This trip was one of the most amazing experiences in my walk with Jesus, and will be shared as many times as i can. We [partnered with a group, looking to increase the walk of others and our selves, through studying the Bible, worshiping, sharing our faith with others through community service, and learn something about the culture of our hosts.
What we encountered was initially completely different. There was no group worship, we were sung to maybe once a day. there was no opening of the Word, just halfhearted references to " I think the verse is...", and the cultural "lessons" were heavy handed and disturbing.
As a person, there was a feeling of discomfort, that I soon learned was shared by all; staff and students alike.
The staff had a conversation, Pastor TJ spoke to church leadership, and a conversation was held with the students. It was a unanimous and well supported decision to leave the location we were in.
Our "host" tried to sway us from departing, in the same fashion he had treated and spoken to us the entire time we were there, to no avail.
Many hands went in to action, and many hearts responded.
In a few short minutes, we had several offers for lodging. We found a place that would seat 27 people for dinner, which just happened to be around the corner from where we ended up staying.
We reached out and had a former student, who literally, without even knowing exactly where he was heading, come and lead worship for us. While that was happening, a staff member of a different local church, that happened to be supporting a youth serviced at our new host church stopped in and said they had some work that needed to be attended to and asked if we would help.
We did a neighborhood prayer walk, helped prepare the church for Easter services and more, worshiped unashamed (and loudly), and one more blessing was that we were able to secure showers for 27 people that helped relieve some of our physical discomfort.
The shower though, could not compare to the relief we all felt, as God took the weight we all felt from us.
Our hearts literally sang out in joy, our prayers were of thanks and tear filled joy, our worship was to the one true king, and our hands worked truly for His kingdom.
I know I am a better person for the experience, and as hard as it was to go through, it was amazing to have gone through.
I could not be more blessed to have worked with the other members of this trip; staff, students, and new friends, that were involved.
In His name,
Mike Bannock
What we encountered was initially completely different. There was no group worship, we were sung to maybe once a day. there was no opening of the Word, just halfhearted references to " I think the verse is...", and the cultural "lessons" were heavy handed and disturbing.
As a person, there was a feeling of discomfort, that I soon learned was shared by all; staff and students alike.
The staff had a conversation, Pastor TJ spoke to church leadership, and a conversation was held with the students. It was a unanimous and well supported decision to leave the location we were in.
Our "host" tried to sway us from departing, in the same fashion he had treated and spoken to us the entire time we were there, to no avail.
Many hands went in to action, and many hearts responded.
In a few short minutes, we had several offers for lodging. We found a place that would seat 27 people for dinner, which just happened to be around the corner from where we ended up staying.
We reached out and had a former student, who literally, without even knowing exactly where he was heading, come and lead worship for us. While that was happening, a staff member of a different local church, that happened to be supporting a youth serviced at our new host church stopped in and said they had some work that needed to be attended to and asked if we would help.
We did a neighborhood prayer walk, helped prepare the church for Easter services and more, worshiped unashamed (and loudly), and one more blessing was that we were able to secure showers for 27 people that helped relieve some of our physical discomfort.
The shower though, could not compare to the relief we all felt, as God took the weight we all felt from us.
Our hearts literally sang out in joy, our prayers were of thanks and tear filled joy, our worship was to the one true king, and our hands worked truly for His kingdom.
I know I am a better person for the experience, and as hard as it was to go through, it was amazing to have gone through.
I could not be more blessed to have worked with the other members of this trip; staff, students, and new friends, that were involved.
In His name,
Mike Bannock