Speedy Week. Week5

One of the regular streets we walk down

It’s crazy how different sleep comes at different places, only hours away from each other. In Kedah I slept so well, coming back here I am always tired. It’s like a weight just keeping sleep from our reach at night and everyday at about 1 or 2 we all become so tired we start to nod off. Such a pain.

Saturday I felt lead to speak at the youth group at TOP (the youth we lead weekly), along with Keeley. I got the book of Ruth to speak on, specifically Naomi and how bitter she was (maybe because in terms of bitterness I can related? Of course I haven’t had a son...). So for a week Keeley and I knew this was coming, and we partially talked about it, had a bit of an idea what we were speaking about but didn’t have anything in particular. Saturday morning we went to Starbucks (great environment for this, classy music such as Peter Gabriel Solsbury Hill playing in the background (good memories of that specific song playing very loudly when we first moved into our country house)) and planned specifically what to say for 1.5hrs. It went very well and I think because we both knew what we wanted it to look like it made it significantly easier for us to plan. Or maybe we’re just good at speaking with one another.

        During the youth it went so well. We read pieces of the bible, told facts, and got some laughs. When it came to Naomi’s parts I would describe perhaps what she may have been feeling, then when it came to Ruth’s parts Keeley would describe more Ruth’s side. We got some laughs out of the crowd. In the end our main point was redemption can happen, no matter how bitter you are or if you’ve chosen to leave everything you’ve ever known, God completely provides even if there doesn’t seem to be sun over that horizon. We used an awesome example right before bringing up the redemption section.

        We called Kevin up to the front and had a bag of cookies. We went to person#1 in the crowd and asked if they would like a cookie. They said yes, so turning to Kevin we asked him to do 5 push ups for the cookie that they asked for. Going to person#2 in the crowd we asked if they would also like a cookie. They said yes, so again, turning to Kevin we asked him to do another 5 push ups for the cookie they had. The next 2 people were the same. When we got to the 5th person in the crowd we asked if he would like a cookie to which he said no. We turned to Kevin and said “Kevin, would you please do 10 push ups for the cookie Joawee did not have.” Everyone freaked out. We did this to another 4 or so people, each of them giving different answers, but Kevin always doing 3-10 push ups. After we explained that in this way, Kevin, like God, always does work for us, even if we don’t accept what is being offered (not comparing Kevin to God...). And finally finished off our speech.

        Saturday evening we had the children’s church because on Sunday was the election. That was exhausting for us, but we pulled through.

Sunday we were allowed to be out until 5:00pm because at that time is when the votes were going to begin to be counted.

        Sunday morning we met up to hear one of the YWAMers testimony. It was insane! I mean, you really have to be there to hear it but man, probably one of the craziest I’ll ever hear. After he did some prophesying over us. It was really good. Everything he said to me was dead on. I’ve never met someone like that either and I’ve only ever talked with him one other time and that time wasn’t about myself by any means. He’s just a very insightful guy who can very much see into the spiritual world.

        At about 6:00 we agreed to have a community catch up because there were some of us who began manifesting in things that were tiny but began building up over time. Unfortunately our community catch up was so much it took about 3.5 hours before it finished. Now we’re meeting Tuesday’s, Thursday’s and Saturday’s, sometimes just as brief debriefs or sometimes as another problem solver. Fortunately all the unclarity has been clarified and we understand each other. Everyone heard each other out and things are settled. It is awesome. Of course, there are personal issues with people occasionally, but now I’d say the majority is solved.

        Oh, the Opposition won by the way. This isn’t a good thing. They’ve been in power for quite some time and the Prime Minister who was in power for the last 55 years was elected again. They brought in immigrants, payed them, gave them fake ID to vote and payed people to put their flags up. This is a very corrupt government and many people were wanted it to change badly.

So Sunday I wasn’t feeling well, and Monday I wasn’t feeling too much better. I didn’t go to Kawan, but slept most of the morning. No one was allowed out the rest of the day when they got back except for a brief dinner because the streets were still iffy from the election.

Tuesday I felt somewhat better, so I went to a mall with a couple of the other girls, thinking it would be quick... This was not quick. After being sick for the last 2 days and really not eating much plus it being hot, it takes a huge toll on energy. They did want to see a movie, so I was able to sit for a while, bonus.

Wednesday I was well enough to go to Kawan do some work.

        Funny story. First meal I decided to have after being sick I went out back and got. I pretty much finished it when I found a bug in it. Then I studied a shrimp a little bit. It was...well not clean. At all. Worst, I ate one of the shrimp. Definitely made me squirmish to eat more.

        Wednesday night I was so excited for night ministry. Missing two weeks of the prostitutes seems so long. There seemed to be so many people out and about, but it wasn’t raining, so that was probably why. So many people to talk to. This week we have a new World Race team (google it) that came. Kristi and Daniel came with Afgah (she’s the one who’s been going for 4 years) and I. There’s always a boy to come with basically for protection. It’s just cover us, which is good. They seem to be awesome people.

Thursday we basically cleaned and planned the whole day. There was some teaching for me and a couple others in the afternoon/evening.

        One of the girls was reading about Helen Keller, which I’ve fortunately read a book when I was homeschooled on her. This makes things so much easier. Even though I felt like I learned more in public school I think I remember the majority from homeschooling. Anyways, I taught this girl what sign language I did know. I taught her how to spell her name. She was so excited she wants to know more. They just clung to me this week. Odd, I didn’t think I made that great of an impression...