Blessings come in many forms, and sometimes you have to go out on a limb, following Jesus to receive certain ones.
And the fact that you're obeying the Lord and trusting in His voice, or His urging should assure you that whatever you are about to experience is going to go as perfectly as He intended it to, as long as you continue to follow Him and His every command. It's for (1st) His glory and (2nd) your good pleasure.
Starting the trip was slightly difficult. The enemy tried to stop us from going a few times, but we persisted. Eventually the bus tickets came into our possession, and the following morning, Bethany, Tatum, Zach and I were off to Costa Rica to bless a friend of Zach's and see what else God had in store for us.
With our team and squad leaders' permission, we followed the peace we had instilled within us and got on the bus. We had no idea how much the Lord was going to bless us in the following days.
The bus ride was easy, but took quite a while to get to our destination. Unfortunately though, we ended up 15 minutes past our stop. We told the driver to stop, got out and attempted to hitch hike.
But Luckily, we caught a city bus and headed to our location.
Once we arrived at the Westin Playa Conchal, where our teammate Zach's friend was, we were soon greeted by him and his family. Then the blessings started coming in...like crazy.
We were invited by the Papuga family to stay for a night and enjoy ourselves. Food and drinks were completely free and inclusive to the stay we were treated to. We met people involved with a some businesses who were extremely welcoming.
This was the first time in 2 and a half months that we had...
-more than one hot shower
- free (Americanized) food that was unlimited
- an extremely nice bed to sleep on
- and people to speak to who were living in America.
To make this part of the story shorter, we had all of our prayers met and even more than we expected for this trip. We spent nothing on food or drinks, had an extended stay at the resort, met people who befriended us fairly quickly and offered to donate! But lastly and most importantly, we got to minister and pray for many people during our stay, including Zach's friend and his family (the Papugas).
Unfortunately, during our second day at the resort, we were asked to leave, seeing as our passes were only for one night, and not for an extended period of time. This was completely fine, God had already blessed us so much, and we were going to leave in the morning. So the four of us got a hostel in Tamarindo and stayed for the night, in one room, with one queen sized bed. Needless to say, it was a lot of fun and great memories were made there.
The next morning we packed up, left the Hostel and waited for a city bus to take us to our Tica bus drop off, so we could head on to Nicaragua. But God intervened and brought us another blessing.
A man approached us and asked us if we needed a ride to another city, he offered us a good price ($6 a person) for an hour long ride to our next location. We agreed and got in a nice Taxi with air conditioning! Soon we found out that the man who was driving us was a Christian man and loved Jesus. We listened to worship music with him in the car and prayed for him and his family.
As we got dropped off, we assumed where our bus would stop and waited for it. It took another 4 hours for the Tica bus to get there, but at least we were on our way.
We met a few friends on the bus, and at the border from Costa Rica- Nicaragua we got to meet a man who created characters and had a sold out book that is soon to be released as a movie (Last man Standing).
But as we got back on the bus, we realized it was going to be 9:00pm when we got off at our stop in Nicaragua, and we needed transportation to get to our city and house. But again, God blessed us with another man who approached us out of random. He asked us if we needed to go to Jinotepe, which we said yes to. And then offered us a cheap cab ride with him to Jinotepe and then Diriamba ($5 a person) which was 45 mins away.
As soon as we got off the bus, the four of us realized that it wouldn't have been safe if we were by ourselves. It wasn't a tourist area, and there were no cabs around for us to catch. But we got in our waiting Taxi cab that we had arranged for us. Soon during this small trip, we found out that the man who helped us was a Christian and offered us to visit his home in Jinotepe, pray for his mother and go to an orphanage he was involved with.
After this, we drove to our ministry home and collapsed out of exhaustion. But we were so very thankful for the blessings and devine appointments God had poured on us.
So, never think that God won't do more than you think He will do, or what you pray He will do. He will deliver His children when they need help and bless them regardless of their past sins. It's definitely His grace.
Witnessing miracles and being a part of them is emphasized quite a lot in the World Race community. You go to training camp and hear amazing stories of people being restored to health, or whole hospitals being healed after a team visits. Starting the trip, I wanted and was praying for this to happen the first month.
It hasn't happened yet
But that's ok, because God may have something else in store for the month. So far, that's what He's revealed to me. The minstry He has placed our team in is perfect in His will for us. I believe our calling for this month is to raise up a church that will later raise the dead (metaphorically and physically).
The church we're working with is bonding with us, especially its leaders and some of the youth. We're having an effect on them and they're having an effect on us. And according to God, that's a good thing this month.
Instilling the heart of mission work within a church is what God has mainly called us to this month. Of course ministering to people outside of the church is necessary, and we have done that. But we're only here for a month, and if leaving a legacy means more outreach and change in the city of San Vicente, then that's the task.
Performing miracles brings glory to God, but sometimes it's not the main thing He wants you to do. Or at least that's what I've learned so far.
Being in Georgia has been an incredible experience. The L-rd has showed so much to all of the people here at the training camp, changing lives in a matter of days. So much information has been poured into all of us, making it feel as if we have been here for three weeks.
Arriving at training camp, all of the teams soon got together and met each other. Soon eneough everyone was going to sessions and worshiping the L-rd together. Eventually we had time together as individual squads, and worked in situations that grew us into unity.
As the week progresses, we all end up in teams within our route squads. For example: I am in E squad, and within that squad there are a few different teams of people. Leaders were chosen for these teams, and people were assigned to be under them as a group that is to work together for the next 11 months.
I met my team and grew close to them yesterday and today. We went through exercises, influencing unity within our group and did so well together. Eventually we came to a name: Abide 15:5, based on John 15:5 which speaks of Christ being the vine, and us being the branches. Without Him we can do nothing, and without Him our team will not flourish. I'm so glad for this daily reminder and am excited to see what happens.
-thank you all so much for helping me arrive to this point of my life. I love you all.
Hey friends, I'm arriving at my deadline on October 2nd. Each of us on the January 2012 team has to have at least $3,500 in by that time, or we have to have checks in hand once we get to training camp.
Right now my funds are at $3,229. So if I was to receive a minimum of $271 before the 2nd of October, I would meet my deadline!
The only problem with this is that I need individuals to help me with my funds by donating. I hope that everyone who reads this would consider donating to my account, and even becoming an annual donor. If around 40 people donated each month until June to my account with a minimum of $35 each, I would have enough money to stay on the world race and complete it. This would help me immensily once i start the world race, because I wouldn't be able to do fundraisers while on the field.
I am already so thankful that friends and family have helped out! The L-rd has blessed them already becuase they blessed me with support, and were obedient to what G-d asked of them. Overall, I pray that you would do what the L-rd leads you to do. Thank you in advance to those who are going to help me, and thank you again to those who already have.
May the L-rd bless you all
"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2Corinthians 9:7
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Malachi 3:10
Last week we actually didn't do a carwash, but sold more of our garage sale items, making almost $400 in a single day. It was a great idea and turned out well. Hopefully tomorrow we will have a car wash. As of right now that is the plan, so please be praying that it happens and goes well :)
The garage sale went great, and the L-rd blessed us with over $600! Tomorrow we're going to do a car wash! If anyone wants to help, send me a message or comment on this post for more info. We're going to be in north Phoenix, AZ. And hopefully I'll get some pictures up as well, visuals are always good.
Thank you so much to everyone who has donated time, funds and items. Continue to pray for the AZ World Race participants as some of us will be doing do this car wash together tomorrow!
I'm having a garage sale along with a few other world racers tomorrow and on Saturday! (Friday Sept. 9th, and Sat, Sept 10th)
We've been preparing a garage sale and getting the word out about it for the past week or so, and now its soon going to start. As a group, we've recieved a good amount of items for the event that were donated by gracious and loving friends and family members, and more donations are to come. Thanks to everyone who has helped thus far, and in advance to everyone who comes to the garage sale and everyone who helps out in the future :). You've just had a part in sending out some people who will communicate Jesus to a dying world!
Hello friends! In just a few short months, i will be leaving on an 11 month mission trip to a minimum of 11 different countries around the world! We will be going all throughout three continents including Central America, Asia and Africa. We will be working with sex trafficking, orphan ministry, slum ministry, ministry to prostitutes, and much more. Overall the main point of this trip is to share the hope and love of Jesus Christ to those who are burdened in spiritual darkness.
This is where you come in. I need your help as i begin to raise support for this trip. My team and i would appreciate prayer before and during our trip, it will be the most important part of seeing individuals reached for the Glory of G-d. I am also asking you to pray about supporting me for this missions trip.
The total cost of the trip is $15,500 which will cover all my expenses (travel, accommodations, food, etc.)
I am asking for 42 people to partner with me in either donating/pledging $365 to support a dollar-a-day for each day while i am on this trip. If i can reach my goal of 42 people my whole trip will be paid for!
If you want to break down $365 a year to a monthly donation it will only be $34!
Or lets say you are not able to do $34 dollars a month, but can partner up with someone else & both do
$17 a month then i would only need 84 people to do $17 a month or a total of $187.
If you are not able to do that, but can give $200, $100, $50, $5 or maybe you can give much more, absolutely anything will help me meet my goal!
You can donate a few different ways, either a one time gift or a reoccurring monthly donation. From there you can decide to either donate online, through check, or even by bank transfer. For all the details, go to:
Overall, prayer is definitely something that is needed and is able to be done by everyone, and i ask that you would please be in prayer for my preparation and journey. For people to have their ears and eyes opened wherever we go, for their hearts to be softened to the hearing of the Gospel, and for our team to be open to speak and act in the way that the L-rd instructs us.
Thank you so much for reading this. Im so excited to go on this trip, and i’m excited for you to join me in the Great Commission as we win the world for Jesus!
-Love, Evan
Here are some videos that explain the heart of The World Race and the racers:
