mirror - Patrick Morley
2) Sacred Romance - Brent Curtis and John Eldridge
3) Dangerous Wonder - Michael Yaconelli
4) Heavenly Man - Brother Yun
5) Chasing the Dragon - Jackie Pullinger
6) Redeeming Love - Francine Rivers
7) Velvet Elvis - Rob Bell
8) From Wild Man to Wise Man - Richard Rohr
9) The Shack - William P. Young
10) Passion and Purity - Elizabeth Elliot (per Ericka's suggestion)
11) Grace Walk - Steve McVey
12) Adam's Return - Richard Rohr
13) The Life of Pi - Yann Martel
14) Jesus for President - Shane Claiborne
15) Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller
16) Leadership and Self-Deception - Arbinger Institute
Currently Reading: Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
This is why we do what we do at the World Race. Forgive me for this "christianese" statement I'm about to make, but it's about waking up a generation of young people. Simply put, it means folks becoming aware of the need around them AND, here's the important part - going to fill that need. Pretty simple stuff. Our desire is to see people travel to and minister in the nations for a year, come back home passionate about a call God has given them, and then go live it out.
Here is an example of someone waking up to God's call in his life.
Meet my former teammate Eli Martorana. Eli just finished taking and passing his GMAT - an entrance exam to business school. That's where he's heading in the fall, but first Eli is going back out into the nations.
Eli's vision for heading to Argentina in his own words....
My contacts are two missionaries from my hometown, Monroeville, Alabama,
who have been in Argentina for the last 20 years. They have invited me to join
them for a five month period to reach college students. However, my ministry
will not be for only a five month period. My time there serve as an investment
for a lifetime of ministry. While ministering to college students, I will also
• develop lifelong relationships with impoverished and marginalized families
• create a database of those families with their needs and wants
• improve my Spanish skills for on-going ministry purposes (by living with a
poor family or widow which in return the rent would help them economically)
When Eli returns, he'll immediately start his next phase of education in Business. He'll
begin his MBA program at Samford University, which will help him in
three main areas of business; negotiation, seeing market trends, and
valuing a company. An MBA will allow him to financially aid the poor
more effectively. After graduating, Eli will enter the
business world with a vision: to minister to corporate America and
also use his business skills and resources to economically advance many
poor families in Argentina. Aiding those families will definitely serve as a means to spread the gospel with not only words but actions.
The cool thing is, I saw firsthand the change in Eli last year. He truly grew into a confident man who is secure in His God-given identity. But he didn't do it alone, God used guys like Robby Riggs, Matt Peters and others on our squad to push and challenge Eli.
I couldn't be prouder of Eli and what God has done in his life. Eli is now impacting the lives of many in Argentina, because Eli's life was changed on the World Race.
This my friends is what it's all about - WAKING UP A GENERATION!
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."
-
Jesus
For me it reads like this:
Rusty stop looking at your own needs and focus on the needs
of others.
Something that's very hard for me, a first-born child and a
first-born grandson, to do. From day one, it was all about me – and I got
albums full of baby pictures to prove it! I always had what I wanted, when I
wanted it. So, as you can imagine I was never good at putting other people's
needs first. In fact, I'm pretty sure I was quite shocked when I realized there
were other people in this world besides me. And I can promise you, it took me a
lot longer to see that they were real, living people - and not just "objects" in my world.
I dare say I'm not the only one out there who has walked
this walk. I think we can all agree that kids need to be TAUGHT to be selfless.
It's not really a quality we carry with us bursting forth from the womb. To me,
self-focus is our universal sickness.
So, God seeing that THAT was our main issue decided to send
His Son into our own backyard to show us how to play nice with each other. Jesus
made it real easy for us, He said don't worry about all these rules and
commandments, just love God and love each other – that's it! And the best part
is He just didn't say it – He lived it! Christ lived AND died putting other
people first. Jesus had an amazing ability to see people – as PEOPLE, and he
treated them as such.
One of the best descriptions of Christ's love outside of the
Gospels is in Philippians:
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in
humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not
only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Believe me, I'm far from this right now. But there was a
time I lived in complete opposition to this scripture. I wasn't even trying to
look at something like this. To me, this was foolishness. You see, people were
"objects" and I was a master at manipulating the "objects" around me to serve
MY purposes. And the sad thing is I really had little awareness I was doing
this – most of us don't. However, something happens to us when we finally
understand the magnitude of Christ's love for us. I can't explain it – it's
definitely a God thing. It finally just sinks in – His sacrifice, His love, His
passion, His selflessness – all for YOU...
Finally we get it, I mean, REALLY get it. In that moment we
see ourselves for what we are – extremely selfish, self-seeking,
self-gratifying folks. And the weird thing is, it's not condemnation we feel,
it's conviction. That's when we hit our knees with a repentant heart.
Great story right? Usually this is were man comes in and
makes it complicated, not on purpose, but it happens. Because after we come to Christ, we
go to church. And that traditionally has been the place were good-hearted people
start telling us or "showing" us how to live. We are given "rules" and "guidelines"
to follow in order to "follow" Jesus. All of a sudden that simple call to LOVE
– doesn't seem so simple anymore. Now that you are a Christian it seems you got
to have the "right" stance on issues and vote along the "right" party lines.
Next thing you know these "issues" you stand on have drawn lines between you
and the very people God has called you to love. Jesus said, "love your
neighbor," which is everyone. But now you find yourself in an exclusive club
with people inside it that can barely love each other.
Then, after time, the focus on others gives way to a
performance-based religion that has got us all caught up in "ourselves" – again!
A sick trap.
One I have to actively fight to stay out of.
Alright so let me tie this thing up – it's simple remember.
We like thinking about ourselves all the time, God said, hold up, check out my
Son, He'll show you how it's done. Jesus walks the talk and says on His way out
– love others and it'll be all good. The Spirit touches us, we finally WAKE UP
and get IT! But then unfortunately, we start getting religion.
This is why I love the World Race. God is using this program
to get us back to the basics. You see, we travel the world, minister to the
poor and live in community with our teammates. We are around each other 24/7
for 11 months! It's absolutely the most challenging thing about the race, but
it's also the best thing. You really do get a chance to live out John 15:12 – remember,
love each other. It's like I always told my team last year, "you gotta love
each other first before you can go out and love those in the nations."
I believe in the race, because it gets us back to what Jesus
is all about – LOVE. We don't focus on issues, or do's and don'ts. We just try
to model His love by putting the other person's needs ahead of our own.
Thank God, it really is that simple.
Some of ya'll out there know someone who has been on the
race and you have seen the change in that person's life. Also, I realize a lot
of racers' parents read my blog as well, and ya'll saw first-hand what God did
in your child's life during their time in the field. I'm asking ya'll to invest
in this program. If you would like to give to the World Race general fund, please
click here.
And/Or
If you would like to support me in my full-time service to
the World Race, please click here.
Well,
if you couldn't make it to the wedding, and you haven't guessed by now-
WE'RE MARRIED!!! Sorry for the extended absence on my blog! As all you
married couples know, life is busy taking care of someone else too!
It's been a wonderful 7 weeks so far, so I'll try to catch you up in
the next few blogs...
Eighteen
years ago I became ensnared by the attractive web of hardcore porn. I
was a six year old Christian and the 18 years that followed have been
full of many different struggles. I mean, I'm sure we can all attest
to having mommy and daddy issues, issues of self-worth, loneliness,
insecurity, and hopelessness. I experienced all of these and more. It
was all big stuff, but the porn, that eventually grew into a drive for
sex, continued to be a CRUSHING burden with no escape in sight. I did
experience growth and success in areas of my life and even bared fruit
in the name of Christ, but I never experienced deliverance, deliverance
that we all read so much about in the Bible. That is until this
Thursday, April 2nd, on AIM's training grounds.
