God's bigger than any 'Goliath'!

God's bigger than any 'Goliath'!

Last night at a Bible study we were scheduled to study David and Goliath.  While reading the study guide I thought to myself,  I know this story well.  Isn't is interesting how God can use the things we know well and help us realize it's just want we needed to hear?

During our study we were challenged to look at our life and see what our 'Goliath' is.  It suddenly hit me and was very plain to me.  My 'Goliath' is the monthly support.  <$5000/month still to raise...Looming over me ... taunting me ... telling me 'Ha, you THINK you're going on the mission field?' ... 'does God REALLY want you there?' ... 'just try to raise the money' ... 'who's going to send you to Italy when there are starving children in Africa?'  

Just like Goliath did twice a day for 40 days.  Each day he'd come a bit closer to the camp.  The soldiers were shaking in their boots (ok, maybe sandals).  King Saul, their leader, the tallest and best person to go up against Goliath was a big chicken.  Every day the heckler got worse.  Back to me, Satan has been very good at heckling me. He has heckled me enough to scare me out of picking up the phone, getting in the car, emailing a friend.  Telling me 'no one will want your house'.   And on and on and on.

Then young David is sent by his dad to check on his brothers.  His brothers are not impressed to see him.  In fact his oldest brother started heckling David.  'Hey, where'd you put those handful sheep you are to be watching over?'  'Did you come so you could see a battle and try to say you were a part of it?'  Back to me, some of my 'friends' at church have said discouraging words, in the name of 'love'.  'How will you ever raise that kind of money?' 'Shouldn't Team Expansion support you?'

David hears Goliath's taunts.  He is outraged that no one has the guts to stand up against Goliath.  He doesn't understand why anyone lets this Philistine trash talk God!  Talking with Saul he says, 'I'll go fight him.'  Saul doesn't believe him because he sees the external: a 9'9" tall, experienced giant up against a young shepherd boy.  David then describes how God has proved Himself faithful when David killed the bear and the lion. 'He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.'  My God is bigger, my God is stronger than any old Philistine giant.  David didn't say, 'hey look at what I did.'  He said 'The Lord delivered me.'

AH!  Duh!  I forgot who is in control.  I saw the huge $ sign and started shaking in my boots.  I listened to (and started to believe) Satan's taunts. Whoa!  What is a $5,000/month to God?  He who can have money pulled out of a  fish's mouth!  

Then Saul wanted David to use his armor.  Hey David, you need to be protected, so wear my things.  Hey wait, Saul was a big man so how did he think his armor would help David?  It weighed him down.  He couldn't move.  He'd never practiced fighting off even a bunny with this armor.  With Saul's armor David would have failed.

My simile, I can't raise support by using what works for someone else.  I can't move.  I can't pick up the phone.  I arrive after people are gone.  I have to be me.  God will use me when I let Him use me.  I don't have to be nor should I try to be someone else.

So, with the things he is comfortable with, simple garments, a pouch and a sling, David sets off toward Goliath.  David, the weakling, the underdog.  But he has the Lord on his side.  God honors our faithfulness.  He wants us to fully trust in Him, and He will win the battle.

Goliath watched as David approach him and thought it was a joke.  Then David says beautiful words, '...I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.  This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you.  And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beast of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel."

David's eyes were on God.  The battle was the Lord's.  It is not for his glory, but for God's glory.   David wasn't trying to impress anyone.  He just wanted to remove the problem.  All it took was 1 stone.  All the armor Goliath had on did not protect him.  That's the way God works.  Once again I will refer back to my 'Goliath'.  That huge $ sign.  I have taken my eyes off that $ and put my eyes back on God.  The money will be raised for His glory.

Today I woke with a new motivation.  I took my eyes off the $ sign and put them back on God.  I made a 3 page list of people to contact and started making connections.  I visited with some old friends.  One  couple asked me how they sign up to commit to monthly support!  Oh yeah, let me never take my eyes off God!

Challenges of getting to the Mission field

Proverbs 3:5-6:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”

Trust, it’s when you live on faith in what you know God wants you to do.  You put in your all.  You don’t really want anything in return, except to be able to do what He wants you to do. Even when you don’t know how it will work out, you know trusting in God makes it the right way.

As I prepare for Italy, I have been facing many challenges just trying to get there.  So, I live by trusting in Him.

Some of the challenges:

Sorting though my house in the same way my sisters and I did with our parents’ house after they died.  This time, however, it’s my own house and my own things.  What do I give to my girls?  What do I keep for when I retire?  What do I try to sell?  What do I give to a second hand shop?  What do I just throw in the trash?   What do I really want to take with me?

Putting a house on the market in a town where the poor economy made national news a few years ago.  Trying to know when is the right time to put it officially on the market … if it sells before I have all my support – where do I live?  If I wait until I have my support – will it sell then?

My dogs.  They have been wonderful companions for me as my girls have grown up and left home.  I’ve had them for over 7 and 8 years.  I thought about taking them with me.  They are good dogs, but would not like apartment life.  My girls would take them, but none can have them yet.  Will I be able to find someone to take them?  …at least for the first year or two?  Maybe one of my girls would be able to then.

The language learning is another challenge.  I’m ½ way through level 4 of Rosetta Stone.

The start up fund … A year ago I thought that would be the hard part to raise … $26,347!! That is a large amount of money to have just to get ready to go.  Yet, God is so faithful.  Nearly 84% has already been raised!  It has allowed me to go to the trainings required of me. 

The harder fund is the financial base of monthly supporters.  The monthly amount I have to have committed before I can buy a plane ticket is $5,935.  I’ve tried to ‘fight’ the amount.  I tried to explain I could do it for less.  But, in reality, I don’t know that.  The amount stands.  I have 16.4% of that support committed now.  I need $4,959 more a month. 

This amount seems huge.  Yet my daughter, Catie, helped me see it is not that much in the big picture.  If all CCU students would commit to $5 a month it would be more than enough!  I don’t know every CCU student, nor do they know me.  But, that is all it would take.

So, I started playing with numbers and what they could represent:

4959 people tossing in $1/month   (a soft drink at McDonalds)

992 people helping at $5/month (a foot long sub at Subway)

708 people giving $7/month   (a medium cup of coffee at Starbucks)

495 people sharing at $10/month   (a movie ticket)

198 being uncomfortable at $25/month (a dinner for 2 at Bob Evans)

99 serving to further His kingdom at $50/month  (a fill up of a mid size car)

49 sacrificing at $100/month.  (A week's groceries - Wow! I’m humbled)

You might have another thing that you would be willing to give up once a month to be able to share God’s love and grace with those who don’t know.

I love how God has been putting it on the hearts of people to come on board with this mission.  It’s all about Him. To Him be the glory forever and ever!  Amen!

Testimony

As a freshman in college I was to give a testimony during an outreach program.  I didn’t think I had much of a testimony…I was raised by great Christian parents, went to church all my life, and was saved from my sins through baptism at age 10.  My testimony was 'boring'.   Everyone else seemed to have really ‘cool’ testimonies.  So, I asked God let me have a 'cool' testimony for Him, too.  I realize now that God had already given me a great testimony, but He allowed me to go through trials to have one of those ‘cool’ ones, too.  (My post on “Living Water in the Desert” shares part of my testimony.)

The word ‘testimony’ what does it really mean?  We use it as an evidence, a proof, a divine decree. At Mount Sinai God gave the ‘tablets of the Testimony’ to Moses (Ex 31:18).  Testimony here comes from the Hebrew word עֵדוּת which means ‘witness’.  These tablets of stone were a witness of God interaction with people on earth.  He created a testimony with people in the Bible.  Examples of few of these testimonies:  He parted the Red Sea God through Moses, parted the Jordan River through Joshua, Elijah was fed by ravens and then a widow who had just enough oil and flour every day to fix the food, a virgin gave birth to the Son of God, the temple tax money was found in the mouth of a fish, and Lazarus was raised from the dead through Jesus, and Jesus conquered death!

A God-ordained testimony is when something happens which cannot be explained by natural means.  

Several years ago there was a bill for a certain amount and there was no money to pay it by the due date.  We prayed for God’s help since we knew only He could provide a miracle for us.  On the day before it had to be sent, in the mail there was a check from a friend who wrote, “I don’t know why you need this, but God put on my heart to send this amount to you.”  The amount was not the right amount needed…it was the exact amount needed plus the cost of a postage stamp, to the penny!  We hadn't even seen or talked with this friend in a couple of years!

Nine years ago we were preparing to host a foreign exchange student in six weeks.  As the rains came down as I went to sleep after the July 4th fireworks I didn't think much about it until my daughter called up from her room an hour and a half later saying that things were floating!    I turned on the light to see knee deep water in the lower level of my house!  It continued to rain all night.  We prayed for God's mercy and help all night long.  When the sun came out the next morning there was three feet of dirty water in the very room the student was to stay!  We were evacuated by boat!  It is amazing the power of a flood, even a waterbed was moved to the center of the bedroom.  As the waters receded the filth was awful.  The task facing my family was overwhelming.  A couple days later my boss asked how he could help.  I could only say "I need hands" to clear out two rooms and a garage before any repair work could be started.  Two hours later ten people from my work showed up to provide twenty extra hands!  In just four hours the contents of the lower level was by the road for the trash man and the floors were clean!  Then a close friend from church asked if he could oversee the renovation of the house.  There were volunteers who came to help remove walls, clean the studs, dry it all out, drywall, mud, and paint!  We were living back in the house with a week to spare before our exchange student arrived!

Remembering these experiences still gives me goose bumps!  I know Who is in control.  He works through people for His glory!

Through Team Expansion I’m preparing to go to Italy to be a witness for God to the unreached of Verona.  Just like that bill of years ago, I don’t have the money that is required for me to go.  I'm not allowed to work, other than the mission, while in Italy.  Again I’m praying for God’s intervention through the hearts of people.  Jesus said, “…with God all things are possible.” (Matt 19:26)  This will be a testimony of God's provision.

During my trainings I have met many other missionary families preparing to go on the field.  Several are already on the field.  One family of eight leaves today for the mission field.  Some, like me, are still in partner raising or fundraising. I truly believe God does and will provide! 

What’s your testimony?  Are you willing to allow God to show His power through your life for His glory?

My Trainings are Done ... the Next Step

The Team Expansion required training sessions are finished.   I have been truly blessed by this 'requirement'.

Mission Training International's two programs were not just required, but essential!  

The SPLICE course has changed the way I look at going into another culture to live.  I thought I had a pretty good grasp of things, which I did.  But, the things I knew were improved upon; things I did not know were learned; and the things I hadn't even thought about were revealed.  Well done, SPLICE!

PILAT (Program in Language Acquisition Training) was another training I thought I would be just check-boxing.  My mouth went through a Boot Camp exercise program that would leave me exhausted, but looking forward to the next drill session.  

Then the techniques demonstrated in learner lead language learning was remarkable!  My small group's practice language was French.  In three morning sessions we all comprehended more of the language than I thought was possible in such a short time.  We learned how to teach ourselves with a language helper.  The language helper was there to assist us.  He did not 'teach' us anything in a 'normal' manner, but we learned!  What an awesome concept.  I know first hand how this can work.  I can't wait to try this out.  (Is there someone who speaks Italian in Kokomo who would be willing to be my language helper?

The final training, KAIROS, helped me see God's plan for the world.  From the very beginning of time God has loved us and had a plan for salvation.  God's love is not just the Israelites, or just the Jews, not just the Christians, but the whole world.  We need to be making disciples of all nations for Him.

Now what?

I'm ready to go, right?  

Everyone asks me "when are you going?"  

I want to be like some friends of mine who just announced today the have their plane tickets bought!  This family of eight has believed in this calling, too and has been raising support since August 2011.  They now have all the people they need who are willing to send them.  I'd love to be like some other missionaries I've meet during these trainings who are already on the field where God has called them to serve.  

But ... I can't go ... yet.  I need to have 100% of my support committed before that can happen.  

How does the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) affect you?  As a Christian you are commanded make disciples of all nations, right?  Not everyone can physically go to the nations, but you could you help someone go.  Prayers for this mission are needed as well as money. Has God blessed you?  Did you know you can't out give God?  The Bible is clear in II Corinthians 9:6-15 saying, "...whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."  "...God loves a cheerful giver."  "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God." (vs 12)

If God is speaking to your heart to partner financially with this work in Italy, please let me know by emailing me at delliott@teamexpansion.org.   It's exciting to know 170 people have already committed to pray regularly for this mission.  If you are willing commit to pray for me on this journey, I need to know that, too. 

Blessed by Required Training

It was required of me to go to Mission Training International (MTI) in Colorado for some training before heading to the mission field.  I had to be gone for five weeks.  This first three weeks has been called SPLICE.  SPLICE is an acronym for Spiritual, Personal, Lifestyle, Interpersonal, Cultural, Endurance/Enjoyment. 

At first I tried to get out of the training.  My first tactic I used was stating it cost a lot of money.  But doesn’t college training cost a lot, too?  The cost of SPLICE included housing and food.  (The quality of this training has rivaled any college class.)

Then I said I knew a lot about cultural differences.  After all I have had a Pakistani brother-in-law for over 37 years, had exchange students from three different countries live at my house, and gone on short-term mission trips several times.  I really thought I understood the cultural aspect and didn’t need to spend money for this kind of training.

I finally gave in and came to the training.  WOW!  This training has been great.  So much has been covered in the class times and yet it has just scratched the surface.  They gave us homework as well as simulation situations.  We had growth groups and coaching times.  We’ve laughed, cried, and prayed together. 

Well, I thank God that I this training was ‘required’.  It has been three weeks of living in community with other missionaries getting ready to go on the field.  We’ve eaten together, shared common areas together, worshiped together, trained together, as well as had fun together. 

The missionary families here are heading to South America, Central American, Haiti, Mexico, Africa, Europe, Eastern Europe, Western Asia, and Eastern Asia.  There are people leaving for the Middle East the day after we end.  Others will be leaving the country in early October through the end of the year.  There are others of us who are still finding people who will partner with us in our ministry to get us to the field, so we are unsure when we can go.

Next week starts two weeks at MTI for their PILAT program.  This is a training to help missionaries get ready for for language learning.  I’m looking forward to this now, too.

Anyone planning on heading into a new culture for missions, I highly recommend SPLICE.

Living Water in the desert

As I was reading a devotional recently I was struck by the realization I needed to share with you some of my history.  In the devotion ‘God’s Recruitment Strategy for Leaders’, the author wrote, “When God calls one of His servants into service, there is often much travail.  There are many examples where God makes His presence known through circumstances that tax the individual to his very soul.”

He listed Biblical examples of this:  Saul/Paul – blinded on the road; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – thrown in a furnace; Daniel – thrown in a lion’s den; David – had to live as a fugitive.  I thought of Joseph being sold by his brothers!  These situations helped prepare these leaders for their service in the kingdom.

We don’t usually grow deeply in our comfort zone.  In the desert trees can only survive if they push their roots far down to the water table.  These trees can withstand stronger storms better than ones in the tropics.  “In the same way, God brings us into extremely difficult situations in order to prove His power and drive our spiritual roots deeper.”

I graduated from Cincinnati Bible College (now called Cincinnati Christian University).  I married a man going into the youth ministry just six weeks after graduation.  I thought we would live ‘happily ever after’, after all, we were serving God in the local church.

My husband was living two lives.  One life he was a minister and husband; and the other he was a man giving in to the sin of homosexuality. I had known he had been molested as a child and knew he had lived the lifestyle in the past, but he had asked God to forgive him and wanted to live a Godly life.  If God could forgive him, I could forgive his past. 

He hid his sin well, for a while.  I don’t know how many times he would rendezvous with others.  By the time I realized for sure what was going on we were in our third ministry.  Life was hard, very hard. I endured trials through leaving that ministry, trying to be his encourager, moving four times in two years with three young girls.  I read Hosea, often.  I felt like Hosea.  How many times was I to forgive him.

In the dry desert of my life I dug down.  I just wanted to bury myself deeply in the sand.  Maybe the hurt would just go away and I would have my husband back, but as he should be.  Life got harder and as I was digging down, I realized only God would be able to help.  I knew if I dug a little deeper I would reach the Living Water.  I cried out to the Lord and asked Him to help me do what was right. God lead me to confront him and have him choose which lifestyle he was going to follow.  He made his choice and continues to live in that way.

I felt raw, used, stripped to the bone.  I had a big D – divorced – that was mine to wear in shame.  I loved my years in Bible College and being a minister’s wife.  I asked God how could you use me now?  I felt ruined.  The only thing left was to serve God in little ways.  I could try to be a good mom, right?

God hadn’t given up on me.  A few years passed and I was asked to volunteer again at camp.  A couple years later they asked me to dean a week of camp and I was amazed.  Maybe God could still use me.  I felt the call to go into missions about the same time and realized it would be in the future to some unknown place.  “Use me, Lord!” has been my prayer, “I am rooted in You!”

Lord called me, not the ‘on top of the world’ Bible college graduate, not the ‘minister’s wife’, but the broken woman who had to struggle to reach down deeply to cling to the Living Water.  I’m not on this journey alone. 

God has called me to work in Verona, Italy.  I don’t know exactly what I’ll be doing there, but I know God has never led me astray.  Where He leads, I will follow.

Traveling Adventures

I'm taking off soon for a very long trip in a car alone.  I'm headed to some training that puts me 2 steps closer to actually moving to the mission field.  I'm excited.  So excited that last week I made my packing list and started getting things gathered together.  I went to the store and bought healthy things to eat along the way.  I've paid all my bills through the end of this month.  I got several books on CD checked out on the vacation plan.  I think I'm ready to put the stuff in the car and take off.  But, I have to wait a bit longer. 

For most people, what I just described might sound very normal for a person going on a long trip.  But, what I normally do is to have things in my mind and wait until the last day or two to gather things together.  Then it is a very short night before I leave.  I'm exhausted to start. 

This time, I am feeling refreshed and ready to go.  I've mapped out my journey, talked to people on the other end, and have a plane ticket for my nephew's wedding (already bought present and it's in the city of the wedding!)  I want to go learn!  SPLICE and PILAT are two training sessions that will help me once I get to Italy.

In other news, I've created a packet of information about my mission.  It has a brochure, a statement of my beliefs, a DVD that is a 3 minute message about who I am and why I feel called to go to Italy, a prayer card for people's refrigerators, etc.  Tomorrow I am going to the area churches and ask to briefly talk to the ministers about this mission.  I'm praying for God to speak through me as I share with them.  I'm going to try this 'cold call' plan because I keep hearing I should get out of my comfort zone. This is not in that zone at all.  I'm excited to see what the Lord will do with this, because it is all for Him anyway!

So, little traveling around tomorrow ... then the big adventure ... all of this leads to the bigger adventure of the mission field.

Fiducia di Dio!  Trust God!

Until next time!