Lessons Learned and Stories from the Journey
I interrupt my current blog series (pulling from the life of John the Baptist) to share a bit of an update on my last “journey with Jesus.”
I made it home from Cyprus last night, after about an almost 40-hour trip door to door.
To say “I’m whooped” is not an exaggeration.
Yet, as I say those words, joy bubbles up and over.
My Lord met me on two different islands where the Apostle Paul set his feet, so many years ago.
Nearly 20 days ago, I stepped onto a plane in Durango and flew to Malta, ten days later I stepped off another flight in Cyprus.
There I spent my days with two incredible groups of volunteers, each of whom raised financial support to journey so far from home simply love on global workers and “bring them Jesus.”
Keep in mind, when we pay for these trips, we are also raising enough money to help scholarship one woman serving in a country that is not their passport country.
Our days start with breakfast and typically put us in bed no sooner than 10 PM. We don’t stop in between…not very often.
While our locations are peaceful, beautiful, and, hand-picked to bring soul-rest, we don’t go to “see the sites.”
We simply go to give of ourselves however the Lord chooses to use us.
He never fails to show up!
I tell you this, not because I’m trying to gain a pat-on-the-back, but because I find no greater joy than living out what I’ve been called to do.
Although, as I told the women one morning as I stood to speak, overlooking the turquoise blue waters of the Mediterranean, “I guess there could be worse places to speak…” 🤣
In a minute, I’ll share a couple of stories that will, hopefully, help you see what I return tired, but trumpeting the praises of my Lord, who still works miracles and showed me a little “taste of heaven.”
First, the Lord specifically gave me two personal purposes for being gone this long. Both of them came from Paul’s visits to these islands.
Because I arrived in Malta first…I’d invite you to read the account of his story in Acts 27 -28. Paul’s influence on this island still lives. There are vibrant examples of his ministry every where you travel. He brought the Word of the Lord, amidst a tragedy at sea and a near-death-experience from the bite of a poisonous viper. As a result, the lives of the Maltese people would never be the same.
It wasn’t the story that caught my attention as I read this history lesson in these chapters.
It was the etymology of the word: Malta.
From the Greek, Melite – literally, the name means “honey.”
As the Lord stirred my heart, I knew my first purpose in saying ‘yes’ to this trip was simple: to fulfill the true meaning of the word by bringing the Word-of-the-Lord (just as Paul did).
Of course, this Scripture popped into my head:
The Cyprus story is found in Acts 13. There, Paul and Barnabas have a run-in with a false-prophet named Bar-Jesus. As Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit rebukes this fellow, he says these words, “…will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord (verse 10)?” Actually, his brutal honesty is pretty reminiscent of John-the-Baptist, right?
Purpose #2 – Keep preparing the way of our coming King with straight paths…an unquestioning road directly that leads directly to His heart.
If you’re still with me….these aren’t just lessons for me.
They simply aren’t meant for women who came to Malta and Cyprus to retreat, regroup, and return to their areas of service renewed.
These words are meant for us all.
Prepare straight paths to the coming King (who is the Word – Logos) using the sweet honey of Truth from the Word (the Logos).
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If you want to keep reading, here are a couple stories that stand out to me.
In Malta, a woman came from Eastern Europe (undisclosed location). She arrived battle-weary, – emotionally, spiritually, physically, literally exhausted. She did not really want to be with us, but her sending organization felt she needed this retreat. From the get-go she let us know this in no uncertain terms. We asked her to “just try.” Come to one of the sessions and see what happens. She did. She kept coming back. I also had the privilege to be her counselor and we spent an hour together, as she unloaded, sifted through the scattered pieces of her story, and tried to put the picture back together to make some semblance of sense. She got her hair cut, enjoyed a pedicure, and spent another hour just praying with another volunteer. On the last morning, I joined her for breakfast. I asked her what she would take away with her from the retreat. She responded, “I’ve never been to a retreat like this. It’s the best I’ve ever participated in. You care for the whole person, give and love and sacrifice, and I received more than I could have ever known possible.” I have to say, over the days we met, her entire demeanor changed. The Lord truly gave her a reset.
In Cyprus, we had women who joined us from Ukraine, Russia, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan…I think you are getting the picture. The last night is always a night of worship, followed by communion. The women from Israel, held hands with the women from Lebanon, walked together to the communion table to gather the elements, then stood in a circle of unity and shared in the Lord’s Supper together. Later they told us, one of them laughed as she teasingly asked, “Should we even be doing this?” Laughter to tears. Yes! Yes! Here was a little picture of heaven. Oh, how, I sensed the Lord smiling. More tears. How good is our God?
Besides speaking and counseling, I co-facilitated a small group of 6 women. One of the gals, who came with a friend, evacuated Ukraine at the beginning of the war to Poland. She speaks Ukrainian, Polish and Russian. Not much English. The first night, I must be honest, I wondered, “Lord, how will this even work? You somehow need to be a translator…” Google Translate became my best friend, as she turned on the microphone during the speaking sessions and translated my messages, as we discussed together in the small group. Then one of our Israel gals (who grew up in Germany) discovered they could communicate in Russian…and, this was God’s best for sharing heart to heart. However, EVEN IF, we had not been able to work through the communication barriers, all the gifts we bring to surprise the ladies with daily spoke to this sweet young woman. She was so moved by the presents. Daily she came to tears as she received one-more-gift-of-love. She told us, “Never have I received so many gifts. That you came all this way to bring me this, to love me, to go the extra mile to communicate with me, and to pray over me every day, says more to me about the love of God than I have ever understood.”
This is why I go…
God shows up, works miracles, transforms lives, and unveils a little picture of heaven.