blogs can be fun sometimes... and at others, they can be a forced need.
however, God is so good and i have been blessed to experience these last few days.
we are in that town i was talking about.... but now it has a name... Boaco.
it is referred to as the cowboy town of nicaragua. haha... but with reasons i suppose.
nothing that really makes it amazingly obvious.. but they do ride around town on horses and we drove by a rodeo a couple times on the way to a kids camp.
it is a mountain town though. i still haven´t found a super market...
we are staying in a home with dorms... i believe our hosts are the pastor and his wife of the church on the hill behind the house. the stairs are steep and there are many of them... but the view is more than breath taking.. it takes it.. them refuses to give it back for a few minutes.
the thing that has been happening the most lately is more of a personal thing between God and i. not so much as a.. go out and preach or do dramas.. but a simple and yet difficult realization that i am loved by God!
did i hear that...
i am loved..
by..
God!
sometimes it is better to just step back from duties or responsibilities and just think..
to think about His glorious creation...
to think about all He has done...
about who i am...
about what He has brought me through.. and why...
and to think... to try to know... that He loves me.
i have realized that dts outreach is not just about helping others.. helping them grow... making dramas.. or doing programs... it is about growing. about growing deeper with Him!
i suppose i have taken the motto.. to know God and make God known.. and put the first part only in the lecture phase.. meaing the outreach has to fulfill the latter of them.. but what i am finally realizing is that both are about both... it is a constant grow cycle...
in order to make Him known.. He must be known.. and that must grow for the other to grow!
so here i am... learning and growing.. and i can only hope that that will be what takes His message to the world. as my heart gains His blessings of growth.. of love and is taken to new levels of intimacy with Him.. then so can those around me.
oh God, take me deep with You. i want to know You!
thank You for everything so far... help me see You for who You really are.
no more standards, or silly preceptions..
ich liebe dich!
Danke Vater!
In Jesu Name, amen!
our base leader flies out of berlin tomorrow and we will meet with him in a couple days. please pray for him. also... my finances are still under the cost.. but God is encouraging me. hehe...
i am filled with His joy and know that His plans are good!
Amen and amen!
as for events.. we joined a kids camp the last two days..
today was our free day and tanja and i went hiking... oh how i have missed it!
we met some people out and about and their smiles were a blessing... along with the stunning scenery.. i will someday put the photos up... don´t you worry!
as far as i know.. we are doing a program for kids tomorrow night.
there are questions among the team as to why we are here.. so please also pray for the team.
God is good and thank you all for the prayers!
blessings and much love, israel
Dienstag, 28. Juli 2009
Freitag, 24. Juli 2009
Belin zu Berling
wir sind in Nicaragua.. in Berling...
aber ist es nicht gleich.
we are now in Nicaragua in town called Berling.
how is it that God brought us from germany, from berlin, across the world to another town called berlin. it is obvious that He loves this place just as He loves Deutschland.
i am very glad to be here. costa rica was... hard.
ich bin gluecklich zu hier sein... costa rica war... schwierig, und mag ich es nicht.
it was very westernized mixed with poverty and pollution. there were times it was more than enjoyable but most of the time i found myself wondering why i was on outreach.
God has been so good though..
Gott ist immer gut!
He was preparing me for this place. though my spanisch is still minimum to none, there are ways of communicating with the locals and we have had some amazing opportunities to speak and pray with some.
the first day here, we walked around Berling and took it all in. this is my first time in a district that is considered third world poverty. a dog tried to bite a couple of us, lack of cement... i don't need to go into detail. however, as we approached one ladies home, she invited us to pray with her. we prayed for her son, pedro (peter).. and it was incredible to see her heart about her family and God. as soon as we started she started crying and speaking in tongues... but as she was praying, she was speaking german words.. meine kinder, danke... it was crazy good. es war toll! as we left her home, we stopped and talked to her neighbor... he was poorly bandaged on his right foot.. and after we inquired, we found out he had cut himself with machete a few days back, possibly when he was drunk.
we prayed with him, and after we left, i looked back a few times to see him with his face in his hands.. sitting.. some of our team saw him the next day and he had gone back to the hospital (the first time he was turned away... possibly because he was... drunk...) and they bandaged him up and was gonna give him some more supplies to take care of his wound.
i wish i could tell of all the experiences here.. but to sum it up, it has been far past blessed being here.
thank you for all your prayers.
heute und gestern haben wir viel drama gemacht.
we have done many dramas and interacting with kids and people lately.. which is a change from the practical work we mostly did in costa rica.
it is so good to see all the children smile and laugh.. or the teachers singing along with the songs. hallelujah!
the other night we held a prayer meeting at a local church.. and encouraged the people to strengthen each other.. their families, neighbors... strangers in the community... and to act out their faith...
much to do with the paint vision in the last blog.
we are staying at the ywam base here since sunday evening and leaving for another location tomorrow for a week.
the food here is super good... even though there are onions.. hehe..
and the temperature is much cooler than costa rica.
the people are very friendly too.. but almost all of them don't speak a common language with us... Thank God for translators!!!
as for finances... i am still missing the needed funds to be here. please continue to pray for this. God is better than what we can imagine... but i know that He is faithful... i believe He called me here.. so it comes to praying and waiting on the Lord.
it has been 4 weeks today. 6 more, and i know they will be good ones!
ich muss gehen..
Father, thank You for bringing us here and all that You are doing. please keep our eyes on You and hearts after Your own!
we love You.. use us for Your glory.
In Jesus Name, Amen!
much love, israel
aber ist es nicht gleich.
we are now in Nicaragua in town called Berling.
how is it that God brought us from germany, from berlin, across the world to another town called berlin. it is obvious that He loves this place just as He loves Deutschland.
i am very glad to be here. costa rica was... hard.
ich bin gluecklich zu hier sein... costa rica war... schwierig, und mag ich es nicht.
it was very westernized mixed with poverty and pollution. there were times it was more than enjoyable but most of the time i found myself wondering why i was on outreach.
God has been so good though..
Gott ist immer gut!
He was preparing me for this place. though my spanisch is still minimum to none, there are ways of communicating with the locals and we have had some amazing opportunities to speak and pray with some.
the first day here, we walked around Berling and took it all in. this is my first time in a district that is considered third world poverty. a dog tried to bite a couple of us, lack of cement... i don't need to go into detail. however, as we approached one ladies home, she invited us to pray with her. we prayed for her son, pedro (peter).. and it was incredible to see her heart about her family and God. as soon as we started she started crying and speaking in tongues... but as she was praying, she was speaking german words.. meine kinder, danke... it was crazy good. es war toll! as we left her home, we stopped and talked to her neighbor... he was poorly bandaged on his right foot.. and after we inquired, we found out he had cut himself with machete a few days back, possibly when he was drunk.
we prayed with him, and after we left, i looked back a few times to see him with his face in his hands.. sitting.. some of our team saw him the next day and he had gone back to the hospital (the first time he was turned away... possibly because he was... drunk...) and they bandaged him up and was gonna give him some more supplies to take care of his wound.
i wish i could tell of all the experiences here.. but to sum it up, it has been far past blessed being here.
thank you for all your prayers.
heute und gestern haben wir viel drama gemacht.
we have done many dramas and interacting with kids and people lately.. which is a change from the practical work we mostly did in costa rica.
it is so good to see all the children smile and laugh.. or the teachers singing along with the songs. hallelujah!
the other night we held a prayer meeting at a local church.. and encouraged the people to strengthen each other.. their families, neighbors... strangers in the community... and to act out their faith...
much to do with the paint vision in the last blog.
we are staying at the ywam base here since sunday evening and leaving for another location tomorrow for a week.
the food here is super good... even though there are onions.. hehe..
and the temperature is much cooler than costa rica.
the people are very friendly too.. but almost all of them don't speak a common language with us... Thank God for translators!!!
as for finances... i am still missing the needed funds to be here. please continue to pray for this. God is better than what we can imagine... but i know that He is faithful... i believe He called me here.. so it comes to praying and waiting on the Lord.
it has been 4 weeks today. 6 more, and i know they will be good ones!
ich muss gehen..
Father, thank You for bringing us here and all that You are doing. please keep our eyes on You and hearts after Your own!
we love You.. use us for Your glory.
In Jesus Name, Amen!
much love, israel
Samstag, 18. Juli 2009
hungry for Him
i always thought internet cafés were more of a coffee shop setting with computers available...
they are more like a computer lab at a school or university... usually small and full of one loud conversation. but for sure a blessing to have around.
thank you all for your prayers. as i have felt opposition from the enemy i have had discouragement and no motivation at parts.. but with God´s grace i am being shown daily love and encouragement... along with gentle correction and patience.
we got back to san josé thursday evening and have been staying at the ywam base here. our last day in our caribbean town had us helping pour cement to get ready for a roof to be build on a pastors house. the other days we spend either at a Christian café or wandering around our hostel/beach.
i was blessed to play bocca ball with some kids... they catch on quick...
i was also encouraged by the coffee shop owner that my tattoo... God and me walking on the beach...is a very none threatening way to talk about God... so to take advantage of that blessing.
yesterday was a free day to do what we needed and was ended by a gorgeous sundset on the san josé skyline. on the way home from the store, we meet a man and his children from florida who are attending a spanisch school for missionaries. allen, ian, sophie, josephine. possible longterm missionaries in the future. we prayed with them after some chatting.
after all was said and done, i enjoyed several bowls of cereal and some reading time.
tomorrow we are to leave for nicaragua and as for definite plans for what we will be doing there, please pray that we can hear clearly from God and make the most of every opportunity to share Him with others.
Nicaragua is much more poor that costa rica. the wages are lower, the work is more, and poverty higher...
but...
they are children of hope because God reigns!
please pray that His will can be accomplished and many will come to know Him personally.
before we left germany, a friend told me he had a vision from God. he saw us as a team going into nicaragua with buckets of royal purple paint. and when the locals noticed us, they took the paint and started covering everything with it!
i believe they are hungry for Him, for His righteousness...
thank You Daddy for the opportunity to grow in You and to make You known among the nations.
may we become less and less that You can be more and more!
we declare war against the enemy for nicaragua!
In Jesus Name!
so be it...
please pray.
much love, israel
they are more like a computer lab at a school or university... usually small and full of one loud conversation. but for sure a blessing to have around.
thank you all for your prayers. as i have felt opposition from the enemy i have had discouragement and no motivation at parts.. but with God´s grace i am being shown daily love and encouragement... along with gentle correction and patience.
we got back to san josé thursday evening and have been staying at the ywam base here. our last day in our caribbean town had us helping pour cement to get ready for a roof to be build on a pastors house. the other days we spend either at a Christian café or wandering around our hostel/beach.
i was blessed to play bocca ball with some kids... they catch on quick...
i was also encouraged by the coffee shop owner that my tattoo... God and me walking on the beach...is a very none threatening way to talk about God... so to take advantage of that blessing.
yesterday was a free day to do what we needed and was ended by a gorgeous sundset on the san josé skyline. on the way home from the store, we meet a man and his children from florida who are attending a spanisch school for missionaries. allen, ian, sophie, josephine. possible longterm missionaries in the future. we prayed with them after some chatting.
after all was said and done, i enjoyed several bowls of cereal and some reading time.
tomorrow we are to leave for nicaragua and as for definite plans for what we will be doing there, please pray that we can hear clearly from God and make the most of every opportunity to share Him with others.
Nicaragua is much more poor that costa rica. the wages are lower, the work is more, and poverty higher...
but...
they are children of hope because God reigns!
please pray that His will can be accomplished and many will come to know Him personally.
before we left germany, a friend told me he had a vision from God. he saw us as a team going into nicaragua with buckets of royal purple paint. and when the locals noticed us, they took the paint and started covering everything with it!
i believe they are hungry for Him, for His righteousness...
thank You Daddy for the opportunity to grow in You and to make You known among the nations.
may we become less and less that You can be more and more!
we declare war against the enemy for nicaragua!
In Jesus Name!
so be it...
please pray.
much love, israel
Dienstag, 14. Juli 2009
no pirates yet...
ok there... now isnt that just dandy!
sometimes i don't know how to start these blogs... just trying something new.
we are in puerto viejo, which is on the caribbean coast of coasta rica...
we left jaco thursday to san jose. stayed there for a couple hours before heading to our next location called guapiles where we participated in a youth camp.... which i would classify more as intense church! on sunday the service was from 10-4ish... it was rad though. groups from all over did different performances.. and i imagine heaven to look kinda like those days! people dancing, singing at the top of their lungs, and higher! just fun!
i think the kids helped take me out of a shell that i have been in keeping me from getting to close to anyone outside of a select few. with much laughter, i fell the blessing of being here.
i would ask for prayer that i will live right here, right now!
to be here 100%!
as a friend said... God has me here.. so be here 100%...
so thank you for the prayers.
we left this morning for a 4 hour drive here... and it was worth the drive!
we are staying the night at a hostel in hammocks and for our extent of our stay here.. we will be doing friendship ministries... MY FAVORITE!
this place is a big backpackers stop which create the opportunities to meet people who are looking for something... what better time to introduce them to something worth searching for... living for... dying for!?
keep all of us in your prayers that we really reach out to these guys!
i am not sure of all the events that will take place in the next few days... but something with handing out flyers for small events at night... like chess tournaments... or bon fire...
we are also staying next to a skatepark... so... hehehehe...
may you all be blessed... thank you all for the support, blessings and prayers!
as for the money... still needing.. but am blessed to say that God has done a lot!
thank you to all who has supported me in this!
Father, please make us part of your plan in this outreach. we trust You for divine appointments and Your grace in our conversations with others. thank You for providing so much. please help us know You more and make You known!
You are soooooo good!
Du bist super toll!
danke Herr fuer alle!
in Jesus Name, Amen!
much love to all! and i you all!
israel
sometimes i don't know how to start these blogs... just trying something new.
we are in puerto viejo, which is on the caribbean coast of coasta rica...
we left jaco thursday to san jose. stayed there for a couple hours before heading to our next location called guapiles where we participated in a youth camp.... which i would classify more as intense church! on sunday the service was from 10-4ish... it was rad though. groups from all over did different performances.. and i imagine heaven to look kinda like those days! people dancing, singing at the top of their lungs, and higher! just fun!
i think the kids helped take me out of a shell that i have been in keeping me from getting to close to anyone outside of a select few. with much laughter, i fell the blessing of being here.
i would ask for prayer that i will live right here, right now!
to be here 100%!
as a friend said... God has me here.. so be here 100%...
so thank you for the prayers.
we left this morning for a 4 hour drive here... and it was worth the drive!
we are staying the night at a hostel in hammocks and for our extent of our stay here.. we will be doing friendship ministries... MY FAVORITE!
this place is a big backpackers stop which create the opportunities to meet people who are looking for something... what better time to introduce them to something worth searching for... living for... dying for!?
keep all of us in your prayers that we really reach out to these guys!
i am not sure of all the events that will take place in the next few days... but something with handing out flyers for small events at night... like chess tournaments... or bon fire...
we are also staying next to a skatepark... so... hehehehe...
may you all be blessed... thank you all for the support, blessings and prayers!
as for the money... still needing.. but am blessed to say that God has done a lot!
thank you to all who has supported me in this!
Father, please make us part of your plan in this outreach. we trust You for divine appointments and Your grace in our conversations with others. thank You for providing so much. please help us know You more and make You known!
You are soooooo good!
Du bist super toll!
danke Herr fuer alle!
in Jesus Name, Amen!
much love to all! and i you all!
israel
Freitag, 10. Juli 2009
7 minutes 30 seconds
ok... i must be quick...
we are in jaco, costa rica. yesterday was the last day of work here.. and we are enjoying a day off.... the first in awhile.
i had the priviledge of hanging out with some Christian surfers from the states and here... and rode my first waves!
i thought sun burns would cease after a proper application of sunblock was applied... but i obviously did not use enough... and am now red... all over.
last week we helped at a couple schools... and heres a short list of activities as my time is running out!
helped build a sidewalk and roof...
entertained many kids...
helped hand out food to the homeless and enjoyed much good prayer with them!
sweated!
took rust off ship containers to be used as future rooms for food and other blessing for the community!
talked to my mother!
desired much more prayer.
skated with locals..
did dramas..
it has been hard but good... and i am finding myself really wanting more God through all of it!
thank you for all the prayers, and for all the donations and support.
please keep praying, and anytime you get a sunburn... think of us.
we travel to nicaragua in a week..
we leave here tomorrow.. back to san jose, and i think spend some time with ywamers....
we will see...
God bless all of you, and thank you again!...
much love, israel
we are in jaco, costa rica. yesterday was the last day of work here.. and we are enjoying a day off.... the first in awhile.
i had the priviledge of hanging out with some Christian surfers from the states and here... and rode my first waves!
i thought sun burns would cease after a proper application of sunblock was applied... but i obviously did not use enough... and am now red... all over.
last week we helped at a couple schools... and heres a short list of activities as my time is running out!
helped build a sidewalk and roof...
entertained many kids...
helped hand out food to the homeless and enjoyed much good prayer with them!
sweated!
took rust off ship containers to be used as future rooms for food and other blessing for the community!
talked to my mother!
desired much more prayer.
skated with locals..
did dramas..
it has been hard but good... and i am finding myself really wanting more God through all of it!
thank you for all the prayers, and for all the donations and support.
please keep praying, and anytime you get a sunburn... think of us.
we travel to nicaragua in a week..
we leave here tomorrow.. back to san jose, and i think spend some time with ywamers....
we will see...
God bless all of you, and thank you again!...
much love, israel
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