The Story of Us

Ringing in the new year on the strip!

New Years Eve is typically full of parties, looking back on the past year and looking forward to the new year. I rang in the new year on the strip here in Vegas, something I never anticipated nor desired. Looking back on the year, I was in awe of the way God moved. He is Jehovah Sneaky, a God who dances with us in mysterious ways. One of the biggest things I learned while in YWAM, especially in Nepal and India, is how stunning every person's story is.

The first full day back in the states, I spent most of the day in the hospital. I was quarantined because I just returned form being out of the states, (they believe my severe abdominal pain was due to parasites, nothing serious, all is good) but my room had cable television. While Kat, who came with me, slept on my bed and snored, I was catching up with CNN. The biggest news was of course of the missing airline in Asia, a concern of ours when flying in Asia. They were showing interviews from families members of those missing at sea. They were sharing the silly memories of their dad's favorite holiday tradition or their son's first steps. Each person was sharing a story, making the tragedy half way around the world, a little more personal.

My lovely hospital getup.

Being back in Vegas, we have focused on community outreaches. My favorite outreach this past week, most likely of all our outreaches here in Vegas, has been at the Rescue Mission up the road
from us. The Rescue Mission offers meals to the homeless, as well as houses people. The residents are part of a 12 step discipleship program focusing on addiction rehabilitation, job readiness, and on faith. The process is a year long total, each step being a month long. To enter into the program, a person must be willing to clean up their lives. I was able to hear much of a staff members story and his personal journey into the drug world and then the beautiful journey into his walk with the Lord.

The thing I loved most about the Rescue Mission, is they see past the current state of each person. The Rescue Mission does not deem the person as an embarrassment, but as a person with a testimony, a purpose, and immense value. Each person at the Rescue Mission is recovering from some form of addiction; their addiction is not what makes their story inspiring, it is their willingness to leave their way of life. What we overcome in life is not to be the focus of our testimony, the Lord's faithfulness and provision of strength and courage to leave behind our comfortable past is the beauty of our lives.

Serving at the Rescue Mission one evening
with Miss Nevada.

Another place we have been able to serve at this past week was a women and children shelter. I was able to chat with a lady who just left prostitution 3 weeks ago. She was telling me how her mother worked in the brothels, so when this gal was released from four years of juvi at the age of 18, she did the only thing she knew, sell herself. She herself said she was a victim of sex trafficking for the past 9 years, something most women are not aware they are apart of, they simply see themselves as worthless prostitutes. This young women realized she had more to offer, and was more. She has a story, passions and dreams. She made me laugh when she said she left everything she had at her pimp's house and was struggling only having one outfit when she came to the shelter. She's a girly girl, she needs her clothes and makeup. Of course, though! She is a young women! Often we overlook things such as that. The label 'prostitute' often overshadows who the person is. She is a living, walking, breathing masterpiece with a story, when matched with the love of the Lord, will bring girls out of prostitution and into the Father's divine plans.

In India, I lived with 67 girls, very few of which knew any English. And I wanted to know about them! I wanted to know their story! I want to know about their families, their testimony, their passions, their dreams. But there was one thing in the way: language. Language kept us from knowing their stories, and I hated it! We were able to love the girls and see their passion for the Lord and each other through their actions. Language enables us to hear the way the Lord moved through others' lives. Love, on the other hand, allows us to be a part of each other's stories without language.