Australia: The Journey Ends...For Now, Day 12

Twelve days. That's how long I've been here. That's the longest I've been out of the country or away from home for that matter. It was a struggle to get here. It was long days and anxious nights. It was after a year of expecting to go, to accepting the fact that I was not going a few weeks before, to buying a plane ticket four days later.

For those of you who have been following this blog, you will have noticed that this trip was not for vacation nor for my own pleasure, but rather to follow the Lord. Yes I saw some sights and yes at times it did feel as if I was vacation, but none of that compares to what the Lord did here. In these two weeks 12 lives got changed eternally. People prayed. People told their stories, and people heard of Jesus Christ for the first time. The church here was blessed and we were blessed. It was amazing to see how the Lord moves halfway across the world. There were days I was out preaching the gospel and didn't care about being tired or wanting to stop. There were days where the people here fed me more spiritually than physically. Being here and serving here was not a must but it was a gift.

I stayed for nearly two weeks in the Chen's home. Two weeks is a long time to have people who are not your biological family live there. Yet, this family showered us with so much love and care that it's almost unimaginable. Every night when i returned from the day I felt like I was at home and not in a stranger's house. This is yet another sign that the church is family no matter where you are and the power of the love of Christ is shown through the saints.

So what am I doing on my last day here? I'm with the young people. The smell of a delicious dinner is escaping from the kitchen. The piano is alive with music. People are all around enjoying each other's company.  I don't think I'd have it any other way. This city has definitely rubbed off on me and holds an affectionate place in my heart. One day I hope to return and experience it in a new and different way. A way that includes even more Christ. To see fruit from our labor. To see Christ magnified in this city. To see that the church here has grown. I'm truly thankful for what the Lord has done here, for everything He put me through to get here, for the saints here, for the church and it's testimony here, and for all the love that was poured out. I pray that we all may continue to fight this good fight of faith. Praise be to God! For the last time of this trip and until next time, goodnight from Australia.

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit."~Ephesians 2:19-22