Nic Thiessen - Serving the Kingdom Through Missions

Living in a Bollywood

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve been traveling through India and Nepal the last 3 and a half

months here is some of the things that I’ve seen and learned. India

has been stretching in so many ways for a guy like me. A lot of

people that travel through India stay at tourists spots, nice resorts,

basically living in a comfort zone. I how ever did not have that

opportunity I got the more RAW experience…….. We have been

traveling using public transportation, staying in the cheapest hotels,

so on. During this time and through all these experiences it has

changed me a lot I’ve been use to Luxury my whole life which isn’t a

bad thing but seeing what these people go through in a day is a lot

different then the American lifestyle. I find my self some days just

watching people and it just blows my mind. There is a lot of

crazyness out there like why is there 8 fruit stands in a row selling

the same thing fruit how does that make sense at all? But I’m not

here to hate on India but it definitely tests your patience daily thank

god for his renewing grace. The other day we had about a 20 hour

bus ride through Nepal to go like 400 km the average Canadian can

do that in 4 hours! During that bus ride it was relaxing because we

weren’t inside the bus but sitting on the roof instead. Due to the fact

that all the seats were full then they managed to put more people in

the aisle and room for a man to bring on two goats and a couple of

chickens. Barn animals on public transportation why not right? But

through all the crazy and frustrating times God has blessed us in so

many ways. We are now currently back in Delhi where we arrived in

January and its insane how you see it through different eyes. Due to

the culture shock, never being to Asia before , and just being

disgusted by how these people live. I just flat out thought India was

going to be the longest 3 months of my life and I didn’t want to deal

with any of these people. But after getting close to the kids in

Deradun, India and there parents in the slums God showed me that

they are people to and he loves them just as me talk about a

humbling experience. Lets just put it this way when a lady decides

to breast feed right in front of me, when 8 beggars follow me for 4

blocks wanting more money then I gave them already, or just getting

hustled and paying way to mutch for something it’s a typical day in

India. But you know what I’m forever grateful for this country it’s

changed my heart, my view on life, and of course brought me closer

to my father in heaven. Some of the things that aren’t on the travel

brochure to India I’m done rambling more to come!

Blessings Nic

Annapurna Circuit

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

When we were in Nepal we did something called the Annapurna Circuit

which is a Trek that goes through the Himalayans it’s about 25o miles and

in the middle of it you climb the world’s largest pass approx 5400 meters.

This was one of the most amazing experiences in my life. The population

there is mostly mixed between Nepalese, Indians, and Tibetan’s with two

different religions Buddhist and Hindi. During different times of the trek

there was beautiful waterfalls, snowy peaks, glaciers, or clean mountain

air. During the hike we would often stop and just look out on the

mountains or other beautiful sights. I can now say I’ve really had the

opportunity to enjoy God’s creation and the freedom that comes with it. I’ve

often thought earth is like hell and heaven will be so much better. During

this trip we’ve been dwelling a lot on the word and figuring out what it looks

like in our life. I’ve slowly been learning these trips how much god delights

in us and wants us to enjoy the life we are living here on this earth I mean it

is are inheritance. During the hike we would often “stop and smell the

flowers” just relaxing and being still. Since then I’ve been doing a lot more

of this being still business and how good it is. Whether it was sitting in the

jungle watching a tiger be free 30 yards from me or sitting on the roof of a

bus for 20 hours going through the mountains……. Sorry mom love you!

God created this earth for us to enjoy he’s a god man. Not getting caught

up in a busy day and stopping to smell the flowers being content with life

you live is so rewarding.

Different kind of Love?

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

So we finally made are way up to Kathmando after taking numerous trains and buses and being lucky enough to ride on the roof of a bus through lots of India it was wondeful..... We arrived in Kathmando 6pm one night I found myself not being able to sleep so me and Branden went on the patio of the restaurant and chilled out. While sitting out there a Drunk Belgium guy popped out of no where and sat down with us at are table.... little did I know what i was getting myself into....... We made small talk and later on he told us he had 3 orphanages in Kathmando so here is the story about Paul.......................................
I was in Kathmando when the hippie movement was here almost twenty years ago maybe more not to sure dates..... One night he was wandering home from a bar and he noticed all the kids sleeping on the streets and then it hit him why are they sleeping on the streets and all of a sudden he told me his heart grew for the kids. Him and his buddy woke up the next day and decided they had to do something about this. A week later they rented a decent sized house and they welcomed in street children to live there. After doing that for a couple months they ran out of money and they didn't know what to do. Paul decided to go back to Belgium and raise awareness and funds. The next couple years he worked in a post office and would put most his earnings towards suppporting the kids and eventually being able to pay for all there schooling. Also have the opportunity to visit twice a year for a couple months. From then to now his orphanages have expanded he has 3 different ones scattered throughout Kathmando and over 300 orphans now are living under those roofs. They all have the chance to go to school and college afterwards. The workers that for him are widows who would live on the streets or have a family but the husband left and are to poor to survive. So by working here they make about $5 a day and get to have aplace for there kids to be feed and get an education how wonderful is that??? Theres orphans everywhere but the main reason these kids are orphans is because in Nepal there are arranged marrages at the age of 13-14 and by the age of 20 they typically have 4-5 kids the dad will leave and the mother will be stuck with the kids. Thats a scary thing for a woman that age so naturally she will sell kids or just let them live on the streets. Its not that they are bad people they are just stuck in a bad spot in life and dont really have a choice. Typicall when these kids live crazy lifes on the streets they do alot of hard drugs, steal to survive, and will do anything just to live. Paul told me how after just a month in the orphanages they turn into kids again and they have joy and are all smiles.

After talking to him for about 6 hours that night he invited me to his orphanage the next day I was excited. We took a taxi to a rougher neighborhood in Kathmandoo and we ended up at a old Hotel that is now 5 stories of kids kitchens, dining halls, and just everything else. Walking up each story we would get greeted by hugs from workers and of course all the kids. For a 57 year old man Paul knew everyone of the kids names and it was just something special...... After hanging out there for 3 hours i just had my world rocked it was such a life giving experience. To meet a man like Paul who was open to say he was an alcoholic smoked way to many cigarettes and on top of all of that was an athiest! It was amazing to see a man like him that is just a total bad ass but at the same time twenty years ago the kids of nepal grabbed his heart and the last 20 years he's devoted to love on these kids and help them succeed and beat the odds of living on the streets there whole life! I learned alot from him and to see how all the kids just loved him becasue he was real with them I found myself asking where did this love for them come from??? God? I dont know the answer to this question but I know that he loves those kids so much and the love has to come from somewhere. He will be the first to admit he wasn't perfect, but we all have are issues,,,,,,,, it was an amazing experience to see a non-christian just do something purely out of love if one day I could be as passionate about something like he is aboutt those kids I know I would be a better person.

The righteous man . . . the gifted man . . . and love. Many do good works. Many can quote the Bible forwards and backwards. Many have an answer to every question. Many read all the great books on theology, apologetics, religious doctrines, and who knows what else. But do they have compassion and love, and does it show?

Dedicated to Steven the Baby

India/ Nepal

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Delhi, india arived in a plane culture shock
7 hour train ride to Deradun, India
3 weeks working at a school, preaching at church, hanging in the slums
10 hour train ride to Nanital, India
3 days preaching at a church in the Himalayans
2 hour taxi ride to Satial, India
4 days at a Christian Camp resting and enjoying gods creation
2 hour taxi ride back to Nanital, India
2 days planning listening where to go next
14 hour bus ride to Agra, India
18 hours of being in Agra saw the Taj Mahal left as quick as we could
14 hour train ride sitting on the floor or standing in general class cheapest way of travelling
1 day spent in a village I still don't know the name of
14 hour bus ride to Nagpur
1 day in Nagpur trying to make are way down to are Missionary Contact
14 hour bus ride to Hydrabad
12 hours in Hydrabad learning are contact was another 8 hours south ugh
8 hour bus we arrive in Ongole
2 days in Ongole seeing where to go spend a week we decided a jungle village
6 hour bus ride to the Jungle to meet a pastor
7 days spent speaking at 14 different churches buying 75 widows new sari's(outfits)
4 hour bus ride back to Ongole
2 days spent in Ongole trying to find direction
14 hour bus ride to Vizag
3 days in Vizag enjoying the beach and just growing
12 hour train to Bhulbaneswar hanging out the door while speeding down the railroad tracks amazing!
2 days in Bhulbaneswar finding out how to get to Kolkutta
12 hour bus ride to Kolkutta
4 days there seeing the mother Teresa's place
12 hour bus to a city in India
8 hour bus to a Rexhal ( India Border town) riding on the roof of it the whole time its a tough life we live
1 night in Rexhal then rode a horse carriage across the border me and Branden were to heavy and lifted the horse off the ground
10 Taxi ride through the Himalayans mountains the whole time
4 days in Kathmandoo preparing for the Anna Purna Circuit 250 through the Himalayans and that is where we are currently at.............. Its been an amazing journey god has drawn us more and more intimately its hard to describe it all on a blog but he is good and his love for us is immense!

Ministry in the Jungle

Tue, 8 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

We went into the Jungle of India this last week here it was amazing experience here are sum of the things we did and learned..............
A typical day would go sumthing like this wake up have a little breakfast then from there it was a busy day. We would walk around different villages everyday do house visits and pray for families have tea with them just hang with them it was spectacular. From there we would usually have a church service at one of the 14 in that area which was a new thing for me. We would sit at the front on and sing a couple worship songs..... then we would have to preach which was new to me I did not sign up for this but God is good and would always put something on my heart to talk about. The first day I kinda planned ahead on what to say but it just wasnt working soo I would usually just go up unplanned and speak from the heart. It kinda goes back to me in my life I've always like to plan ahead but is that what god desires how can rely on God when you have everything planned and do it on your own strength? There is a certain comfort level to having everything planned and i feel like in life everyone is forcing you to have a plan but i've been learning more and more that "its your daily bread not monthly or yearly bread." Its a learning process just like a child learning to walk but theres something to letting the lord do his thing. From there we would usually pray for church members it was amazing experience god blessed us and opened my eyes to new things a verse that comes to my mind is "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12" In the end Glory goes to god and its only through him we are able to do these great works. From there we would eat some lunch then have another church service during the evening. I was exhausted the first day of doing this but at the same time when you pour into others and your doing it outta love for are father his love will shine through us. Its amazing it makes you feel alive i strongly encourage it to anyone who wants an experience. That was what are week was like it was a blessing to be apart of Gods Kingdom in this side and it humbled me in so many ways. It made me thankful for so many things and ultimately drawed me closer into gods love. Thank you for TO ALL WHOHAVE SUPPORTED US finacially and through prayer you are also apart of all this if it wasnt for you and God of course I would not have the opportunity to be on this journey!!!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Under a New Light

Tue, 8 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Some scripture and things being revealed to me on this trip...........
Lets paint a picture

“The days are coming,” declares the LORD,“when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant though I was a husband to them, declares the LORD. “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD.“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.I will be their God,and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor,or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’because they will all know me,from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD.“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34

What was the old covenant? Was it the 10 commandments and all the laws made in the old testament?

If there is a new covenant does that mean the old one doesnt exist?

“A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Heb. 8:13
Obsolete- Cause (a product or idea) to be or become obsolete by replacing it with something new.

When does the new covenant start?

I"n the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you" Luke 22:20
When Jesus died on the Christ the covenant started?

What does the new covenant look like?

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12

If his only command is that and not all those laws it kinda means we are free?

Is it easier to love someone when they arent telling you to love them and giving you rules but rather loving them because you are free and wanna love them becausethey are worth it?

Am i living as a slave looking for reward and doing what i'm told to do because im under bondage or am I living as a son doing things out of love for my father?? Hhhm

What does sin look like under the New covenant? 1 Cor. 6:12 1 Cor 10:23
"Everything is permissible for me" - but not everything is beneficial.
"Everything is permissible for me" - but I will not be mastered by anything.
Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial.
"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive.

Do I have i all the answers to these no I dont but I know god is good all the time all the time he is good and is he drawing me into something a new freedom which I'm still searching for the answers yes.

In him
Nic

Life on thee Field

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

My life this last two weeks

After leaving Deradun, India I took a over night train to a place called Nanital, India. Nanital is one of the more beautiful places in India but it is often over looked its 8744 feet up in the Himalaya’s and there is a lake in the middle of the town. While there we rested, dug it the word, and just had time to enjoy God in the mountains. A verse that came to mind was “Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) its often very easy for me to get stuck in the hustle of life without taking time to just enjoy god and his creation so this was a great change of pace from doing all the ministry stuff in Deradun. We also had the chance on Sunday to go to a missionary contacts church and worship and share testimonies with them to make a long story short God is on the move in the Himalayans!!!! From there we went 45 minutes west to a small Christian retreat place that was a little stretching for me. I usually love nature but while there the first night iturned on the lights in my room and there was multiple spiders easily the size of my hand. After standing outside of my room stubbornly for an hour yelling and just being grossed out I finally got over it…..But may of slept with the light on for the next 3 nights. While there we also got to see a Black panther in the wild and got attacked by a monkey I really hate those things. After that we started the long journey south. A twelve hour bus ride to Agra was quite an interesting trip for me I got sick while going through the Himalayans and all the turns and threw up out the window numerous times that was just the beginning of the adventure… We had a rest stop where I ate something else that caused me to get sick so I had to go Number one and two out the bus window because in India your not always guranteed a bathroom! We arrived in Agra the next day and hit up the Taj Mahal which was an adventure itself getting hustled by tour guides and once again getting attacked by monkeys it was a long day making us leave that night on a 36 hour train ride to Hydrabad. In america you usually get a seat when you hop on a train in this case we sat/stood for hours due to overcrowding it was a lot to handle. Regardless we made it through the night but around lunch time we were feed up so we hopped off in a random village which I still have no idea of the name of it. We stayed the night and the next morning took a 12 hour bus to Nagpur this bus also was crowded but we managed to get seats after just a couple hours of standing. Arriving in Nagpur we stayed the night and the next morning took another 12 hour bus to Hydrabad. Arriving there we were thankful to be done traveling and ready to drive into some ministry work….. But we found out are contact actually lived 6 hours south so we hopped on another bus and it ended up taking another 12 hours it was probably one of the funnest times of my life! But after making it through 60 some hours or so on trains, buses, etc we are in Ongolia, India and I’m so thankful! We are now starting a week with a missionary contact down here who plants a lot of churches. Tomorrow we have to do a church service for a pastors training school and from there we will be heading to the Jungle to hang with a tribe and just love on them and let gods love flow through us unto them. It shall be an adventure!!!
Some prayer requests for are team….
1. Health as we are traveling/ hiking into the Jungle to share with these tribes
2. Safety for us because they aren’t always welcoming and there has been a couple kidnappings in the area over the past two weeks.
3. That God would continue to provide Financially for us so we can continue to do are ministry
Thank you for your prayers and finaicial support already for this adventure and if you have any prayer request feel free to emailme or let me know and we will be able to keep youin are prayers over here God Bless!

In Him
Nic

Love Love Love

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The bible begins by telling a story of how God created the earth we live on today ( Gen 1:1-24). Later on it goes on to telling us how God created man in his own image ( Gen 1:27). During the beginning times of the bible God had just created man to be on the earth but later on he claims “ It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable helper (Gen 2:18)” On this trip in India we’ve been studying through the bible and trying to grasp a new concept of god…. Gen 2:18 says “ It’s not good for man to be alone” How does God know this? How does he know the meaning of alone? The only answer that comes to my mind is that God only knew what it was like to be alone if he was alone. Maybe did he experience being alone before man came to the earth? Is that why he created man was to keep him company and have someone else to share his creations with….. It goes on to say that he lines up all the animals of the earth for Adam to give names to and at the end it states “ But for Adam no suitable helper was found.” ( Gen 2:19-21) Then God goes on to create a woman named Eve in his own image. Hhhhm now Adam isn’t alone he has a partner thanks to God who recognized Adam loneliness and created Eve for him. So if we were created to meet God’s need of not being alone, not him meet are need… Then that means we have a choice that we have say in this relationship. Don’t get me wrong its Glory to God but I don’t think a lot of things I’ve been taught or thought about God have necessarily been under the right light. In 1 John 4:8 it says “Whoever does not love does not know god, because god is love.” When it says “God is love” that’s a bold statement its not God loves sometimes, God loves only obedient people, God loves Christians only NO NO NO…. It says God is love its not his behavior that he will sometimes love sometimes be disappointed no its his nature he is love and will always love its not a temporary thing! Think of it as this a family with a mom, dad, and son when the son does something the parents don’t agree with do they stop loving them? NOPE God has called on this earth to be apart of something beautiful something amazing that is probably the most meaningful fulfilling thing in life. A relationship where God the father has undying love for us and in a “relationship” it doesn’t work if only one side of it loves. That’s why I’ve been starting to change my view on God that he is a Fierce lover only wanting for what all relationships need the other to love them back. By God pouring his love out to us, us pouring are love out to him, his love will pour out of us when we touch other people. His love isn’t enough for him, but are love satisfies him beyond belief. Just like any person here on Earth are God just wants to be loved and you can build a relationship from that its sooo good how cool is that God wants to love us and be in a personal intimate relationship and all we need to do in return is love him I’m down with that!!!!

“Got to keep my Faith alive and love is found”

In Him
Nic

Life on the rocks to hard to swallow

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

I’m sitting here on a roof in Deradun, India looking at the Himalayans, below it there is small huts built of pretty much anything people can get there hands on. Little kids are playing with a Bicycle tire, while mothers are carrying water on there heads from the stream, while fathers are trying to cover the roofs of there huts with garbage bags. I’m speechless the main question that crosses my mind is “why not me?” My whole life I’ve had everything I ever thought I needed and when that wasn’t enough I decided to sell drugs to make more in a month then people down here make in 5 years hhmm. They are alive they are happy with what they have and why in my mind was I never happy with an unlimited supply of money? I’ve been in India for 13 days now while here I have taught English at a school to 4 to 10 year olds that were rescued from sweat factories, hung out with orphans in the slums, visited Leper colonies and have just been submerged in there culture living off of $5 a day. A lot of people said that its gonna be uncomfortable going on a missions trip to India, so far the only thing I have been uncomfortable with is that I lived the last 20 years of my life with greed and have had everything I’ve ever I thought I wanted. Since being here I have been filled with love by hanging with people that have absolutely nothing but a promise from Jesus that they are saved and he loves them. Kids eager to learn in school because they never would have had the opportunity if it wasn’t for are missionary contact here. Its sobering how God can humble you just by living and loving on the poorest of the poorest. I’m learning more and more about my identity and that I don’t need all these material things in my life to be happy. That Jesus Christ is all that I need for he is my rock and refugee and will never let me be put to shame. Its hard thing to swallow because where I’ve came from your identity is all about what you have not what’s in your heart. There’s a freedom here that God offers when you trust in him to provide, when you live with his people that are suffering, and you are surrounded by Christians that have nothing but still walk in faith. I guess this trip has been a wake up call to show me that all you need is God and his love is enough and O how he loves us. I guess instead of asking “ Why not me?” the question is “what can I do to change this?” I don’t need all these material things I just need the love of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will guide me. By living in God’s kingdom over here, having nothing and living with Christians who have nothing but the hope for a better day because Jesus loves us. So how do I change this I think the answer is spread the word of God and show others how much he loves us, because after all we need is The father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

In Him
Nic

This is the Life ain't no stoppin

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Life is just a trip ive been praying a lot lately and god has been revealing different things to me. I have a lot to be thankful for…….
The last 17 days we have been serving in Deradun, India here is sum of the things I’ve been doing and some experiences to go along with each one……..

Teaching English-> We have had the opportunity to serve at a school of about 50 kids. These aren’t your typical kid’s ages 4 to 10 they have been rescued from the slums and sweat shops. Are missionary contact found them and offered them free schooling because otherwise they would just be working or just hanging out. These kids have touched my heart from day one, they are so eager to learn because if it wasn’t for this school they wouldn’t have the opportunity to do so. They love just being loved on its wonderful the first day they were very cautious to even touch or interact with us….. But lucky fully I serve a God that has immense love and serving for him he pours out his love through us. After the second day they wouldn’t stop hugging, high fiving, or just wanting to get picked up by us. At the school all the kids come from Hindu, Islam, and Sheik backgrounds. We start the day off with getting into lines and singing worship songs what an amazing way to start the day!!! The best part about it is there mom’s and Dad’s will sit there and watch there kids sing worship songs even though they don’t believe in God they are always smiling and so happy that there kids are getting the chance for an education. God has used this kind of ministry to touch the life’s of the kids so they will go back to there house and tell there parents about what they are learning, planting the seeds is beautiful thing. It’s been a blast loving and hanging out with these kids. It has really showed me how much God wants us to love on everyone and that you don’t need to always preach the gospel but by loving on people and letting Jesus guide you is a Testimony in itself .

House Visits, Soccer, and Outreaches-> I’ve had the opportunity to do a couple outreaches since being here a typical one goes like this….. We arrive at a slum set up microphones, guitars, speakers. From there we will sing a couple worships songs in Hindi yes that’s right I can now sing 3 or so songs in HindiJ Then we will usually do a skit about relationship with are heavenly father so they can get a visual because they don’t understand English. From there each one of us will share a Testimony or Preach with a translator to the crowd. Then from there we will usually sing another worship song. After it’s all done we will pray for anyone who needs prayer whether it’s healing, praying out demons, or just about anything its pretty heavy stuff but hey Jesus said “Greater miracles have yet to come!” J It’s been interesting doing these outreaches I have never had to speak in front of a crowd of sixty or whatever it is on the night but thankfully by listening to the Holy Spirit there’s always something on your heart! There hasn’t been a whole lot of converts which isn’t discouraging at all to me its all about planting seeds and just showing them how much we love them, how much god loves us, and we just want to show them how much God loves them! We have also done a couple house visits to Nepalese families that have moved to India I remember the first one I did we went into a “house” which consisted of 4 brick walls 8 feet by 8 feet. That was a wake up call just how happy they are when we came even though they have nothing they have the love of Jesus Christ and that is the greatest treasure of all!!! I’ve been Humbled in front of the Lord so much it’s a Blessing!!!! Off course the last one Soccer Games!!!! We will show up in the afternoon at a slum with a soccer ball from there about 60 kids will come with us (some which we teach at the school) and we will go to a open field consumed of bricks garbage rocks and hardly no grass. THEN THE MADNESS BEGINS!!!! We will get buzzed off of lots of candy and play one massive game of soccer. During this time there is never a shortage of laughing, running around, getting picked up and spun around, high fives, hugs, and just getting dirty in the dirt!!! The sacrifices for Gods Kingdom Right!!!

Church-> Every Sunday we have the opportunity to go to are Missionary contacts church….. We will usually sing a couple English worship songs for them and they will sing the Hindi versions after. Might I just add its great to here the different tongues of God’s Kingdom! After that we will share a couple testimonies or preach the Gospel it’s a beautiful thing. The church here is like a family everyone knows everyone, everyone is willing to pray for anyone at anytime, and you can just feel the love for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! I have never been so comfortable being in a church on Sunday maybe because they see it as a family with one amazing father and not a obligated or obedient to do for there father Hhhm…… Anyways God has been good all the time all the time he has been good!!!

This trip has been a blessing and I’m so thankful that God has called me to India for this time. He has given me eyes to see and ears to hear him more and more everyday kind of like he wants to grow every day as a Son of the father not a slave. We have been starting everyday off with bible studies and have been digging into the word a lot. God has been putting it on my heart that Christianity is not a religion it’s a relationship!!! (more of that later to come still searching and learning what that means) All I know is that I’m in complete freedom right now and there isn’t any stopping with God!!!! We are leaving this Friday to go to a retreat place in the mountains where we will be digging into the word, praying, and letting God reveal this whole freedom that he offers so way more to come!!! Day 20 in India and what a blessing it is to walk by faith and not by sight!!!!

And now these three things remain; faith, hopes, and love.
But the greatest of these is Love.

In Him
Nic

Seizing the Day in India

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Arrived in Delhi, India early in the morning a couple of days ago from there we have been walking around the city which roughly has 17 million which is insane to me. I have never been in a poverty stricken area like this from street vendors, to beggers, to just being the minority is something so foreign to me tell now. Today go on a 5 hour train ride to Dehradun, India where we will be meetingwe are about to up with a Contact who works at a Church, Orphanage, and School. I'm stoked to go up there and just hang out and love on orphans and anything else God has us doing up there. We were Originally planning to spend 3 weeks but are plans are much smaller then God's. We were
contacted today with an opportunity to lead a church group down to Andhra Pradesh,
India for a week to go serve at a Church Planting site. We are currently praying about
whether its in God's plans for us or whether to stay up in Dehradun for the 3 weeks or
stay up there for a week and return later on. So time will tell with this one either way I'm
excited for this grand adventure:)

In Him
Nic

Plans for the NeXt Couple WeeKs

Wed, 5 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

I will be flying out next week sometime into Delhi, India from there we will be going to Dehradun (Northern India) on a train. While in Dehradun we be meeting a contact that works with an Indian and Nepalese Church and Orphanage which I'm completely stoked about!!!! While being there to we will be travelling to a Leper Colony and serving there to! We are thinking we will be in Dehradun for a couple weeks to serve and we will also be learning the Do's and Don'ts of India and just about the culture. As far as my blog goes I wil have the opprotunity to Blog at least once a week. Here is just some verses I've been leaning and just helping me prepare to go on the trip and have been giving me strength.

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Romans 1:17

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
John 16:13

Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.
Psalm 4:14

Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways.
Proverbs 23:26

We live by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7

In Him
Nic

Am I Ready?

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

When Jesus called the twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: " Take nothing for the journey- no staff, no bag, no money, no extra shirt. Luke 9 1-3

While accepting God's calling and being sent to India and Nepal the group of us 5 will be basing are trip on this scripture and the rest of Luke 9 and 10. Reading through this scripture tonight I realized how foreign this lifestyle is to me and how uncomfortable it makes me feel. But being in this relationship with Jesus its not just about praying for the messy needs of this world in comfortable places that insulate me from greater suffering. But getting on my knees and getting my hands dirty in this mess and breaking a sweat working in the gutters of the world. To me this is easier said then done and many questions come to my head......

Am I ready to be broken down and to be filled up again?
Am I ready to walk by faith and not by sight?
Am I ready to glorify God's kingdom and not mine?
Am I ready to learn new things from God that are foreign from me living on this side of the world?
Am I ready to be apart of a movement that will blaze through this dark world and set it on fire through God's contagious love and have it spread like wild fire and be a person whose shine will burn up the darkness in this world with the light that dwells with in me through Christ Jesus?
The answer is no "I am" not ready but through God's word "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13 I will be ready for my God is my rock and my refugee and will never let me be put to shame.

God is good all thee time
All thee time he is good
In Him
Nic

God's calling to India and Nepal

Sat, 25 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I have accepted God's calling and on January 14th I will be going to Nepal and India with four other gentlemen. However this won't exactly be your average missions trip. It will have far less structure from the outside eye and the base will be relying on listening to Him in prayer and walking in faith while learning to lean and trust on each other. We do have contacts but not our entire time will be with them. We are hoping to base much of what we do on the concepts of Luke 9 and 10. Basically, this is a missions trip where we will be with orphaned, widowed, poor, churches, etc...yet we're setting it up to be a life on life discipleship/mentorship between the five of us. However I don't have the money to go yet and its less then a month away I'm still confident I'm suppose to go . How God is gonna provide for me I have no idea but I'm going to remain faithful and I'm sure God will provide for me. This trip is gonna be huge for me because I have never been on a missions trip before and I feel its another whole side of God's Kingdom I have never seen. It will also be a breaking down process and my boundaries will be pushed due to the fact that I will be living, serving, and travelling in a Third world country. It still blows my mind that I have the opportunity to go serve in India what an awesome god who gives us beautiful opportunities to glorify his kingdom. If you'd like to support any of us, there is a link on the left hand side of this page that will direct you to a quick and easy (with tax receipt) way of helping us help others. If you'd like to support us through prayer, please let me know and give me your email address!

Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path
Psalm 119:105

In Him
Nic

Live Life Proceed Progress

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I've had the opportunity to write on my blog for the last week but anything I've written down just didn't feel right or come together as I wanted it to. Tell last night after having a conversation with my sister and it ending with " what have you done with your life? Exactly nothing!" As harsh as those words are they got me thinking about my life, where i've come from, and looking back on it realizing this is not where I saw myself at all. I accepted Christ in my life and was saved in June 2009 which if you knew me before you would think i was on the total other spectrum from Christianity. Before I was saved I was a lost soul searching for meaning of life through the Drug Game, selling & doing drugs everyday so I wouldnt have to be sober, and partying everynite the so called " High Life"... During those years of being stuck in "The Game" my life was a blur giving up football scholarships to various universities, selling drugs to my friends and making money off there addictions, drinking and getting high as much I could to escape the reality of life, and on top of that making more money then a teenager should have it was a deadly combination. This was what I thought life was about making money, partying, and having power. But God had different plans I left it all 6/19/09 for a combination of reasons that aren't my proudest moments. Leaving that life, the city I grew up in, all my friends, the money, and the crew of my boys was probably one of the hardest things I had ever done. But shortly after that God led me right to him and to a community called Cedar Campus that accepted me for who I was and had a positive influence on me. This community was something I had never seen or heard of we were all so different and unique in so many ways but we all had one thing in common we all believed and worshiped the same awesome god. So imagine my relief after finding all this out! The changes in my life have only been possible through god and finding my identity through Him instead of all the material items of this world that use to consume my life. So I may not of done a whole lot if you wana say with "my life" but I dont think if I had went through all the pain and the suffering before being saved I don't think i would have ever found god or have a desire to pursue him. This short time i've been with god has been the happiest i've ever been but its still a growing process with highs and lows . So sum may see it as a waste of time but i found God after i went through it all so isn't that the purpose in life to find god and serve him ?;)

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

In Him
Nic