Sharing the Gospel in Jesus' name

Shalom Friends,
      I can't find the right words to describe what has happened this week. Let me first say that God was moving but Satan was moving harder. This week was about learning and practicing discipleship, evangelism, and Discovery Bible Story. Each day was a chance to tell a Bible story to the community within the homes of refugees. God definitely took me out of my comfort zone to tell a story to a refugee. You may say that should have been easy but it's difficult because your flesh is nervous and Satan is attacking. I know that one of the thoughts I had when trying to tell a story, was "there has to be a right time." I have learned that there is no right time for all time is in God's hand and he chooses who I am to share his story as well as my own. This week I had a chance to share his story as well as my own and I wasn't afraid or shy but I felt comfortable and at ease to share. Now, I want to share at any moment with anyone about God's story. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that empowers me to share with confidence. Oh, yes, my confidence grows more and more the more I step out and obey God.
      The major out of my comfort zone that I did was evangelizing. I always felt like I wasn't able to evangelize because I was afraid to share and I was afraid that I would never be good at it. The thing I realized was how "me" focus those thoughts were and it's not about me but GOD. I'm going to be straight honest and say it was challenging, frustrating, discouraging (plenty of that), and stretching. The first day of our evangelizing in Woodside Village was prayer walking which was an amazing time. There is a sense of God's power and love for the refugees. I feel like when I pray for them I know God hears me and knows that my heart for them is in tune to his heart for them. I love that because I truly am seeking for God's kingdom to expand and be fulfilled.
   Passing out Jesus films  and asking if they wanted prayer was probably the most "put myself out there" action I have ever done. The struggle for me and my team was introducing ourselves and being cultural sensitive. Also the struggle of having doors being closed in our faces and being told that they're not interested. Yet, in those times of discouragement God made a way for doors to be open and hearts willing to listen and receive. One Muslim family invited us into their home and we got to know them though they were not persuaded with the Gospel but they were accepting to hearing us share. We met other families who were seemingly interested but were busy or the awkward silence became the closing to our conversation. One of our goals was finding a Person of Peace within the family. This person of peace is someone who has an understanding of God and has an infant or mature relationship with God. It is then our responsibility to begin discipling that person in order for them to share and disciple others within their family and friends. Also, that they may begin their own house churches and grow as the body of Christ. To sum up this week's events, everything that happened was always in God's hand. He was there every second and minute of our time out in the community as we struggled in evangelizing. It was worth it because God is worth it and so do the refugees.

Some prayer requests I have:

1. Struggling with thoughts of purpose and asking God to reaffirm daily why I am here in GA.
2. Resist against Satan's attacks such as thoughts of God punishing me and being judged for being here for so long.
3. Fears and worries concerning financial aid for my last semester at LBC.
4. I want to treasure in my heart every moment of my time here and even when I'm home and at work.
5. Continue to be confident as I share my testimony and God's story.
6. To stop apologizing for the Holy Spirit leading me to share a lengthy story among my team or anyone

P.S. Hey if y'all wanted to send me a note message me via Facebook or email (schulertessa@aol.com) ;)

   
   

God never fails

Shalom friends,
     I want to let you know how much I look forward to this day when I get to share my experiences that happened during the week. On Saturday, we welcomed our 2nd STM team and we were excited to greet them and get to know them. They were a blast because most of them were high school which was awesome to see their openness to missions. It was great to see their excitement and joy to learn about people groups. It meant so much to me because I know God is going to use these students for his kingdom.
     This week, to be honest, has been discouraging and tiring. At times, I felt like I can't do this but seeing others have the joy and passion to serve has given me perseverance. I'm reminded that missions and people groups are worth it. Serving God is worth it no matter how hard or challenging it is. The Enemy has been placing barriers of past struggles and distractions on my mind. I try so hard to forget them and get rid of them that I become more aware of my struggles. I feel like what Paul says about doing the tings that I don't want to do and not doing the things that I should be doing. Also, the temperature has increased in hotness which has brought moments of tiredness and weariness. It's been difficult to drink plenty of water. Lately, I've been concerned with my weight which is ok. But things like these have definitely been distracting me from what God is showing and teaching me.
    I do have positive moments that happened this week. I just realized that days that I've been discouraged, somehow, God brings encouragement and divine opportunities to remind me that he hasn't left and things are going good. On Tues. I had the opportunity to visit a home and the Burmese woman was explaining her life story but also having some questions as to why people look different. She could not figure out how from two people, Adam and Eve, there could be diverse people. So, I tried to explain to her in simple words that scientifically there are chemicals in us that makes us grow hair a certain texture and pigment in our skin to make us lighter or darker. But also, a mom and dad can give a child either their hair color or skin color. So, she shook her head to say that she understood. Then she went on asking if all Americans were tall meaning the same size. I told her no that there are various people who are different in size. I began to tell her about the establishment of America, and how people from England wanted to worship God freely so they went to a new country. After they made their new life in America, others from Europe, Asia, and Africa came over to America to have a new life either to worship God freely or to be free from their country's laws. She seemed to understand and went on talking about life. It was a cool experience for me to be able to use a spiritual gift that God has given to me. Just a short explanation as to why I say that. I have a hard time knowing my spiritual gifts and most of the time I have to ask my family and friends what they see in me. So, I had prayed and asked God to reveal to me what my spiritual gifts are that he put in me and God answered my request. I hope to discover more gifts that God has put in me as I continue to seek him and just be myself in everything I do. God has a way of surprising me and be in complete awe of him.

 Some prayer request I have:

1. Getting the opportunity to share a Bible story by the Holy Spirit's leading
2. Always being ready in and out of season
3. Surrendering my fears and worries to God
4. Not being complacent but continue to have a passionate attitude and lifestyle

Shalom Friends,
   This past week has been crazy busy but so fulfilling in the Holy Spirit. I'm constantly reminded how amazing this internship is going. This is just two weeks. Yet so much has happened. On Saturday, we had our first STM (Short term mission) team which was incredible. Everyone was excited to meet each other and share what this past week was going to look like. Their excitement and anticipation for this week really increased our passion to teach them. We had opportunities to go on home visits, some went to the community garden (where my program is for the summer), and then teaching ESL (English as Second Language). Then at times I had opportunities to get to know them and hear what God is doing in their lives. It was amazing to here their hearts for God and missions. Even though it was hot and tiring, they pushed on and continued to have a blast with us and with the refugee families.
   During a home visit, I met a Nepali woman who invited us to her house and then she showed us her garden. It was beautiful. Then we went to her aunt's home and listened and watched Nepali Christian music with interpretative dancing. It was pretty cool. Then on Wednesday we went to another Nepali family and I connected with the wife. We talked about her job as a retailer in a clothing, accessories, and nail company. She works with many Koreans. Oh, this is funny. I've been called a celebrity because many Burmese, Nepalese, and Cairn refugees love Korean culture. =) So, it has been said that God definitely put me here for a purpose.
   Another awesome moment was that I was asked by a Burmese man if I was a Christian. I hesitated but then answered: yes. Then I asked him and he said yes. It was one of those moments where I knew this was a test for me that God wanted me to experience. I'm so glad that it happened because now I'm not afraid of sharing my faith and I hope to explain more in depth.
   Lately, God has been teaching me about resting because I tend to go, go, go and not take time for myself to be refilled in Him. Also, to rest my body because I'll be more effective and attentive then. Another point that God has been teaching me is constantly being a learner and trader in ministry because not only do the refugees learn but I myself learn so much from them. Becoming more people-oriented than a task-oriented.

Some prayers I have on mind:

1. Knowing when to rest
2. Dreaming good ones and not scary ones
3. Expanding my faith by taking steps
4. Good health

Shalom Friends,
      I am excited to tell you that my time in Clarkston, GA is amazing. The weather's hot and beautiful and refreshing. My flight to GA on Sat was great. Thanks for your prayers because it was a concern but God brought me great peace. On the plane, I sat by someone who was flying for the first time. I had prayed for someone to sit by whom I would enjoy their company. Truly God had answered my prayer. This woman was great and full of life. We talked shared about our reason for flying and encouraged each other. She shared her life and explain the difficult things that were happening. She had a knowledge of God and explained her church life. She went to LCBC and explained how she felt encouraged and welcomed by the church family. The pastor's messages spoke to her heart but she didn't go further with it. She explained that she's not an extreme Christian but I think that she had some of a relationship with God. I told her about my walk with God but I'm not sure if she saw me or viewed me as an "extreme" Christian. As we talked, I felt like God was telling me to pray for her and what she was going through. However, I held my tongue and now I wish I had. Those moments when you know you should do it and you don't. It's definitely a teaching moment to notice and hop on the opportunity, especially when God tells you to do it. It's an act of obedience. I think I was scared to do it because she kept saying that she doesn't believe in "extreme" Christianity. As I look back, whether she viewed me as an "extreme" Christian or not I should have stilled prayed with her. I did pray for her quietly but it's not the same. My hesitation to pray with her shows me that I can't allow what their own perception of Christianity to hinder me to do what God is asking me to do. It's a way for Satan to stop me from obeying God.
When I arrived in GA, I met my team and leaders whom I instantly fell in love with and knew that only God could put a great team together. Meeting the new interns that I would interact with for the two months was an experience in itself. We began to bond over a Wal-Mart trip and Chic Fil' A and through testimonies. This week was orientation and getting to know each other and beginning the training has been exciting and a growing time for me. This week we girls slept on cots in one room which was a great way to know each other and sharing a small bathroom definitely was a test to be patient and show grace toward each other. I can say that everyday was a chance for me to learn about teamwork and living with a team and interacting with a team on a daily basis. The teachings on Cat and Dog Theology expanded my mind and then splitting into small groups to talk about it. Then having ESL training, and then actually going out into the community of refugees to ask if they are interested in English classes that we teach was awesome. One of my favorite is the program that I do everyday and that is the community garden where different refugees have their own plot. We get to interact with refugees who are there but then we go into the community and do prayer walks and meet families. This is an amazing experience for me. It was awkward at times but the joy of meeting Nepali, Butonies, Burmees, and Chin refugees is incredible. The love you have when you meet them is God's love flowing from you. This was how I felt and I just fell in love with the people. On a prayer walk, I got the chance to be invited into a, I think Nepali, family home. Taking my shoes off at the door and receiving food and then talking with a Christ Believer was exciting. Then I got to pray with the family.
I also experienced going to a Hindu Temple which was hard but amazing at the same time. The brokenness I felt overpowered within me because their religion is so hard to persuade otherwise. I mean, I had to be careful to guard my heart because when they explained their religion, I could almost believe them and it made sense. Yet it was not true. Their belief that they are monotheistic and not polytheistic just blew my mind. They are a hard religion to witness because of what they believe. Seeing a mom and her daughter worship a god and my heart broke for the young girl I wondered how early a child is taught to worship an idol.
For the first couple of days I experienced intense Spiritual warfare which was hard for me to ignore. Satan began as well as my own flesh started to taunt and tempt me that came all of a sudden. Every time it happened, I would ask God to guard my heart and my mind because I wanted and still want my focus completely on God and his plan.
So, a few prayer request I have are:

1. My mind and heart to be guarded and focused on God
2. For God to give me increase of strength to overcome the spiritual attacks
3. The refugees I interact with that they will see the love of God
4. Learning more about teamwork
5. God will bring scripture to my mind everyday at every moment
6. Obey God's promptings whether audible or silent instantly
7. For Divine appointments everyday
8. Being ignited with the Holy Spirit's dwelling within me

Thank you all for your prayers and can't wait to share more with you. God bless

Until ALL have heard.