I have recently made the long flight from Southeast Asia back to North America. Most of this year has been filled with crazy travel days. We've put alot of miles under our feet and sometimes, under our wings. Here's a video that my friend Nicole Marett put together. Its not the flight from Asia back home, but its our flight from Africa to Asia. I just wanted you to get a glimpse of what it looks like to travel with 42 people across continents. Enjoy!
We traveled from Nairobi to Bangkok with a layover in Qatar along the way. We went to the city of Hua Hin for our second last debrief. One night we were going to have a session on the roof. I was still getting over jet lag and had just woken up. I was a bit grouchy, a little dazed and pretty groggy. But up I went and when I got there, the whole squad was waiting. They told me to look behind a short wall. I saw something black. It was a guitar case. I opened it up and inside was a brand new guitar.
Suddenly lights pop behind my eyes as cameras are flashing all around me and Pappy pulls out a video camera. Dania, the sweet, beautiful and wonderful girl with the most beautiful servant heart who was heading up this whole conspiracy was explaining why. All I caught was something about how the whole squad pitched in and they tried to get it in Africa but ran out of time. (Reflecting on it later I was grateful I didn't have to drag it through airports all the way to Asia.) People were cheering and clapping. I think. I don't remember much. Just the feeling of being completely overwhelmed.
I buried my face in my hands. I think. I do remember feeling shocked. I remember thinking "Oh no! I'm not crying! I should cry, it would make everyone feel better and show that I really appreciate it. I have to cry!" I tried. But I couldn't. Maybe it was cause I just woke up and my brain still felt fuzzy and sluggish. I felt bad. It was this big epic thing they did for me I felt like they were waiting for me to cry. But all I could do was gape at them, try to smile and convey my gratitude. Words failed me. But then a new sensation hit me. Suddenly I was weak in the knees. I wouldn't be able to stand for much longer. Wide eyed and with my new precious prized possession in hand, i wobbled over to a bench or wall and sat down. Cameras were still lighting up the dark roof and I wondered if this might be what its like for celebrities and their paparazzi.
"Play it!" someone shouted. "We tuned it this afternoon." I couldn't think of a song to play in all the mayhem and my brain scrambled. Then it came, clear as day. "So Good to Me" by Cory Asbury. I played the first chord...oogh...I guess the tuning didn't stay through all the heat. But I soldiered on and began singing to try and cover up the clashing notes. But I had just woken up so my voice was thick and extra raspy. Oh well, it didn't matter. God deserved the praise for this.
I need to tell you about something amazing that happened this year. I've put it off for far too long. But first, a little background. As you may or may not know, my guitar broke when I was in Turkey back in November. That was all around a time when things were really tough on me and you can read about it here.
So there I was, guitarless and it just felt wrong. Its like another arm or something and it was tough to have it gone. Luckily my teammate Grant has a guitar so I got to play his, but it just wasn't the same as having mine (its hard to explain, but my fellow musicians will probably understand). I didn't play Grant's very often cause I felt bad to borrow it, even though he said it was no problem. When my guitar broke I just figured it meant I wasn't supposed to have one for this leg of the journey and if God wanted me to have one, he'd supply one.
I've heard tons of stories about people praying for a guitar and then getting one. I always thought that would be amazing but I've never been in a position for that to happen. There has been a guitar in my home ever since I was born and I've never needed one. Even now I didn't really need one, I could always borrow if I was asked to lead worship, but I still would have loved to have one to call my own and be responsible for (although, it was nice to not have to lug it around all across the world).
So I began to pray. Lord, if you want me to have a guitar, please bring one to me. Could you bring me a guitar? Sometimes I'd wonder how it would happen and if in this country or the next, God would provide this miracle. I couldn't even imagine how it would happen. But I began to believe that he really would do this. Not because I deserved it, but because he's a God of a abundance and because he's a good Father who loves his children and gives good gifts to them.
I had my birthday in Kenya back in March. It was amazing. I began my morning writing in my journal when the Green Power Ranger charged his way into my room. He had come to recruit me into his superhero league and then we ran across the yard battling invisible bad guys all the way to the kitchen house where fruit juice, strawberries and breakfast pizzas were waiting. It was epic. I loved it.
My friend Daina handed me a present of a few things. Among them was a yellow coupon that said "Good For 1 Free Gift!" On the back were the qualifications to redeem it. "Cannot be American, must be Canadian, 22 years of age and must have had an exceptionally great birthday in Eldoret, Kenya...etc" Basically it was so detailed that it could only be for me. It also said "Payment is necessary, just not by you." That really threw me for a loop. What could it be?
I could maybe count on one hand the number of times this year that I went to a church and wasn't expected to lead worship at as soon as I got there. Don't get me wrong, I love leading worship. But I've almost completely forgotten what its like to be not be in charge and just sit back and soak it in. Our contacts at New Life told us they wanted us to be poured into and refreshed while we were here. We're not in charge of running the services, we can just take them in. Its quite a change from what its been like the whole race. I'm not complaining, its what I've signed up for and I've loved it the whole time. But this is definitely a nice change of pace.
We walked into the Wednesday night service and received headsets and radio transmitters so we'd be able to hear the service translated into English. There was a welcome time and then worship began. The TV screens above the stage lit up with words in the swirly Khmer script with the English words below. The band began to play and the congregation began to sing.
The first thing I appreciated was the fact that a full band armed with skilled musicians were on the team. A full band is definitely a rarity on the World Race. They also played some songs that we sing at my church! It felt like a mixture between a young adults event and a normal weekend service at Southland! Which was really neat and a major treat since I've been away for the last year. The worship team was so passionate worshiping the Lord with everything they had and that passion was mirrored in the congregation.
Some songs I didn't know and some were only in Khmer, but during those moments I just soaked it in. I remember thinking what a privilege it was for me to be here with my brothers and sisters in Christ and that even though we sing in different languages, we still praise the same God. Its beautiful.
As the worship went on, the Holy Spirit fell powerfully. It completely saturated the whole room. I felt what was like shivers or goosebumps run along my arms and then over my whole body. It was like electricity. At first I couldn't tell if it was the Holy Spirit or just the Air Conditioning that I was reacting to.
Cambodia is the hottest country I've been to and we're not staying in an air conditioned place (I was really blessed to have it in Thailand and Vietnam). I've been adjusting to the heat but A/C has definitely been missed. Its such a luxury item! I don't think I'll take it for granted ever again! So to have it inside the church was such a blessing and a nice reprive from the heat and humidity.
So there I was in the service, wondering what exactly was going on with the shivery electric feeling rushing through me. I tried to not think about it and just kept soaking in God's presence.
A few days later we attended the Sunday evening service and during an especially powerful song, it happened again! I smiled, glad to welcome it back. Maybe it was the A/C or maybe it was the H/S. Either way it was powerful and provided much needed refreshment. I'll take it anyday.
At first I wasn't so excited about web design being the kind of ministry we were doing for our last month. I like building relationships with people, not having to be business-like with them. But then I got the best branch to oversee and gather information on: Worship, Creative Arts, Media, Radio, Youth Outreach and their Extreme Band! All the things I am passionate about! I met my contacts and found out more about the church and their ministry and I was sold.
Let me tell you a little bit about what they do. There are over 60 volunteers that serve in worship arts. That includes singers, musicians, dancers, and technicians in sound, lighting and projection. They have a weekly music class for people interested in becoming musicians, they run seminars, raise up worship leaders in their church and in other provinces, play at all sorts of events nationally and internationally. Not to mention that they write their own songs in Khmer (the Cambodian language), translate other worship songs from English into Khmer and record albums twice a year. They even make the occasional music video! Their vision is to create resources that other churches can have access to.
They are ridiculously talented and even more passionate. Their worship times are powerful. Being here working with them and seeing their heart for God and their desire for his presence in their worship times has re-sparked something inside of me.
Over the last few months I've been feeling a major lack of passion and inspiration. I haven't written a new song in ages and if I'm being completely honest, worship has more often than not, felt like a chore. I've prayed about it and asked God to at least give me the desire to desire him more. If that even makes sense. I've hated feeling this way and have consistently been praying for more passion and inspiration.
Through working with these passionate, gifted and anointed people, I am blessed to say that it has begun to rub off on me! I've found myself waking up with joy in the morning, no matter how hot, muggy or short the night may have been. As I walk to "work" at "the office" there is a spring in my step and I can't wait to meet with the staff and volunteers who have become my friends and hear more about what God is doing in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
I have been so inspired that I picked up my guitar the other day and began to write new songs. Now don't get too excited yet, I'm notorious for not finishing my songs and just leaving them as a chorus or verse, but I've been learning the value of speaking life over myself and so I say that they will be completed in Jesus' name!
I realized that my worship has felt stagnant because the creative element was missing. I just kept playing the same songs the same way every time. But being around people who are constantly creating to worship their Creator has inspired me.
Isn't it amazing how the body of Christ works together to strengthen each other? We thought we were an answer to prayer for them, turns out that they've become an answer to prayer for me too.
This month we are in the city of Phnom Phen, Cambodia! We are partnered with Team Oasis and doing a different kind of ministry than we've ever done before. We are helping an organization called Cambodia Outreach re-launch their website. Their current site is outdated and has too much information on it, which makes it difficult to read and get the correct information from. So we are redesigning, streamlining and editing. The website is getting a complete revamp.They want the site to be easy for westerners to read so they can be aware of what is all going on with Cambodia Outreach and all the different ministries they facilitate.
We are working at a non denomenational church called New Life Fellowship (NLF) which was birthed out of Cambodia Outreach. Our job is to go around and interview staff and collect up to date information to put on the web. NLF has tons of amazing and different ministries so it makes the task a bit daunting. They have wanted to clean up the website for a long time but the staff are so busy that its basically impossible to get a task of this magnitude done. It is one of their biggest needs as a ministry right now.
Here's the cool part - they have been praying for months for God to send them a team that is skilled in media. God gave them several confirmations and then we showed up! It is so awesome to be an answer to prayer! Not all of us are major media people, but we have two people who have had jobs as web designers and have worked in IT. We have editors, writers, creative types and talented videographers - which is exactly what NLF has needed!
Their top priority is this website so they can get the word out about Cambodia Outreach and direct people to the website instead of handing out tons of pamphlets or having to email the same information over and over again. If properly done, it will be a major time saver, especially for the busy staff.
Praise God for hearing his people and answering their needs!
On our first really long 20 hour van ride (as mentioned in "The Sun...") to a village, we had a midnight dinner. But when we got back into the van, there was a surprise waiting for us. Our driver put in a CD. But not just any CD, oh no, no no. It was a mixed CD devoted to various Christmas songs done by very popular artists. Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and my personal favorite of the night; NSYNC. We laughed, sang along and looked at each other incredulously. Is this really our life right now? What's up with listening to Christmas music in May in the jungle with people who have never even seen snow?
Then, to even further the irony, astound us still more and raise the hilarity, someone screamed "look out the window!!!" What we beheld were yards, trees and houses, lit up with Christmas lights wound all around. We couldn't stop laughing.
A week later on another weekend church visit we found more churches decorated with tinsel, garland and bright coloured round Christmas ornaments. We met this older man who could play guitar and we'd take turns playing songs for each other. After awhile, they asked if I could play some Christmas songs. Specifically, Jingle Bells.
This year I've learned to play alot of songs on guitar, but I don't know how to play any Christmas songs. Luckily, I've developed my ability to play by ear alot so I picked a chord and off we went! They were so excited and kept shouting out different Christmas song titles. I'd try my best to play them on guitar, but not that it really mattered because they'd clap their hands and sing loudly to drown it out. It was alot of fun.
I just thought it was hilarious because here we are, singing about snow and all sorts of festive snow related things and its 45 degrees Celsius out there, the sun is beating down, its humid, we're sweating bullets and we're in the jungle. Most of them have never even seen snow!
Also, just walking around on the streets at night, you'll see tons of lights and decorations everywhere on the boulevard. Brightly shining and glowing the night away. Its so decorated that you really do feel like you're in the middle of a city at Christmas, minus the snow of course.
Christmas really is a worldwide event. And, as I've just discovered, sometimes even carried out all year long.
One day we visited an HIV Orphanage where I fell in love with a little boy named Tuan. He's 14, though he doesn't look it, knows a little bit of English and we just seemed to hit it off right away. He took me by the hand and led me up three flights of stairs into what looked like a relaxed version of a classroom. He led me straight to the revolving globe sitting by the window and asked me to show him where I lived. I rotated the globe until it got to Winnipeg and pointed. "Win-nee-pet," he said slowly in his little accent. I smiled and nodded encouragingly. "Winnepet," he said again.
Then he took the globe, spun it to Vietnam and pointed to it and then to himself. I asked him where he wanted to go visit someday and he pointed to South Korea and said "Seoul". He then pulled out different maps and we looked at them. This is something I frequently do on my own at home. I can look at maps for hours and wonder about all the amazing places. Yet here I was in Vietnam, sharing this love of cartography with a little boy.
Its a Catholic orphanage, so he opened a cupboard and pointed to a picture of Jesus taped up on the wall and then to his heart. Then he pointed at me and then back at Jesus, he wanted to know what I thought of Jesus. I told him that I loved Jesus very, very much. A massive smile broke across his face and said that he did too. I realized that I was looking at my little brother and we'll always be connected by one thing, the love of our Saviour and our Father in heaven. It was such a simple moment, but I will never forget it.
When we were finished with the maps and globes, he led me by the hand back downstairs to where the rest of my teammates were feeding the little babies in the kitchen. Tuan had to wait until they were fed before he could eat, so I tried to help him pass the time by teaching him rock, paper scissors. Then he pulled out some paper and we played a bunch of rounds of X and O's.
After Tic Tac Toe, I took the pen and began drawing all sorts of animals for him. Then I'd write their names and say them outloud so he'd lean what they were called in English. It was alot of fun. Sometimes he'd draw animals and ask what they were called. Sadly, we only got to spend about an hour and a half there and as I waved goodbye I hoped that I'd be able to come back and see him again and if not, that he'd be able to visit Seoul someday, just like he dreams of doing.
I'm happy to report that later that night we had a great nights sleep despite the hardness of the beds and we out once our heads hit the pillow. The next day was filled with going to church (they had us sit in the back because we were so tall) and playing music. They had drums a piano and a bass guitar and I got to play them! I was so excited! I can't tell you how much I've missed playing bass this year! Then a bunch of my teammates and I formed a mini band and played songs together. We called ourselves The Backrow Giants and we did a nice cover of Zombie, by the Cranberries.
After playing with a monkey named Godzilla that the Pastor's son in law had caught in the jungle a few months ago, we had a busy evening ahead of us. The rest of our day was filled with helping them run a conference in which over 150 people came to. It was so packed that people couldn't even fit in the church anymore and had to sit outside. We gave testimonies, encouraged the church, answered questions and played some songs. The Vietnamese also gave some testimonies, played some songs and the youth did a few dances. It was a great time of fellowship. They wanted a bunch of pictures with us so after that we said our goodbyes and piled back into our van, ready for another overnight 20 hour drive back to Ho Chi Minh City. This time, I got to sit in the front and I actually had some legroom!
As we sped off through the night I looked up at the unfamiliar stars and constellations here on the other side of the world, so far away from home and marveled at them. I love stars. I thought about our weekend and what God all did. Sure it was a long drive in an uncomfortable van without alot of sleep. But it was worth it to be with that church and that body. We went to encourage them, but I think they ended up encouraging us more. The only regret I had was that I wish we would have been able to stay there longer and spend more time with them. I stared up at the sky at what I could only assume to be a constellation called the Southern Cross and closed my eyes. It was going to be a long night...
When we finally arrived at our village (after 20 hours in a cramped van), we marched up the stairs to our guesthouse to drop off our things before we were sent off to the church. We were late, so our scheduled rest time had been skipped. We were exhausted but trooped off down the street, then down a dirt road, under some palm trees and got to the church for lunch. Rice, some kind of greens called Morning Glory and some other strange looking and smelling so called edible food. I mostly stuck to the rice and greens. It was good and gave us some energy. But after a while someone went to get us some Coca Cola because we were so tired.
We were supposed to be spending time with the young church staff. (Or stave, as it was written on the schedule. Is that the plural of staff? Maybe just in Vietnam. Oh language barriers and all the laughs they provide.) All I could think about was how I wanted to go to sleep. I barely got any during the night because I'd been sitting up with my knees squashed against the seat in font of me in our cramped van. The staff had organized a worship time where they led a bunch of songs in Vietnamese. The band began to play and when the 30 young adults opened their mouths to sing and incredible sound came out.
I was practically bowled over by the noise. In all of my life, through all of my travels, I have never seen or heard a body worship this way. They were so loud! I mean, Africa is pretty loud, passionate and intense but they usually have ridiculously loud digital drumbeats from their keyboards blaring over their un-EQ'd microphones and loud speakers. But this was just so different! Each and every person was singing with all of their might. I watched them give their all and open their mouths as wide as possible to make the sound even greater. I'll say it again, I have never in my life heard a church body (of any size) sing as loudly as these 30. They meant and believed every word they said. It blew me away.
I looked around the room and marveled at them and this situation. Here I was, exhausted. All I could think about was finishing up here and getting back to our guesthouse so I could sleep. But here were 30 young adults connecting with God in a very powerful way, giving him everything. It hit me quickly and profoundly once I realized what was happening around me. Completely unaware, it snuck up on me. I had just stepped into a holy moment.
My eyes began to fill with tears. Despite my exhaustion, or how I felt, God was here and was powerfully inhabiting the praises of his people. How could I think of sleep now? It was a beautiful and humbling moment. It filled me with joy to see my brothers and sisters, who have lived a life so completely different than my own and don't even speak the same language as me, praise our Father together. It was beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. My heart felt like it would float to the moon and back without any effort at all.
joy to see my brothers and sisters, who have lived a life so completely different than my own and don't even speak the same language as me, praise our Father together. It was beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. My heart felt like it would float to the moon and back without any effort at all.
