Thank you for your encouragement and prayers during my trip. Although I cannot describe all that has taken place in these past seven weeks, I hope you can get a sample from the following slideshow!
Currently, I am writing from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on a four day transition to the second portion of our trip. We are excited to see all that the Heavenly Father has in store for us. In just three short weeks I will return to the States and hope to have the opportunity to visit with you all! I apologize for the lack of updates, the places I have been traveling had a restricted amount of internet availability.
Blessings!
Kelsey Maxine
29 January, 2012
28 January, 2012
A Walk Down Beijing Road
Thank you for praying for our friend, Whitney. We greatly enjoyed her company and were able to share the Good News with her. Pray she will realize what Christ has done is a historical reality and not a Western Legend.
"As it is Written"
“How, then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed?”
Last night, we hosted our weekly Bible study; this month our friends are celebrating one year of the fellowship! For the past four weeks, we have been walking through the life of Jesus. I prepared a teaching on what it looks like to be a servant filled with the Spirit of God. A rainy night, and we rejoice in our surprise: six skeptics joined seven of our faithful attendees.
We read from Matthew 4, where Jesus began His ministry “proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom…”(v.23) and transitioned to John 13, the passage where we see Jesus display matchless humility. Lowering Himself in order to serve His disciples; He washes their feet.
In Bible times, a person of Jewish culture would consider the foot filthy, disgusting. After walking along dirt roads in sandals, to wash the feet was a disgraceful responsibility. It was a lowly servant’s duty to cleanse the feet of those whom the household valued. Following discussion, we read Matthew 28. We focused on Jesus’ appearing to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary after His resurrection. “…And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.”(v.9) The first reaction these Jewish women have upon seeing Jesus is to hold His feet, displaying they are His servants.
Matthew 28:16-20 is known as The Great Commission. Now, to “Go and make disciples” looks different for a Jewish apostle, a Chinese student, and an American gypsy. Nevertheless, Jesus gives us The Great Promise, He “is with us always…”(v.20) By His Spirit we are empowered to serve this way.
Do we “proclaim the gospel” like Jesus? My friend, wherever you are, I invite you to read from Romans 10:
“For ‘everyone who calls upon the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?
As it is written,
'How beautiful are the feet
of those who preach the good news.'"
Last night, we hosted our weekly Bible study; this month our friends are celebrating one year of the fellowship! For the past four weeks, we have been walking through the life of Jesus. I prepared a teaching on what it looks like to be a servant filled with the Spirit of God. A rainy night, and we rejoice in our surprise: six skeptics joined seven of our faithful attendees.
We read from Matthew 4, where Jesus began His ministry “proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom…”(v.23) and transitioned to John 13, the passage where we see Jesus display matchless humility. Lowering Himself in order to serve His disciples; He washes their feet.
In Bible times, a person of Jewish culture would consider the foot filthy, disgusting. After walking along dirt roads in sandals, to wash the feet was a disgraceful responsibility. It was a lowly servant’s duty to cleanse the feet of those whom the household valued. Following discussion, we read Matthew 28. We focused on Jesus’ appearing to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary after His resurrection. “…And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.”(v.9) The first reaction these Jewish women have upon seeing Jesus is to hold His feet, displaying they are His servants.
Matthew 28:16-20 is known as The Great Commission. Now, to “Go and make disciples” looks different for a Jewish apostle, a Chinese student, and an American gypsy. Nevertheless, Jesus gives us The Great Promise, He “is with us always…”(v.20) By His Spirit we are empowered to serve this way.
Do we “proclaim the gospel” like Jesus? My friend, wherever you are, I invite you to read from Romans 10:
“For ‘everyone who calls upon the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?
As it is written,
'How beautiful are the feet
of those who preach the good news.'"
Newsletter Update
The friendly greeting is heard across the city. Millions of people live and work here... however, certain days there seems to be a few million at each University!
For the four of us from Maui, Asia is a ready harvest. Every day we meet as a team to pray, read scripture, and worship the One who called us here.
Afterward, we usually split up, riding the bus or metro line to meet with a friend for one-on-one mentorship or a few friends for group discussion.
In this picture , I am visiting a University with some lovely girls I met at a Christmas Party. Most everyone is hearing the Gospel for the first time. Jesus is considered to be part of “Western Culture,” and Christmas means nothing more than “celebration.” In America, Biblical references are often recognized, even by non-believers, but that is nearly unheard of in this atheist nation. Most people here insist on reading the whole Bible before accepting Christ.
It is amazing to see the effort put in to researching Truth, but there comes a time where we know God’s Holy Spirit must speak the Word, making the Bible more than just an outstanding History textbook.
For the four of us from Maui, Asia is a ready harvest. Every day we meet as a team to pray, read scripture, and worship the One who called us here.
Afterward, we usually split up, riding the bus or metro line to meet with a friend for one-on-one mentorship or a few friends for group discussion.
In this picture , I am visiting a University with some lovely girls I met at a Christmas Party. Most everyone is hearing the Gospel for the first time. Jesus is considered to be part of “Western Culture,” and Christmas means nothing more than “celebration.” In America, Biblical references are often recognized, even by non-believers, but that is nearly unheard of in this atheist nation. Most people here insist on reading the whole Bible before accepting Christ.
It is amazing to see the effort put in to researching Truth, but there comes a time where we know God’s Holy Spirit must speak the Word, making the Bible more than just an outstanding History textbook.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)