Feel free to pass on this video link to anyone you know. I've also linked it on my website so you can also encourage people to check out that as well: http://muldertonicaragua.weebly.com
The first weekend of October I had a great visit with Andy & Diane Large while they were up in New England. We were able to travel together to visit a church in NH and one in RI. The visits at these churches were special times and I really enjoyed meeting the people at there. The pastors at both churches allowed me to share my video and speak a little bit in the service about what I'll be doing in Nicaragua. I also got to meet another couple (Dennis & Perida) who are also planning to go to Nicaragua. Attached is a picture of them, the Larges, & I :-)
This week I leave for NY to visit two churches that are having missions conferences (Adirondack Baptist & Perth Bible). This will be a special week as I know people at both churches. I look forward to seeing them and getting to share about Nicaragua. The other very exciting thing about this week, is that two of the people I met while in the Dominican Republic are suppose to be there also.
-Pray that God guides me as I share with teens, with children, and with adults.
-Pray that God blesses the people at both churches during these missions conferences.
Other exciting news. I start my new part-time job on October 20! Thanks to a friend connecting me, I now will be able to work a few days a week while still being free to take long weekends to travel and meet with individuals and churches regarding raising financial support.
"Redeeming Love has been my theme and shall be 'til I die." This is a line from an old song. The last two weeks I've been taking a break from TV and movies. This has been a great exercise and helped me spend more focused time in prayer and reading the Bible. The other day, at the start of the day I'd prayed for God to have His way during the day and that I would follow what He wanted rather than what I wanted. That night I had an incredible encounter that only God could have arranged. Please pray for "Z". She is an acquaintance of friends of mine whom they have been reaching out to. God helped me get my eyes off all the busyness of the day and notice/sense that here was someone who was hurting and needed to know the love God offers. At the start of the evening I got to chit-chat with Z.
Later in the evening, God arranged that I start feeling not so good, so I went outside to walk around to get some air. There sitting outside was Z. God was like "you need to go sit by her." Deep breath, "What if she wants to be alone. Ok, ok, help me God with this." (Funny thing is afterwards thinking about it, I had no more symptoms as soon as I sat down with her)
For the next 30 minutes, we sat together and I got to know Z a little bit. It was apparent that times with my friends has given her a lot of food for thought. Every step of the way God helped me in questions to ask, poured out His love and compassion to her, helped me know when to listen or when to speak, gave me the words. We talked about times in life when you feel purposeless/directionless/empty. I shared how God had gotten me through these times. We talked about health challenges and she was willing for me to pray for her. I think God is going to get her through this and that on the other side she will have a tremendous opportunity to have a life purpose of helping other people going through tough things because she has a compassionate heart. I even told her this.
She asked how I came to know God. WOW. We chatted about that. What a privilege to share about the powerful love of God and the amazing chance to have a relationship with God. Then to my amazement she began to open up and share her life story. (who does that to a total stranger!). We chatted about how God allows people to make their own choices and how often people make evil choices and that it is the innocent people who suffer. God could have made us all robots, but then there would be no real relationship with Him. I shared that Jesus had taken all our pain and suffering on himself at the cross so he is someone who truly understands the heartache. That He is trustworthy and will never let us down. There was much more we talked about and each piece God gave wisdom beyond anything I have ever experienced. At the end God reminded me of a verse that I shared with her "You are precious in my sight."
Folks. What happened last night was totally of God and not of me. I'll be honest, I am not good at talking with adults about Jesus. (I am way more comfortable sharing with kids and teens). But LIFE is real and there are so many hurting, broken people that inwardly are screaming for help. Pray that God gives us wisdom and boldness to reach out and share His love with them.