The Preparation for My Mission Around the World 2006-2009

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Dream. Discover.” ~ Mark Twain

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

My Australian Connection

I almost skipped this part of how I came about my decision to spend 5 months, November '06-March '07, in Australia. In August, I was debating whether I should even bother going to Australia at all, since my desire is to go to third world countries and document the poor. I figured Australia is just another first world country that is probably very much like the US. Anyway, there was a point where I was intensely debating between Africa and Australia, and God made it clear that He wants me to go to Australia first. He said 'no' on Africa right now because I didn't get good connections with the disciples there and I'm still a bit apprehensive about that region of the world due to my lack of knowledge. I didn't feel ready. I need to do more research.

On the other hand, the door to Australia was wide open. I was able to sign up with BUNAC, an organization that helps Americans get a working visa and helps them find a job. Not only that I also got hooked up with the church in Melbourne by a brother named James Carmen, who is originally from Florida but is now living down under. I met him unexpectedly on funintheson.com. He hooked me up with a sister Anna Acevedo, whom he calls 'the welcoming committee.' I've come to like her already even though we haven't met. Furthermore, she hooked me up with a household where Danae lives. So I'll be living with disciples while in Australia. I think God's leading me in that direction next year. We'll see what's going to unfold...

This experience reminds me of the Scripture:

"I still have seven thousand who haven't quit, Seven thousand who are loyal to the finish. It's the same today. There's a fierce minority still--not many, perhaps, but probably more than you think. They're holding on, not because of what they think they're going to get out of it, but because they're convinced of God's grace and purpose in choosing them. If they were only thinking of their own immediate self-interest, they would have left long ago." ~Romans 11:2-6 (The Message)

My Turkish Connection

Here's an update on Turkey since my last entry on July 12, 2006:

Well, I was complaining back then of how I didn't hear back from anyone soon enough. I couldn't see how God was going to work things out and got impatient. Regardless, here's how another one of his miracles unfolds.
When I decided to spend a year in Turkey, I didn't know that we even have a church or anyone who knows much about it for that matter. Then God allows me to stumble upon a letter about the Turkish church on Disciples Today. The church has 17 disciples and is begging other disciples around the world to help evangelize one of the hardest countries in the world for Christianity to penetrate. The letter entails an account of 3 sisters from the West region of the LA church who went there on a vacation to help share their faith on a college campus. As time passed, I was able to get in touch with Kristen Gergis, one of the 3 sisters. Our talks were encouraging. She's also planning to spend a year or more in Turkey to possibly teach English and get her masters around the same time that I'll be there in 2007!!! Not only that, I've discovered another sister, Adrain from Kansas, who also wants to do the same thing around the same time, as if God were eavesdropping on our prayers and orchestrating our hearts...Needless to say, we may have a mission team to Turkey after all in 2007. Please pray for us.

A Guide/A Passion

Last Sunday, I visited the AMS service and, interestingly, the messagae was about using your talents. I finally met Lance Tracy. His documentary of the church in Mexico in 2003 inspired my documetary on Cambodia, which took me 3 years to start the editing process and 3 days to finish. The raw footage was done in 2003, but between then and the editing process in Febuary of 2006, I had to save up for a computer, take an editing class, and wait for the right inspiration to complete the job. I'm very proud to have finished and hope to be doing more in the future. A piece that I really want to do is on Rwanda. If it's God's will for me to visit the country during my journey, it'd be really cool. God seems to give me a passion especially for war-torn countries and ones that had gone through a genocide. Something so tragic, so horrific really draws me toward it. In the mean time, Lance suggested that I should video tape the churches and put them up on my site or submit them to Roger Lamb on Disciples Today as a way to use my talent to advance the kingdom. I don't even know what's going to come about as a result. Pray for me. Will see...