Our days are really winding down here in our newest home!
We are reminded everyday how much God has blessed us with amazing opportunities in ministry. Since the last update, we have been making a huge initiative both as a team and individually to really dig into the intimacy that our Father wants with us. We have realized how having that intimacy with God releases us from striving, especially in our ministry. Instead of going out into the streets of Bangladesh and doing things out of our own love for the people, we can rely completely on what God has for them. Since we start off with seeking out God's heart not only for ourselves but also for the people, we can share that heart with them too! Once we realigned ourselves to that fact, it made our ministry so much easier and just more spirit led. For our last week of ministry, all 6 of us students were given a day to take control and plan the ministry. Each day was very successful and taught us so much, not to mention super fun!! The first day, Tuesday, was Kelsey's day. We went out to Shahbagh Square, where the nonviolent protests were held and got to learn more about what was happening there, and spend the day talking to the university youths involved. It was another eye opening day to what is going on in Bangladesh. The protest is bringing about a lot of HUGE changes in the country, both in the government and just in everyday life. We took a Bengali friend named Max along with us, and he helped to explain to us what was being said and what the whole rally is about. It is pretty cool that it is bringing some good changes to the country, but the whole foundation of the rally is pretty controversial. The next day was led by Nathalie, and she took us to the streets with chalk, balloons and henna. There we met a street "family" consisting of a few women and all their children. One woman has 3 children, 1 boy and 2 girls, all under the age of 4, who we got to spend a lot of time with, teaching them to draw on the cement with chalk (instead of eating it) and bumping each other with balloons. It was soo awesome to see how happy she got when we played with her children, and to see her face light up when her kids laughed. And God allowed us to make her even more happy by pulling out the henna and decorating her hand, which is a sign of beauty and honor. It was difficult saying goodbye when the evening ended, but God gave us a lot of peace that we got through to them how much they are loved by Him. Thursday, led by Heid, we went out again to the streets, this time with the goal to pray for the crippled and heal them. There is no short supply, so we went from bridge to bridge, praying and telling them how much they are loved. Most of them gave us smiles and a handshake, then turned back to their begging, but some really lit up once we prayed for them, shining with pure joy that only God could give them, and we all knew that their healing is on it's way. Friday was filled with more street ministry after the church service, led by Tyler, where we went a different direction to meet the street people and bless them. For Kenzie's day on Saturday, she felt God leading her to have a Bengali-style "Mark Parker Day," just like we had during Lecture Phase. It was a really awesome day where we got to recommit things and lay down areas of our lives. It was a good time to remember what we are here for, not just in Bangladesh but even when we are back home or wherever else God leads us. To put Him first and let His lordship be the center. Then on our day off on Sunday, the girls got an opportunity to do some shopping for souvenirs for families, then we went to a fellow missionaries house, Gustavo. He, his wife and two daughters and a son are from Colombia and are staying here long term. It was a really good time just to talk and try to bless and encourage them. And finally, on Izi's day on Monday, she led us with a contact to the Dhaka prison, where the 5 girls got to meet some christian women in jail while the boys met with boys. It was very eye opening not only to how they live, but also to the injustice there and in the government. There was 2 Bengali girls that were convicted of murder, one Nigerian woman who got mixed up in drugs and another 18 year old girl that didn't deserve to be there at all. She is a university student in Dhaka and one of her good friends ran off with a Bengali guy and got secretly married, which is very bad here in Bangladesh. The married girl's parents called the police and told them that she had something to do with it, which she doesn't, but she got thrown into jail. There was another man that Tyler got to speak with from Nigeria who didn't deserve to be in jail either. His friend got in trouble and ran off, so the police grabbed him instead. He has been in jail, convicted but not sentenced, for 2 years. We asked why so long and were told that if you didn't have anyone working for you outside the jail, you could spend your whole life in jail, just waiting for your sentence. The people there were very nice and open with us, and it broke off many stereotypes of criminals. The next two days were spent with an amazing organization named CUP, which goes out into Dhaka and rescues girls from prostitution and trafficking. We learned that there are 13 legal brothels in Bangladesh, the largest on with over 1,000 women and girls in it. While none of those brothels are in Dhaka, many of the girls that are trafficked go there or to hotels or buildings all over the city. CUP helps to educate, train and integrate the women into society as well as helping them to get jobs at a company called Basha, where they make beautiful blankets and jewelry to sell. All the women and girls that we met there were so eager to learn and change their lives. We worked with their children while they either worked or learned at CUP, playing games with the kids and telling them bible stories. It was so cool to see children that come from nonexistent homes and off the streets have such pure joy and happiness. God has given us such an amazing gift of being able to see the joy of street people!! We were sad to end our last day of ministry, but it was a pretty awesome last day.
So now as Outreach is coming to an end we have headed into Debrief week, here at Tropical Daisy Hotel were we are unwinding and processing with God all that has happened. He really has done amazing things in our team and in each and every one of us and we have each changed so much. We have gotten some sweet treats like waking up to the hotel staff bringing breakfast right to our rooms and going out for some delicious ice cream as a team. Even though their are hartals outside almost everyday, which makes it hard for us to go out, Cesar has been making this an awesome week for us to spend with each other but most importantly with Papa.
Thank once again for all the thoughts and prayers! There will be one more blog entry before this season is over.
Prayer Requests:
-That we would continue to be intentional with God, ourselves and each other
-That we would seek Him out every day
-We would be able to process all He has done and continue to give Him the glory
-As always, our health :)
We are reminded everyday how much God has blessed us with amazing opportunities in ministry. Since the last update, we have been making a huge initiative both as a team and individually to really dig into the intimacy that our Father wants with us. We have realized how having that intimacy with God releases us from striving, especially in our ministry. Instead of going out into the streets of Bangladesh and doing things out of our own love for the people, we can rely completely on what God has for them. Since we start off with seeking out God's heart not only for ourselves but also for the people, we can share that heart with them too! Once we realigned ourselves to that fact, it made our ministry so much easier and just more spirit led. For our last week of ministry, all 6 of us students were given a day to take control and plan the ministry. Each day was very successful and taught us so much, not to mention super fun!! The first day, Tuesday, was Kelsey's day. We went out to Shahbagh Square, where the nonviolent protests were held and got to learn more about what was happening there, and spend the day talking to the university youths involved. It was another eye opening day to what is going on in Bangladesh. The protest is bringing about a lot of HUGE changes in the country, both in the government and just in everyday life. We took a Bengali friend named Max along with us, and he helped to explain to us what was being said and what the whole rally is about. It is pretty cool that it is bringing some good changes to the country, but the whole foundation of the rally is pretty controversial. The next day was led by Nathalie, and she took us to the streets with chalk, balloons and henna. There we met a street "family" consisting of a few women and all their children. One woman has 3 children, 1 boy and 2 girls, all under the age of 4, who we got to spend a lot of time with, teaching them to draw on the cement with chalk (instead of eating it) and bumping each other with balloons. It was soo awesome to see how happy she got when we played with her children, and to see her face light up when her kids laughed. And God allowed us to make her even more happy by pulling out the henna and decorating her hand, which is a sign of beauty and honor. It was difficult saying goodbye when the evening ended, but God gave us a lot of peace that we got through to them how much they are loved by Him. Thursday, led by Heid, we went out again to the streets, this time with the goal to pray for the crippled and heal them. There is no short supply, so we went from bridge to bridge, praying and telling them how much they are loved. Most of them gave us smiles and a handshake, then turned back to their begging, but some really lit up once we prayed for them, shining with pure joy that only God could give them, and we all knew that their healing is on it's way. Friday was filled with more street ministry after the church service, led by Tyler, where we went a different direction to meet the street people and bless them. For Kenzie's day on Saturday, she felt God leading her to have a Bengali-style "Mark Parker Day," just like we had during Lecture Phase. It was a really awesome day where we got to recommit things and lay down areas of our lives. It was a good time to remember what we are here for, not just in Bangladesh but even when we are back home or wherever else God leads us. To put Him first and let His lordship be the center. Then on our day off on Sunday, the girls got an opportunity to do some shopping for souvenirs for families, then we went to a fellow missionaries house, Gustavo. He, his wife and two daughters and a son are from Colombia and are staying here long term. It was a really good time just to talk and try to bless and encourage them. And finally, on Izi's day on Monday, she led us with a contact to the Dhaka prison, where the 5 girls got to meet some christian women in jail while the boys met with boys. It was very eye opening not only to how they live, but also to the injustice there and in the government. There was 2 Bengali girls that were convicted of murder, one Nigerian woman who got mixed up in drugs and another 18 year old girl that didn't deserve to be there at all. She is a university student in Dhaka and one of her good friends ran off with a Bengali guy and got secretly married, which is very bad here in Bangladesh. The married girl's parents called the police and told them that she had something to do with it, which she doesn't, but she got thrown into jail. There was another man that Tyler got to speak with from Nigeria who didn't deserve to be in jail either. His friend got in trouble and ran off, so the police grabbed him instead. He has been in jail, convicted but not sentenced, for 2 years. We asked why so long and were told that if you didn't have anyone working for you outside the jail, you could spend your whole life in jail, just waiting for your sentence. The people there were very nice and open with us, and it broke off many stereotypes of criminals. The next two days were spent with an amazing organization named CUP, which goes out into Dhaka and rescues girls from prostitution and trafficking. We learned that there are 13 legal brothels in Bangladesh, the largest on with over 1,000 women and girls in it. While none of those brothels are in Dhaka, many of the girls that are trafficked go there or to hotels or buildings all over the city. CUP helps to educate, train and integrate the women into society as well as helping them to get jobs at a company called Basha, where they make beautiful blankets and jewelry to sell. All the women and girls that we met there were so eager to learn and change their lives. We worked with their children while they either worked or learned at CUP, playing games with the kids and telling them bible stories. It was so cool to see children that come from nonexistent homes and off the streets have such pure joy and happiness. God has given us such an amazing gift of being able to see the joy of street people!! We were sad to end our last day of ministry, but it was a pretty awesome last day.
So now as Outreach is coming to an end we have headed into Debrief week, here at Tropical Daisy Hotel were we are unwinding and processing with God all that has happened. He really has done amazing things in our team and in each and every one of us and we have each changed so much. We have gotten some sweet treats like waking up to the hotel staff bringing breakfast right to our rooms and going out for some delicious ice cream as a team. Even though their are hartals outside almost everyday, which makes it hard for us to go out, Cesar has been making this an awesome week for us to spend with each other but most importantly with Papa.
Thank once again for all the thoughts and prayers! There will be one more blog entry before this season is over.
Prayer Requests:
-That we would continue to be intentional with God, ourselves and each other
-That we would seek Him out every day
-We would be able to process all He has done and continue to give Him the glory
-As always, our health :)
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