BDTW - Day 1

God has been awesome in preparing everything for us. 2 vans were loaned to us by other brothers & sisters here, as well as a GPS device, and sleeping bags. One of our churches loaded us up with lots of kids' ministry materials (coloring booklets, facepainting stuff, full-body clown suit!), gospel tracts, testimonies on CDs, multilingual DVDs, and portable sound equipment. We have 4 (truly licensed!) drivers, an amazing team handbook designer, a gifted accounting/administrations coordinator, a brother who has been to many of these places before, and a good balance of Chinese-speaking/musical/leadership/photography abilities. Lots of valuable resources... may we be good stewards and invest wisely.

The title of this webpage reflects the theme of our trip, breaking down walls – walls between ourselves and God, walls between each of us on the team, walls between us and those we meet, walls in the hearts of those who don't yet know Christ.

As the Lord promised Joshua that Jericho would be given into the Israelites' hands (Joshua 6:2-5), so He has promised that one day, “before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear” (Isaiah 45:23). As the Israelites marched around Jericho, trusting God to break down the walls and cleanse the city from the evil within, so we hope to do our small part in meeting, praying over, and reaching out to various people around this island, trusting God to break through the spiritual darkness and cleanse hearts.

We started this morning with some reflection on Isaiah 44:21-23 :

Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant;

I formed you; you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.

I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your rains like a mist;

return to me, for I have redeemed you.

Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it; shout, O depths of the earth;

break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it!

For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel.

God is holy, and out of His great love, He has redeemed us!

Let's not forget what we have been saved from, and live our lives to respond accordingly.

We are now on our way up the east coast, with Josh and Luke navigating some twisty mountain roads and the rest of us trying not to get too carsick :) On one side stretches the vast ocean, and on the other, soaring carpets of greenery. That such a Creator would redeem us...!