Posted in Post-Race by Melissa Gibson on 8/24/2010
The kitchen where a local woman taught us how to make tortillas.
Mango's on a stick. Yum!
Dear Friends!
It was this time last year that I
was sweating in the tropical jungle of Palenque, Mexico, amidst tarantulas
(they’re actually friendly), over sized frogs that would one day be transformed
into a change purse and sold at the local Mayan ruins gift shop (LOL it’s
really true!), mangos that were cut in the shape of a flower coated with lime
juice and cayenne pepper (seriously the best thing I’ve ever tasted in my
life!), and then there was me preparing one last time to travel with 49 other brothers and sisters to the last country of our 11 month journey on the World
Race (WR).
The Lord
told me a year previous to the WR that he was going to take me where I hadn’t
been and to follow him. Well, he
definitely kept his promise as I traveled with my team to minister in more than
11 countries and countless cities and villages, but more importantly, my faith
and relationship with the Lord grew deeper and stronger as the pruning process
went on. Eyes were opened, paradigms shifted, prayers and praise went up and
his love and mercy came down. Relationships were created around the world and
the kingdom of heaven invaded earth as the dead hearts in Christ came to life
in a Filipino sqwatter community; sick were healed; orphans rescued; witch
doctors in African tribes set free; the hopeless and forgotten were remembered;
Romania gypsy’s valued; kids in the N. Indian slums laughed and danced once
again; Ukrainian Babushka’s cared for; hope released over Kathmandu; Croatian
friends delivered and encouraged; and Central American villages heard of the
love Jesus has for them and sang praises en
Español.
And now God has opened a door for me to stay in full-time
ministry to reach the nations and invest in other young adults who reach the
nations through the World Race parent organization, Adventures in Missions
(AIM). I’ve been invited to join AIM’s staff as an Admission’s
Liaison/Mentor focusing in the areas of recruiting, interviewing,
mentoring, and discipleship to help prepare World Race participants for the
World Race and beyond. There’s nothing I love more than investing
in the next generation to reach the world for Christ so I’m very excited about
this new role!
Even though AIM’s headquarters is based in Gainesville, GA,
this position allows me to stay in Northern VA and work remotely so that I can
stay committed to leading worship for a new church plant in the area called
Church of the Free. So I won’t be
leaving the country this time, but I’ll be working to equip and prepare the
next generation as they step foot on foreign soil to reach the nations for the
Kingdom of God.
This
is my invitation to you to partner with me in this ministry. I’ve committed to
work part-time with AIM, however staff positions there are fund-raised. In order for me to live in the DC area,
$1,500 needs to be raised per month ($18,000 per year) through tax-deductible
donations. With 100 partners, that
would come to $180 a year per partner. That makes it $15 a month per partner.
If you consider becoming a partner or would like to make a
contribution, please know that all non-refundable donations to Adventures in
Missions are tax-deductible. The easiest way to give is through my World Race
blog at
VISIT: melissgibson.theworldrace.org
CLICK: Become
a Partner
I’ve been traveling and serving in short term missions trips
for 12 years now. To transition from corporate America to full-time ministry in
the U.S. is uncharted waters for me and it’s something I can’t do alone. Would
you consider praying about how the Lord would want you to partner with me in
this ministry?
Partner
with me so we can impact the next generation and reach the nations to advance
the Kingdom of God and bring more of heaven to earth in our lifetime!
Lots
of love,
Melissa
     
P. S. Here’s what
I’ve been up to since coming
home from the Race in Sept 2009:
·
Visited family &
friends and took
care of mom after she had heart surgery ·
Sang in a friends’
wedding and attended
a few more
·
Began leading worship
for Church of the
Free
·
Worked as an academic
tutor for kids in
lower income schools grade K-3rd grade
·
Led a ladies Bible
study through Daniel
and got our socks rocked off ·
Worked with AIM and WR
in admissions
interviewing potential racers
·
Attended and graduated
from Bethel
School of Worship in CA 
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Posted in Post-Race by Melissa Gibson on 1/14/2010
 By
this time it's no surprise that Haiti was hit with a 7.0 magnitude
earthquake two nights ago, one of the worst earthquakes that the
country has experienced in decades. Many people have been asking us how
they can help. Thankfully, AIM missionaries Miguel and Kristen Shaul are
on the field in the Dominican Republic right now and are headed to
Haiti as soon as possible to begin providing some much needed relief
and help to the country. Here is the latest:
Thank you to everyone who has been praying and sharing concern for
our neighbors in Haiti. As we speak we are coordinating with other
NGO's here in San Juan to mount an emergency response to those affected
by the earthquake that occurred yesterday evening. Four hours Southwest
from our home of San Juan lays the Dominican city of Jimani which is
only about 40 miles east from the hardest hit area of Haiti. Our hope
is to be able to travel to Jimani early tomorrow morning, bringing
supplies with us.
Give a Gift.
Click here to
give a tax-deductible financial gift for the purchase of supplies
needed for first response (food, blankets, shelters, basic health care,
etc.).
Give Prayer.
Continue to pray over the country of Haiti, over
the ministry that we're establishing down there, and for the
restoration of lives!
Give Yourself.
Spots are still open on the July 2010 Race - first stop is Haiti. Apply Here!
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Posted in Life by Melissa Gibson on 10/8/2009
I want to thank all of my supporters and prayer warriors who have joined with me in ministry this past year. You may have not physically gone to the countries I did, but you fought the battle just as much on your knees. Thank you for your generosity and all of your encouraging comments, emails, prayers, and words.
One year ago today I was in Manila, Philippines just starting my ministry on the World Race. It's hard to believe its over. Although the race is over and I no longer have 50 travel companions by my side, the call that I have to bring the kingdom where I go isn't.
My first month back home has been amazing! Back in the land of A/C, driving a car, warm showers, clean water, reliable internet, no bugs, brewed coffee and no pack on my back. I'm back in the land of comfort. Yet my eyes are filled with the faces of those forgotten orphans in the Philippines, the families living in squatter homes, the mass of children in Uganda dressed in rags and those living with out clean water, the generous Maasi tribes in Tanzania, the millions with AIDS and malaria in Kenya, the Romanian gypsy kids who have nothing yet are full of life, the persecuted Indian believers, the complacent religious in Croatia and the drug dealer that found Jesus, and the oppressed in Central America. I don't know what to do with all these vivid pictures that flash in my mind.
The World Race was Gods way of breaking me, awaking me and allowing me to discover more of my destiny, who I'm created to be and the mandate to bring the kingdom of God wherever I go and reclaim my inheritance.
Here's what others had to say...
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Posted in Life by Melissa Gibson on 9/23/2009
Kingdom
I first
heard Gary Black at training camp invite us to "do Kingdom" and I thought – what is he talking about? He
would often say "lets bring the kingdom" and I thought to myself – when did the
word kingdom ever become a verb? But then I reread Luke and my eyes opened up.
God showed me that that's why he sent his son – to preach the kingdom of God. I
don't know how I missed the consistency of that message in Luke in the hundreds
of times I've read it. But now, the word kingdom has forever changed for me. It
has become a verb and not just a noun. 
After spending 11 months in ministry
around the world – I know that is what I did. I worked to bring the kingdom
wherever I went. God left us in
this dark perverse generation to bring some love, light, and life. We go to the desolate places and bring
life and love... to a person, to a community. It is not just a place believers
are going to once they meet St. Peter at the pearly gates. The kingdom of God
is something that followers of Jesus are apart of and have in them. God is love and if we have God in us,
we have his love in us! So we share that love – His love to the world. The kingdom is something that believers
bring with them wherever they go. Luke 17:21 says, "the Kingdom of God is
within you." I know the believers'
mandate is to advance the kingdom of God here on earth – to family, friends,
co-workers, fellow students, and our communities. That's what Jesus' ministry
was while he was on the earth.
Believers are filled with the Holy Spirit. If we live our lives to know
and love Jesus – then we listen to and live our lives through the Holy Spirits
guidance, then it allows God to manifest himself through us to the world. He
said we're his hands and feet. He manifests himself through us through the
variety of ways and gifts he's already given us. That's why we're here! We're
here to receive his love, to love him, to know him and make him known! If salvation just meant we'd live in
heaven for all eternity with God, then God would've saved us and killed us
immediately. But he didn't.
 He saved us
and left us here on earth. Why? So
that we would partner with him and allow Jesus to work through us to bring the
gift of salvation to others. He says in Psalm 2 – ask me and I'll give you the
nations as your inheritance. Is this inheritance for believers? Yes! Why?
Because we have become one with Christ and we're now in the kingdom of God.
We've become heirs to the throne of God. Because of what Christ did on the
cross for us, we've been adopted into his family. We're Gods kids. Christ is in
us – we are the hope of glory!
(Col 1:27) We proclaim him,
admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom so that we may present
everyone perfect in Christ. This is the work that God wants us to do. He's made
us into a chosen nation, a royal priesthood, we are co-heirs with Christ
(Galatians 3:29).
1 Peter
2:9 says... we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of
darkness into His wonderful light.
Romans
8:17 says that now if we're children of God, then we are heirs – heirs of God
and co-heirs with Christ.
Heirs
receive an inheritance. Our inheritance is the kingdom of God and the nations –
to win back the lost nations of this world and invite them into the Kingdom of
God with Christ as King. We can't
help but do this as our act of worship out of love and devotion to Christ. True
worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for they are the kind
of worshipers the Father seeks (John 4:23). But this isn't about performance and what we have to do for
God – in order for him to love us. He loves us regardless of what we do. Our
lives will be fuller, more complete and full of more joy when we allow him to
love through us.
I know that
one year ago, God said he wanted to take me where I haven't been. I knew it
wasn't just a "trip around the world" that the places he wanted to take me
weren't just physical places like Africa, India, Romania and China – although
they are amazing places. They were just the bonus. He wanted to take me to
spiritual places with him that I hadn't been. I've now realized where it was
that he took me. He took me to a
place of greater understanding of his Word and of his Kingdom. And this greater
understanding has activated something in me. Something in me that doesn't just
want the norm anymore. I want life through the Spirit. I want to know more of
this great love of God. I want to partner with him. And I want to unlock the
keys of the kingdom in others. We're here to bring the kingdom of God to the
nations, but we'll be fighting an enemy to get to those nations. That's why God
equipped us. Believers have the love of God in them, an authority from God,
incomparably great strength from the Holy Spirit, weapons to demolish
strongholds, the faith to bind and loose, and armor to protect us in
battle. I want to be a radical for
Christ. I don't want to live the norm anymore. I know that we're created for
something MORE. And I want to live
more. I want to love radically and live radically. I don't just want to read the Bible and think – wow, what a
cool early church, or, wow, that Paul – he was pretty amazing and did some
powerful things – what a super christian. I want to live it out myself. And I'm
hoping to find some others that will do it with me.
He's given
us the keys to the kingdom. So what are we doing with those keys?
If you're a
believer and you struggle with knowing what your purpose in life is... I want to
remind you that here it is! THIS
is the point of life!
I pray
also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know
the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in
the saints.
Ephesians
1:18
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Posted in 11 - Nicaragua by Melissa Gibson on 8/20/2009
"What about me?" asks Ben Linus. Jacob replies, "What about you?"
This scene from LOST (my favorite show) shows Ben finally meeting the one he's worked for his whole life. He's obeyed Jacob and worked faithfully for him, but has never met him. Jacob, being a kind of God figure who never ages and appears into peoples lives during a tragic moment to direct them onto their next path, has strict rules for those who comes to visit him on the island and only a few have actually seen him.
Ben's question, "What about me?" resonated with me. I've asked that question to God many times in different ways. Each one of us has this innate need within us to be known, recognized, to be identified by our talents and abilities. We want to be heard. We want our voices to be heard.
On this race, I've been surrounded by a new community. A bigger community of 50 squad mates that I see once a month and sometimes had the opportunity to join with in ministry, and the smaller community of 6 I've traveled with, lived with, ate with, cried and laughed with, and worked alongside of. Both, a new community of people I've had to get to know over 11 months. When my team formed, we became a "family" to each other for the race. Or should I say, God forged us into being family with each other. Not the one you choose, but the one chosen for you. They've been my brothers, my sisters, my new family, my tribe, for these months. Through the good and bad, we'd have to work out our differences because we'd be together for while. When surrounded by new people, there's something inside us that wants to be known. We'll do things to stand out, or we'll wait for others to notice us. We soon become identified by the things we do, how we act, our behavior, our personality, and what we say.
Often times, I've felt that even after 11 months, there are many aspects of myself that people haven't seen or will never know. I haven't fulfilled the roles I thought I would out here. I'm not known the way I thought I'd be known. Then I have those moments where my brain goes into this phsyco-analysis mode, wondering if the race has altered my personality and mellowed me out or maybe I was always like this and never realized it. My thoughts go into a tizzy, and short of feeling like I'm in crazy town, I stop thinking about it all and go back to smacking the mosquitos that are landing on my legs.
You get to a point on the race, and in life when you become disillusioned with self. Sometimes you don't even know who you are anymore, or you question aspects of your personality that you used to be confident in. I've found myself in this state often on the race. Maybe its due to all the extra time I've had to think about things.
I look back on this past year and wished I was a better servant, a better leader. I wished I loved my team more, or was a better discipler and spiritual guide to those God entrusted to me. I wished I served more selflessly or gave more generously. I wished I was a better storyteller or was funnier. I wished I was even more committed to pushing my teammates to greatness. I thought I was going to play so many roles on the race, but haven't.
Instead, this past year, I've often felt unknown, unidentified, misinterpreted and unheard. A follower.
When I talk to God, I tell him that I feel like I've failed by not fulfilling the roles I thought I would, and then I hear this question reverberating in my mind... "What about you?"
And all of a sudden, with those three words, he pulls me out of my mind for a moment and I realize once again – oh yeah, this isn't about me. It was never about me.
Funny how easy I forget this.
I left my home to travel around the world because I wanted Jesus to be known. But I've seen that I've wanted to be known too. Just as much.
Then God gently asks me, "Is it ok that you're not known?" "What if you're not remembered, are you ok with that?" "If you gave and gave and people were loved and brought closer to me, but didn't remember you – can you be ok with that?"
Of course my answer is yes. Then I think back to all those prayers I've prayed over the years - like a movie reel in my mind, All those times I told him ‘I would decrease so he would increase.' You know we've all prayed that at least once in our lives. Times I prayed that people wouldn't see me, but Christ in me.
Then he opens my eyes to show me that he's given me one small opportunity to do it and here I am wondering why this wasn't my time to shine.
A year ago, I envisioned myself walking away from the race with all sorts of warm fuzzies. Thinking I'd find new ministry and career opportunities that I thought my time on the race would create. I thought that God would finally reveal to me how I'm to use my passions and abilities for him. I thought I would get so close to God, that I would know his voice even more, that I would love him deeper. I heard so many stories of miracles that had taken place on previous races. I hoped that I would also get to see a miracle – that I'd get to pray over someone and see them healed before my eyes. I had heard of people getting raised from the dead in Africa, legs getting healed before their very eyes in India. I heard numerous stories of people, led by the Spirit, who were gathered for worship, fervently praying, and gold dust fell from their hands or people were covered in gold dust. I had never heard of this before, but I told God, I'm ready to go there. I'm ready for some gold dust! I don't want to miss out on any more of you because me.
If I've learned anything, its been focused on being more disciplined in listening to the Lord this year and acting on what I hear. Even if it doesn't make sense or makes me feel extremely uncomfortable, I do it in faith, believing God. I've prayed for hundreds of people on the race, around the world, to be healed. I prayed and laid hands on a guy in the Philippines who had Diabetes for 15 years and couldn't walk anymore. We visited him many times and had all the faith in the world that God could make him walk again. He was a believer and I thought, "what a great influence he could be in his impoverished squatter community of this life restored because of God." We prayed for him with bold mighty prayers. We even asked him to stand up. I mean, the guy had atrophy in his legs. He was used to crawling on his knees and only using his arms to move his body and we were praying he would stand up. He even tried. He mustered all the strength he could to pull himself up and stand. But couldn't. We'd go back days later and do the same thing. And the results were the same.
In Uganda, I prayed for Grandma Joy in a hut during our hut-to-hut visits. She was from a Muslim family, but I preached the Gospel anyway and shared stories of Abraham, Moses and other prophets they were familiar with. We were caught in a rainstorm, so I hung out with this family, kids and Grandma Joy until the rain stopped. Grandma Joy was blind, so I asked her if she believed God could heal her and restore her sight. She did. So I layed hands on her blind, cataract eyes, and boldly prayed and believed God would restore her sight and heal her. When I left the hut after the rain stopped, she didn't watch me leave.
Back home in the U.S., my best friend died, and my friends have lost babies due to illness. I never saw the miracles I thought I'd see. My prayers didn't heal anyone. My faith didn't change someone before my eyes.
And in the midst of all these thoughts... I hear a gentle whisper again, "What about you?"
I didn't see the miracles, but I still believe God. Maybe it wasn't about the miracle, or wasn't about me seeing the miracle, but it was all about my faith in God who can do the impossible.
I may not have seen a full-on miracle take place before my eyes, but I did see dead hearts who didn't know God, come to life. I saw eyes that didn't see Jesus opened and sight restored to see him and acknowledge him. I saw people filled with hope and courage once again because of our prayers and our faith. I've seen people have joy in the midst of pain. I've seen people believe in the midst of hopeless situations. All of which are still miracles.
I didn't gain or accomplish what I thought I would on the race, but God has certainly refined me. He's tested and tried me. He's sifted and chastened after me. He's revealed some truths to me, and plucked some weeds out of my life. He has taken me out and removed a lot of the things and people I found comfort in and brought me to a place where I'd be forced to trust him. He's called me into the unknown. Separated me, and made me rely solely on him. He's allowed me to live this crazy life on the road and go to the nations for him. I've become more aware of my dependence on Him and that I can't live without God's grace. I've experienced humility, brokenness and weakness. And in that weakness I've seen his strength.
As my teammate Joel, wrote in a recent blog, "it's the times when we're weak that we're most effective." Now I know, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but right here.
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Posted in 11 - Nicaragua by Melissa Gibson on 8/18/2009
Being on this race for 11 months, traveling around the world, will expose you to a lot of new experiences. Some easy, but most are difficult. The race also allows you to meet some amazing people from all over the world - in all walks of life. I've met some of the most selfless, most loving, dedicated, and most faithful people that I've ever met. Take Helen for example.
 Hellen is the current director at CICRIN, the orphanage where my team is serving for the month. Helen cares for 20 orphans, from a 1 year old up to 22 year olds who came from family members who either abused them, mistreated them or literally left them to fend for themselves. And she's been doing this for almost 20 years.
Twenty years ago, Hellen left her home country of Costa Rica for a three month getaway. After finishing college, she left to process life after her father passed away. She joined up with some friends who were running an orphanage in Nicaragua. Helen is fluent in Spanish and English, so she decided to lend her linguistic skills by serving as a translator at the orphanage. She spent 3 months serving the Lord there, helping out her friends, and falling in the love with the kids. But at the end of the 3 months, she was ready to go back home to Costa Rica. Her friends who ran the orphanage had an emergency that came up and told her they had to return to the States permanently and would have to close the orphanage unless there was someone who would stay and care for the kids. They asked her to consider staying.
She immediately said no. She had no interest in staying in Nicaragua and definitely not alone and wanted to go back home to Costa Rica to be with her family, her friends and to continue down the path she was establishing for herself. She prayed that God would not make her stay. But after spending time in prayer, it was undeniable what God was calling her to do. She didn't want to hear it, but God's voice was very clear and he was leading her to stay.
So, she decided to trust God and stay for a few more months until He raised someone else to come and take over for her. Seeing how she had no idea how to run an orphanage. I mean, she was only a translator, fresh out of college.
That was almost 20 years ago. And Helen is still at the orphanage. She is a single woman who has devoted herself and her life by giving it away. Her love and obedience for Christ drastically altered the course of her entire future. It's funny how when we make ourselves available for God to use however he wants. When we give over control to him – how he equips us for things we never thought we were capable of ever doing.
Helen has transformed CICRIN into a beautiful home for the orphans and the kids call her Momma Helen. CICRIN has become her home as the orphans have become her kids. She has to deal with the politics of operating an orphanage under a government who adds a complicated laundry list of requirements every year just to keep the orphanage open. Under the new government, about 11 orphans have been sent back to their abusive uncaring family members in the last year. We're praying that the government shows her and the orphanage favor and allows the kids to remain at CICRIN and receive the love, education and care they've been receiving for some many years at the orphanage.
Twenty years ago, Helen prayed that God wouldn't make her stay. Now, Helen prays that God would never ask her to leave.
She receives volunteers almost every month who come and help construct schools, better schools, build dormitories for the kids, feeding centers for the children in the local community. She relies on volunteers to come and help out with the construction projects, which often take years to finish because of the lack of volunteer staff.
She used what she had. A second language and God transformed her life which in turn has dramatically changed the lives and futures of 20 + kids in Nicaragua.
You don't need to have the skill to be used by God. He simply wants people who love him, trust him, and are willing to make themselves available for him to use. Maybe your at a point in life where you need some direction. Maybe you don't know what to do with your time off. Maybe you have gifts and talents that you don't get the opportunity to use. Or maybe you're tired of the rat race and ready to help someone else in need.
You don't need to be a superstar with all the talent and skill to be qualified. Just be available. Hitting some nails, mixing and pouring cement, laying brick for walls, making rebar doesn't require you to be a master constructionist in order to qualify for the job. Maybe you're tech savvy and know how to design websites. Maybe you like to cook and want to feed some hungry orphans. Maybe you're a teacher, an artist, a doctor, or a lawyer and want to offer your services to those who are less fortunate. Maybe you like playing games like duck-duck-goose or soccer and you like being with kids. Maybe you're ready to exercise your philanthropic muscle and make a corporate gift to some needy cause. Or maybe you've heard God call you to something and you're running the other way.
God doesn't need masters of skill. It helps, but it's not important. He just wants lovers. People who are willing to look beyond themselves and offer hope, love, and a helping hand to someone in need. You may just change a life in the process! Maybe even your own.
"One discovers their destiny on the road to avoid it"
This video was taken by a former World Racer one year ago who also visited CICRIN.
I wanted to give you a glimpse in video format of some of the kids here at CICRIN and life on the island.
Cicrin from natalie montgomery on Vimeo.
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Posted in 11 - Nicaragua by Melissa Gibson on 8/8/2009
This isn't deep, but I just wanted to give you a glimpse into what our travel days look like.
It took us 1 week to travel from Mexico to Nicaragua and here's the story...
I've learned that border crossings in Central America are quite adventurous. You never know what you're going to expect. We left Mexico the end of July, a bus and 3 hours later, we arrived at the Mexican/Guatemalan border thinking it would take a few minutes to cross.
Oh no.
We get there and were told we needed a certain stamp that one receives after they pay a certain fee, which we never knew about. So, we had to send 2 of our guys back into Mexico for 3 hrs until they found the bank and paid the fee.
Another waiting 3 hours, several warm ham and cheese sandwhiches later and 4 -6 hrs on the bus, we (team Clay and Banah) arrivedint Flores, Guatemala, a beautiful little island we stayed on for a couple days.
Two days later, we jumped on a bus for 4-6 hours to meet the rest of our squad in Antigua, Guatemala. Returning to Antigua was like a World Race home away from home because we stayed at the same hostel the end of June/beginning of July before we ventured off to Mexico. Spending a night there, we met the squad and jumped onto yet another bus for our long trek to Nicaragua.
Here's where it gets really interesting...
We passed through Guatemala / El Salvador border just fine. But we arrived at the El Sal/Honduras border a little late. Because of the political situation in Honduras, the Honduras border closes at 9pm and we didn't have enough time to cross over Honduras and DEFINITELY didn't want to get stuck in Honduras over night, so we were forced to spend the night in El Salvador. After spending a lovely evening at the Esmerelda Hostel, (and lovely means of course, sleeping on the floor/in the heat or in a hammock) on the border of El Salvador & Honduras, for the night. 5:30am the next morning, I lost my contact down the sink and spent 20 minutes trying to fish it out. After pulling the sink apart, and praying profusely that God would miraculously let me find my contact, I turned the water on in the sink and my contact landed in my hand! Praise God! We then took a bus from El Sal to Honduras. Oh, what fun! Just think... Hot, sticky, sweaty, and stinky. That sums up our 3 hour journey. Then, we get to Honduras/Nicaraguan border and spent 6 hours there. Mainly because they closed the border indefinitely. The whole issue with the president escaping to Costa Rica didn't help much. So, we sat in the sauna, I mean bus, for 6 hours. We sweated, stank, melted, prayed, worshipped and waited. We waited for God to act. We waited for favor for the border control to let us pass. We bribed. We payed. And finally, 6 hours later, we praised the Lord when we passed through the border. We were half passed out/zoned out from the heat, but I think we kinda realized what happened and were thankful as we sipped water through little plastic. ☺
Team Clay and Banah left the rest of the squad to journey to our final ministry destination to the island of Ometepe. We spent another 4 -5 hours on the bus, spent the night in Managua, Nicaragua thanks to our friend Jeff who generously put us up in teh Hilton for the night. Oh yes, it was a major treat! First time we felt A/C in 10 months. And honestly, the first time I really felt clean. Next morning, 2 hrs by bus and 1 hour by ferry and ended up our Island of Ometepe.
And that is a typical travel day or travel week for a World Racer.
I LOVE where we live for our last month of ministry. Yes, I've always wanted to live in L.A. and now I get to... in Nicaragua! We're staying at an orphanage where the kids have lived there for 9 years. They've basically grown up in this orphanage. We spend most of our days doing construction... building squatty potties ☺, laying brick, mixing and pouring cement, gardening, picking lemons, working in the kitchen and loving on the orphans. We eat mostly beans and rice... but we're used to that because that has been our steady diet all year. My mornings involve laying in a hammock, overlooking the lake, spending time with Jesus and reflecting on all the things this last year has taught me.
I'm working on a deeper blog that is all about what the World Race has meant to me. It's coming soon.
Thank you all for your support and prayers. I'm excited for these last 2 weeks of ministry before we head to Costa Rica for our final debrief. I can't believe the end of the Race is near. I'm excited for all the ways God has molded my heart over these last 10 months and what is still to come in these last remaining days.
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Posted in 10.2 - Mexico by Melissa Gibson on 7/26/2009
Roosters cock-a-doodling, dogs barking, turkey's gobbling, ducks quacking, people chatting, trucks passing by, and Spanish music blaring from every house with the base cranked up. In my tent, I unpeel my sweaty self from my 2 inch thick sleeping mat, wedge some ear plugs in, eye mask on, roll over and lay there for over an hour waiting/praying to drift back asleep as the noises blend together and the sauna I feel like I'm coasts me back to sleep.
This is the sound of village life in Mexico beginning at 5:00 AM. Some even get a head start on their day at 3AM. They pick corn, beans, and other crops to sell or eat for the day. They make corn tortilla's early in the morning to provide enough for each meal. And they don't pick up a package at their local store. They pick corn from the fields, rinse the kernals in the river after washing their clothes and themselves, grind the kernals, then make corn tortillas on a wood burning stove in their outside kitchen, where there's usually a few chickens and ducks walking around the floor. I learned quickly why they wake and work so early in the morning because it's blazing hot in the afternoon sun.
In this Mayan village we met Marcos, a 34 yr old, who pastors a small church about 20 feet from his house and chicken coop. We sat with Marcos one morning as he shared the struggles that some of the villagers are facing. Churches are divided. Presbyterians, Methodists, Penticostals work in silos never partnering together. Drunkenness is rampant. Men beat their wives. He shared a story of a husband who cheated on his wife, Rose, and she tried to commit suicide because of it. They went to a local congregation for help and the elders had no help for them. So people turn to witchcraft for direction and help during their crisis.
But Pastor Marcos just loves people. He doesn't care what church or if they're churched. He goes after them and loves them. I know he loves them and carries their burden because as we circled around Marcos to stand by his side in pray for the village, and for him, he wept aloud for these people in pain. He cried out to God through his tears on behalf of this couple and all other families who are in deep pain, suffering and need healing and need restoration. It was a powerful time of prayer as we all prayed out loud, each of us crying out to God on behalf of Rose, and her husband that God would heal their broken marriage and restore what satan wanted to destroy. Laura, another racer, shared that God had prompted her to pray for a woman named Rose as soon as she arrived in Mexico. It was clear that this was the Rose she'd been praying for. We prayed bold prayers, laid hands on Marcos, assured him that he's not alone in this work, spoke truth over Marcos that God has equipped and empowered him by the Holy Spirit and that God will strengthen him with incomparably great strength that raised Christ from the dead. We prayed for churches to re-unite, for pastors to love their congregation and be filled with the Holy Spirit. For God to bring to light what has been hidden in darkness. For broken families to be restored. For the drunks to be free and find hope in the only one that can satisfy.
Later that day, we met with Rose and her husband. Their kids played outside with the chickens as we sat in on a conversation spoken in their local Chole dialect. I saw Rose and her husband sitting side by side, but not touching. Rose was stiff as a board sitting in her wooden chair. Knees together, hands folded on her lap. Head and eyes staring to the ground. She never looked up. She never spoke. She never moved. It must have been 103 degrees in that room. We all sat on the floor. I lifted my legs up at one point and saw a puddle of sweat. We sat their with Marcos for over an hour as he ministered to them. And in the heat and sweat, we fought along side of him in intercession for him and the couple.
God kept telling me as I sat their that "Rose feels hopeless. That she has no self worth because she doesn't know what she's worth in Christ. He kept telling me that she feels unloved, forgotten, lives in fear, exhausted, and done. She's become hardened to protect herself from all the pain and fear.
The conversation in Chole ended. And we encircled around Rose, her husband and their children as a forcefield of prayer warriors. Each of us praying out loud, laying hands on them, and crying out to God on behalf of this family, their marriage, their children.. Prayers went out with boldness and power - again, asking bold things from God with bold faith because we worship a God who can handle it. He can heal marriages, reunite families, restore the broken-hearted, and bring life and hope to those who have lost it all. He can pull depressed hearts out of their pits of despair. He brings beauty and life to what has been destroyed by poor decisions. He makes despairing hearts glad again. He reminds people who they are - who He's made them to be and the thousands of promises he attaches with his love. He lives to intercede for them and is eager for them to turn to him.
God whispered to me, "tell Rose that I delight in her." "That she's beautiful and made in My image - fearfully and wonderfully made." He told me to read Psalm 139 to her so Marcos read it to her in Chole. We ended the prayer with worship by singing Majesty. Rose finally broke her silence. We don't know what she said but we trust that God will bring healing and hope to this family. This couple, with struggles like that of so many others in Mexico, that resemble some of the same struggles in Africa, India, Europe, and America.
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of our God's vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion;
to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
oil of gladness instead of mourning,
a garment of praise instead a spirit of despair.
And they will be called oaks for righteousness,
planted by the LORD for the display of his splendor."
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Posted in 10.2 - Mexico by Melissa Gibson on 7/20/2009
Once debrief finished in Antigua, fourteen of us (Team Clay and Team Banah) crammed into a tiny van and drove 17 hours over and through the hills of Guatemala all the way to Palenque, Mexico. Our contact and host, Eleazar, welcomed us to his Bible Institute Shekinah, where our home will be for this month.
We're sleeping at a Bible School in our tents. Our back yard is a jungle - full of snakes and tarantulas. I'm hot, sweaty, and dirty ALL the time - but I'm SO thankful to be back in the third world and I wouldn't trade this for anything.
Our first week of ministry in Mexico brought us to a prison. Fourteen of us hopped in the back of a truck (best mode of transportation) and drove off to the prison. I led worship for the inmates - and was surprised when they knew
"Open the Eyes of My Heart" - they sang in Spanish and I in English. Thankfully the day before, Eleazar, taught me the
only Spanish song I now know. So I put some chords to it and got the inmates to sing along. The main lyrics to the song goes like this:
Soy feliz, Cristo me salvo
Soy feliz, Cristo me salvo
Soy feliz, Cristo me salvo
Conto Halleluha, Cristo me salvo!
It translates to... "I'm so happy Christ saved me!" After worship, we performed the Set Me Free skit and shared a testimony. We saw many inmates broken and crying out to God after hearing some preaching. They in turn ended up praying for us with raised hands and sang us a song before we left. We couldn't take our cameras into the prison so no pics, but it was a neat time with the inmates.
After prison, we went to rehab! That's how we roll ... just another day in Mexico ;)
 
The rehab is for former alcoholics and its run by Immanuel, a former drug dealer and alcoholic. After spending 25 yrs in prison, he
gave his life to Christ and now pulls men out of their destitution and give them hope at the rehab center. He disciples these guys once they come off alcohol. We were invited to lead worship, do our drama, and share testimonies while our very own, Summer Smith, translated. We'd be lost with out Summer who is the only one of us who are fluent in Spanish. Thank you Summer!!
We stopped at a near by village with Eleazar and led a short program with songs for the kids, then stopped at the Cascadas (water falls) on the way back home.
Swam in a bat cave with waterfalls. The Predator was filmed here.
Then the Mexican fiesta began on July 14th when not one but two of team clay members, Tomina and I, celebrated our birthdays!
Everyone went to Agua Azul to cool off from the hot sun and constant
100 degree heat, jumped in the falls and had pepper and lime mango flowers on a stick.
Then had some fun Mexican style with a home madesun piñatathat
Lindsey and Tomina made out of a fan box and napkins.
It took an hour, 7 people, and finally a machete to bust that thing down.
 
Good times were had by all!!!
What's Next? ....
My team just finished debriefing ourselves from last months ministry in Croatia and we've seen how God is challenging each of us to break from the molds we are in and reach beyond our grasp to do things he's calling us that is beyond our capability or beyond what our flesh wants to do. It was a powerful and enlightening time for our family because we don't want to go home the same person we were when we left. We've seen God do powerful things around the world. He's healed the sick in Africa, he's raised dead hearts to life in Christ in Croatia, he's restored hope and joy in the Philippins, he's visited the forgotten villagers and underground believers in India, he's lived among the poorest of the poor in Africa. And we've been his hands and feet that have been used to do these things. These things can happen in America too, not just in Africa, India and Mexico.
We've been ATL'ing (Ask The Lord) about what God would have us do this month and he's allowed us to meet several pastors in the area where we've been invited to preach, as well as camp out in surrounding villages to minister to some indigenous children and youth caught up in alcoholism, and do home visits. We'll be in a village called Jerusalem for the rest of this week, and then some will go to another village 4 hrs away.
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Posted in 09 - Croatia by Melissa Gibson on 7/17/2009
Team at Calvary Chapel of Split and Clay
Here are some highlights of the ministry we did while we were in Croatia.
Ladies Bible Study with the locals
The team did street evangelism to those hanging out on the Riva
Split, Croatia - where we lived!
Summer and Elaina, a beggar she met during street evangelism. Summer visited her daily and got to pray that God would heal Elaina's back. During one visit, Elaina was excited as she stood up straight to show Summer that God answered prayer. Summer wasn't able to put coins in her hand, but she shared the love and joy of Christ.
Matko, Boris, Milos and me
These guys became great friends to us while we worked at the cafe. God used a select group of people for 6 yrs to do life with and disciple Matko, who remained resistant until Gods appointed time. Only by Gods divine plan, sense of humor, and creativity did he used Xbox and the love of "gaming" to build a instant connection with my teammate, Aaron, and through that relationship, conversations with the team, and prayer - God stirred Matko's heart til it was ripe for harvest. He gave his life to Christ and we were amazed seeing a dead heart rise to life. Read more Matko's story here! Milos and Boris are strong in the Lord and Milos was a constant encouragement and probably the smartest and tallest teenager I know.
Girls and their ice cream. Hanging with our new Croatian friends and local missionaries!
And I discovered my favorite - Fruity Bosco.
Suzana, the last one on the right, is an amazing woman of God and my new LOST buddy. If you ever shy away from street evangelism because you don't think it's worth the time, or you assume people won't want to listen to you share, or you feel uncomfortable walking up to strangers... ITS WORTH IT! Suzana came to Christ several years ago as a result of a street evangelism outreach effort led by Tim, our Croata contact and local missionary/Pastor. She has a vibrant spirit and is now part of the Calvary team. Another similar story is that of my first Croatian friend, Neno.
Neno, a former drug dealer, has a very colorful past which involved life on the streets, guns, drugs, women and alcohol. Going from one high to another and finding nothing, God found him and gave him the greatest high he'll ever find... a new life! He experienced forgiveness, hope, and love from Christ. He was also reached through street evangelism. Neno's now a vital part of the team as God uses him to minister to those from the life he was saved from.
Tiho is a regular at the cafe and came in daily sometimes to critique and perfect our cappaccino making skills, and other times to share good conversation, challenge us in our faith as he questioned why we believe what we believe, and he shared great friendship.
It was originally a difficult month for me as I experience some immense spiritual attacks and believed every lie I heard from satan and took every arrow he flung at me. It forced me to pray even more and to cling to the promises in God's word even when I don't believe it or feel it. Its still truth. I ended up seeing God work in amazing ways through my team, and God weeded some crap out of my own life and exposed areas of sin in me that I didn't realize were there. Stuff like pride, selfishness, a need to be recognized and heard. These times of stripping doesn't feel god, but I'm grateful I have people in my life that can be my mirror. Nothing like a little healthy dose of reality and rebuke from the Lord through teammates and friends. As Howard Hendricks says, "you need a soul brother, somebody who loves you but is not impressed by you."
God used it for good. He gave me a new lens in which to see through. I saw some teammates differently. He let me see the lies I was believing and picked me up out of my own lil' pit it make me fight harder to listen and believe the truth, and he revived me and rejuvinated me for the remaining 2 months of the Race.
Hebrews 12:6 It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects.
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