To all those vagabonds living it out loud in the states,
This morning I woke up with you all on my mind. As I went for my morning run, I prayed for you and asked the Lord if there was anything i could say (or write) to help encourage you along this journey. Basically, the response i got was "tell them what i told you".
You have to start taking steps before I can direct your path...
Plain and simple. Don't know how theologically correct it is, but He also laid Proverbs 3:5-6 heavy on my spirit and there's no arguing with scripture. Please, don't take this message as arrogance on my part, but as a feeble attempt to encourage your spirit from a broken individual who walked in your shoes. I know how challenging it is to return "home" after these 11 months - it tests us in areas we were not expecting. From reading your blogs and personal e-mails, I know that each person is individually unique. Amen for that. Some of you are doing amazing. Some are pretending to be amazing but are suffocating on the inside. Some feel like crap and others are being stirred and challenged to bring the kingdom here and now right where you are. It is OK to be feeling everything you are feeling...
But there comes a time when you gotta stop living off emotion, past memories, and current racers' blogs and start taking baby steps again. Stand on your Blessed Assurance. I, too, finished the race in Nov exactly one year before you all. I relished December - being back home with friends and family - eating cookies and making ginger bread houses. Then January came and any friends and family that i had in the area returned to work. Silence filled my days. I loved it at first and know that it was a gift from God. I would spend hours with Him and get lost in the day. I would being looking through a cooking book, see a recipe for chicken curry and tears would start to fall as i would flashback to thailand... (I'm guessing you all understand).
In this time I became addicted to reading your blogs. A new, eager bunch of individuals ready to take off and conquer the world. I got sucked into your world and lived the Kingdom vicariously though you. Little did you know:) Then the end of January came and went and February rolled around. And i was still sitting in the living room, getting high off race memories and your blogs! I praise the Lord that I was still plugged into the word, otherwise i fear it may have gotten scary. God was gentle, yet firm with me. It was the first week of February when it radiated through my spirit. (I had just finished a phone conversation with Seth Barnes.)
You have to start taking steps before I can direct your path...
By faith, that very day I decided to start walking again. I didn't know where I was going, but i was walking. I came aboard with AIM and started to help with mobilizing others to join the World Race by telling stories and sharing in churches, colleges, rotary/kiwanas clubs, womens/mens breakfasts, youth groups, etc. But my heart really stirred with the whole idea of Matt.10 (second year discipleship phase of the race). I saw how difficult the rebound could be and wanted to help provide an outlet for those who had finished the race and yearned for a more intense, community and prayer driven Matt 10 experience. I wrote up the plans, proposed it to AIM and was planning on leading a group of 8 individuals to South East Asia this past fall to focus on Human Trafficking.
I was taking steps. And the Lord directed them in a different direction. Which took me some time to digests, but my mind kept flashing back to what the Lord had spoken earlier..."You have to start taking steps before I CAN DIRECT YOUR PATH ." Standing upon this truth, I accepted the position to lead the July '08 race. (Though scared out of my mind!). And it has been a huge blessing to my life! The Lord is teaching more and more about loving and how to lead out of HIS LOVE. I never could have imagined that I would love this crazy bunch of radicals as much as i do!
Looking back a year ago, I never would have expected that i would be over halfway finished with my second World Race typing this letter to you all. But the Lord knew...He just knew i needed a kick in the butt to get me up on my feet walking again so He could lead me forward on our amazing journey.
I know that The World Race and AIM are not in all of your futures. And that's OK. But I pray that Jesus is and that in these coming months you fall more in love with Him than you have ever been before. Just start taking those steps because you never know where they may lead...
Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions. I would be honored to pray for each of you specifically, but know that not only myself, but the whole July '08 squad is praying for you all!
Oh how I love life. You type up a blog, finally expressing all those wonderful little thoughts that are floating around in that head of yours...and it disappears into that great abyss of cyberland - a pile of thoughts that at one moment had aspirations to be somebody. To change somebody. To change the world. Only to find itself trapped once more in the head of the one who thunk it.
Sorry self. I know that you aspire to influence. Just not today. Just not today. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe...
Yeah, maybe you can change the world tomorrow. Tomorrow will always be there.
The blank screen sits smuggly in front of me. Staring at me. The cursor blinks - laughing and taunting me.
My fingers dance over the keys, yet no words appear.Is it really worth it?
* * * *
It's 10:19pm on New Years Eve. I could be dancing the night away in the shadow of Big Ben or throwing back some brewsky in the local pub. Yet, I sit here. In front of the computer screen with my thoughts. My hood up over my head and a blanket wrapped around my shoulders. Sitting...with a trusted friend. A computer screen that has become home over the past 2 1/2 years. A screen that has illustrated my life and painted pictures. A screen that has died and come back to life. A screen that persevers to tell the stories and draw you into what the Lord is doing all over the world.
And above all, a screen that connects me with YOU. If you are reading this right now, the YOU in the previous sentence means YOU! It's not really about the computer. It's about all of you that I have met around the world and all of you back home that have been praying for me and supporting me over the past few years. So, as I stare at the blank screen, I think of you. Memories swirl into one amazing journey that the Lord is orchastrating before my very eyes.
As I wrote earlier (in the blog that ended up in cyber space), as humans in this crazy world we live in, we do not have very many assurances. The world, as we know it, has very little to put our hope in. As I look ahead, I feel the Lord is challenging me. Thus, he is also challenging you. He is challenging us to stand on HIS BLESSED ASSURANCE.
The Lord is calling us (at least the July '08 WR squad) to go on offense. No longer are we going to sit, waiting for the darkness to attack until we bring the kingdom...but we are going on offense. As we move into Africa, we are going to push back the darkeness and boldly advance the Kingdom. Why?
Because we have Blessed Assurance - or TRUTH - to stand on:
1) Who God is(Love, Provider, Rock, Abba)
2) Who I am in Christ(daughter of the King, Beloved, heir to the Kingdom)
3) What promises this holds for me(all that is His is mine, freedom, LIFE)
4) What promises this holds for the world (complete restoration and hope)
5) How this affects and changes my interaction with the world...
...think about this one for a while and let it sink in....
Is your faith affecting how you live? Read Hebrews 11.
Is your story written there? Look harder...Is it?
Can your story begin with "It was by faith that _____ (fill in your name)..."
Yes, there is always tomorrow to step out in faith. But why not start today... Because tomorrow could bring another day filled with "tomorrows". And tell me if I'm wrong....
But I don't believe a life story that begins with "It was by faith that...." took place in a tomorrow.
Posted in Thailand '08
by Stephanie Fisk
on 12/23/2008
Borders are crazy, hectic places. While in Thailand, some of us got to cross in to Burma for a day and visit the Golden Triangle (where Thailand, Burma and Laos touch...kinda like the four corners in the States). Again, borders are random...enjoy the photos!
Ladies all over the streets selling dried fruit and nuts. China is only 100 km north of this point, and I could see the huge influence it had on the products being sold. (Jan '07 racers - I even found those "Chestnuts roasting over an open fire" - oh the memories!)
Burmese like their white face make-up. It prevents sunburn and is also seen as beautiful.
Yes, we saw a midget monk. I admit we may have stared a bit longer than culturally appropriate. But we didn't know when we would come across this one of a kind opportunity again. God Bless him!
Now we are on the Burma side. A man and his ride...yes, they really sit like that for fun.
Our tuk-tuk driver. This is a fun story. So, from past experience, I thought that we would probably have a burmese individual 'assigned' to us once we crossed into Burma. But they don't tell you that. They just follow you around...where ever you go...they may disappear for a minute or two...until they pop up in some unexpected place once you think they have gone for good. Now this might sound stalkish - and it kinda is - but that's the essence of the Burmese government...control.
So, after about 1 hour of meandering through the market, we finally give up and take the town tour. At first we just asked him if he would like to hang out with us for the day - which he did - but our curiosity got the best of us and we wondered what was beyond the tourist market. (below - Josh and Tara Bruce have been putting a "Love Wins" sticker in every country. Our tuk-tuk driver was the proud recipient for Burma)
Below: the six of us (plus a retired doctor from Nevada) at the Golden Triangle. As you can tell from the photo that both Thailand and Laos are to our sides. Burma is directly behind us. This is one sad point on the map. It's known around the world for it's opium trade and human slave trade.
While we were taking a boat tour, they brought us past a huge casino that straddles these three borders. Our ministry contacts warned us about this place. It houses 6-7 brothels. Women and children from China, Thailand, Burma, Laos, and Vietnam are brought here to get 'broken in'. This is often a first stop on the trafficking of her body. And all I could do was pray as I floated by in a boat. Talk about frustrating!!!
Again, please pray for these women and those that are trafficking them. And pray for the Burma, Thailand and Laos borders.
Posted in Thailand '08
by Stephanie Fisk
on 12/21/2008
Last year, I had the
honor of leveling the ground (with a potato sack and my trusty ol' muscles) to
help make way for a church building in Bandin, Thailand. A year later I was able to return to see the
finished product. Not only was I able to
see physical church structure, but witness the power of the church in
action. Beware! What you read may cause an uprising in your
spirit. It's not blasphemy or
make-believe, but a powerful encounter with our Maker that I witnessed first-hand.
Journal exert from November 19th: "In light of the spiritual warfare that went down
tonight: We must stand on the truth of
who God says He is (His character). And WHEREVER
He is worshiped as King, Lord and Master â€" THERE IS HIS KINGDOM. When we enter God's presence, any part of us
that is not surrendered must go. We may
either lay it down at his feet...or some pretty intense warfare for our soul will
pursue. Again, if we are believers and
have given control of part of our soul to another Master â€" money, food, idols,
relationships â€" then a spiritual battle will be inevitable. Do not focus on Satan and evil; but keep your
focus and adoration on the King. He is
worthy to be praised at all times â€" especially at the front lines of battle."
In many parts of the world where the spiritual dimension is
acknowledged, it will enter the earth through physical manifestations. While I was worshiping alongside the Karen body
in Bandin, this theory presented itself in very real form.
A local women had given her heart to Jesus. But, previously, she had been married to a
witchdoctor and had relinquished part of her spirit to the devil. Imagine the battle that has been taking place
from the minute she had committed herself to serving the Lord. Yes, we are
totally forgiven and spotless upon accepting the Messiah, but the sanctifying process
continues throughout our lifetime. And
the devil didn't like it when she began to worship God as her King.
We had been praising the Lord and praying over each other
for about 20 minutes when moans began to erupt a few feet in front of me. She started jumping up and down screaming, as
though trying to shake something out of herself. She ended up falling on the floor, shaking,
yelling, vomiting â€" a couple individuals gathered around her, speaking in
tongues and praying like crazy.
The spirit needs to be battled in the spirit.
While that was going on, I was praising the Lord like crazy. He inhabits the praises of his people. His Kingdom was here and He was King. The devil had no place here, but oh was he
putting up a fight. I hadn't felt the Lord's divine presence and sovereignty
like that in a long time.
My spirit was not anxious, but I knew who had already won
this battle. Jesus.
You know how in the Old Testament during the battle they would send out the
worshipers ahead of the army. I now see
why this is key. The battle is, first and
foremost, in the spiritual realm. We need
to enlist the Holy Spirit to knock out the evil spirits. That's when we step into the realm of the
impossible. That's where we kick the devils butt.
After about 20 more minutes the atmosphere shifts. Everything falls quiet and peace settles over
everyone. The demon has literally ‘left
the building'. We continue to praise God
and thank Him for his power and might. Though still a bit shaky, the woman stands to her feet victoriously.
Please pray for the body of believers in Bandin. About half of the village is Christian and
the other half is involved with Buddhism and/or ancestral worship and
witchcraft. So, needless to say, this spiritual war is far from over.
Posted in Thailand '08
by Stephanie Fisk
on 12/19/2008
"It still felt more comfortable to think of them as a tragic mass
rather than as anything like the individual people that I knew and cared about
back home." Gary Haugen, president
of International Justice Mission, in response to his reaction when he came
face to face with thousands of hutus and tootsies slaughtered in the Rwanda
genocide.
So, when you were 24 years old, did you ever think about
crossing a very dangerous border in order to deliver medicine to kids... most of
who are orphaned. Right now, these
hungry, scared children are hiding in a jungle in order to prevent their
capture by the Burmese rebels; their capture would enslave them as child soldiers. They would be abused, raped, instilled with
fear, and turned into killing robots. And they may be only 5 years old. Now, imagine rescuing and bringing 4-5 of these kids back with
you...through the jungle, past the border guards with big guns...into a refugee
camp along the Thai/Burma border and into a home.
Though this Truth may sting you, it's very REAL to me. This 24 year old is my friend. He is Karen (a marginalized Hilltribe group),
and his people are being killed just because they are Karen. Right now he is being CHRIST with skin on by
risking his life for the sake of another. He is the main "actor" (other than God of course) in the story above. His exact location right now is unknown, but
he is supposed to return to Thailand in one or two weeks. So, please get on your knees and pray for both
his and the children's safe return. Let
God bring this foreign story home to dwell in your spirit.
The Karen are a persecuted people group found mainly in
Burma and Northern Thailand. They
migrated south from Mongolia/Tibet hundreds of years ago and have been targeted
for ethnic and religious persecution for the better part of a century. Theirs is a silent death. The world does not hear. The ignorant ear is a deaf ear. This is difficult to hear, I know, because it was
me up to a few years ago. Ignorant is
bliss. Now that I know, I'm
accountable...so you are going to find out!
Do not let the generalization overwhelm you to the point of lethargy. Let the ONE motivate you. Let my friend turn your compassion into
passion and action.
Amen that God has a special place in his heart for the poor,
broken and abused. This is very evident
in the fact that many Karen (and other Hilltribe groups) are turning to the
Lord with passion and commitment. While
I was in Northern Thailand, I had the privilege of meeting many spiritually hungry Karen
pastors at a pastor's conference. Many
of these individuals are bearing the weight of shepherding a growing church
body in multiple villages. They trek
miles each day through the mountains in order to encourage and teach the
body...with maybe one meal of rice a day...while providing for their own earthly
family as well.
I cannot even begin to understand the load they bare in His
Name...and joyfully! In fact, because they are Christians, this is a reason for
their persecution. Through a worldly
perspective, they just can't win. But
through God's eyes, thousands are being reborn and are finding true refuge in
God Himself.
I was so blessed to be able to reunite with my American and
Karen friends while I was back in Thailand. Returning to work alongside their ministry is looking very favorable in
my future. The partnership that is
taking place within this ministry is beautiful. A true picture of the
body. An American and Karen couple share forces. From this relationship,
they minister to the people throughout Northern and Western Thailand and the
refugees on the Thai/Burmese border. Through their interaction, they empower the local Karen people to
realize their dreams in order to reach their own people.
One example of this empowerment is the young man mentioned
above. God has placed it on his heart to
rescue the kids living on the border by providing a refuge within a refugee
camp. Another amazing family is seeing
their dream come true of building a bible school. Another dream of the Karen couple is to
provide a Christian home/boarding school for orphaned/poor Hilltribe
children.
Honestly, I am ready to put down roots and dig into a people
group and a community where I can build lasting relationships. I am ready to invest. But, now is not the time. At least in the physical. Though I cannot live there yet, I can still
contribute in other ways. The Lord has
spoken to me 1) Pray 2) Where your money goes, there your heart follows. So, start giving. 3)
Share their stories. Some of you have already been a part of this ministry
both spiritually and financially. Thank
you!
I love the Karen. And
I hope the Lord starts connecting your hearts also...
Posted in World Race '08
by Stephanie Fisk
on 12/16/2008
*So, consider this a blog bonus! Not part of the thailand trio that's coming your way...
What is one thing I miss the most from home? A Kitchen.
Some of my favorite days on the race have been spent in fellowship with those in "kitchens" around the world. I admit it. I'm a foodie. It's a little known fact that talking about food can elevate my voice and widen my eyes (i'm just picturing some of you from back home cracking up about now!). I love everything about it...cooking it, baking it, eating it, serving it; not to mention recipe surfing, checking out the local restaurants or road-side stands in search for the wierdest most unusual thing out there. ...but most of all, I love the fellowship and conversations that flow from it. A creative outlet where my love can bless others.
Whether it's making tortillas in Mexico or Manualitas in Nicaragua...
Papusas in El Salvador (I asked the cook if i could come into the kitchen and watch!)
Argentinean Empenadas in Guatemala or Guinea Pig in Peru
Goat in Mozambique
Steak in South Africa or Pap in Swaziland
Dumplings in China
Curry and papaya salad in Thailand or sweet and very strong coffee in Vietnam
or lamb and califlower curry (Pakistani) in London (which i just made today!)
I thank the Lord for those who have invited me into their kitchen all over the world...it has been an honor to learn from you. Most of you know it's a dream of mine to one day have a house of hospitality - with the focal point being an international kitchen. A table that invites people into the world through 'taste...and see that the Lord is good.' A fellowship that feeds the spirit - not only physically, but emotionally, spiritually and socially.
Again, enjoy the video. This actually is a bit overdue - it's from a kitchen in Nicaragua a few months back!
Posted in Thailand '08
by Stephanie Fisk
on 12/16/2008
Since I cannot blog much about my current experience in London,
I will take this opportunity to tell stories about last month. Most of my time was spent in Northern
Thailand – my favorite'ist' place on the face of the earth. If I were to keep you all in the dark about
this experience, I would be leaving you out of a very special part of my heart,
and dare I day...God's heart.
Most of you know that my heart was captured by the people,
the ministry and the landscape a year ago. My return felt like I was going home. It felt natural. In some ways it
felt like I never even left.
During this time, I was able to spent time with the people I
met last year, explore new ministries and revisit Burma and the Burmese refugee
camp.
Once upon a time, a small group of racers ATL'ed it to Eden.
By this, I mean we had no plans, prayed for God to show the
way, and He sent us to Eden. Eden House
in Chaing Rai, Thailand to be exact. A
home for young girls who are considered "at risk".
I know it's already been said that Northern Thailand is "the
most magical place on earth" (at least in my opinion – Do I have any backers?),
so I wanted others on my squad to get bit by the bug and fall in love with it also. Well, I think the bug bit each one of them! Anyways, there we were – all 6 of us – in Chiang
Mai having breakfast. We had just
arrived the night before and were eager to get praying all together. We knew God had us here for a reason, we just
didn't know the ‘details' yet.
So, we pray. And we
wait. And we eat. And we
talk. And we listen.
Then our answer walks up to us in a form of a man. He heard us talking and could not dismiss
us. I do not know if he realized at that
point that he was an answer to our prayer. I had not even gotten the
chance to finish my banana pancake yet. He
asked us what we were up to. We said we
had no plans other than meeting and serving God up here for the next 10
days.
He smiled and continued on. He shared about Eden House. Him (Vern) and his wife (Audrey) are
parents to 33 girls – Thai and Hilltribe (Ahka, Karen, Hmong, Lahu, -
marginalized tribes in the mountains of N. Thailand). Then he said the magic words, "We are leaving
at two o'clock this afternoon if you would like to catch a free ride with us in the back of our truck." That offer turned into dinner, that turned
into a free place to sleep, that turned into ministry, that turned into relationships...answered
prayer after answered prayer...
God fit each one of us into tHIS equation...
Johnny is bike expert. And they just so happened to need 10 bikes fixed up...
Tara and Shanda are artists...and a white wall in one of the
children's bedrooms was calling out for a mural...
Josh, the jokster...had an even match waiting for him in Vern...
Audrey found willing and ready hands in Marissa and
myself. She had at least 100 bookmarks
that need to be cross-stitched by the end of the week...and this was not just any cross-stitching, but I learned the handiwork of the Ahka hilltribe!
And, on a personal note – other than learning how to make sticky rice and other Thai culinary delights - God showed me his grace. Once again, He showed me his heart for kids
who are at risk of being trafficked and sold for the purpose of sex. He showed me a bright side of this dark plague. He showed me that He IS a refuge and that he
IS rescuing his children from the hands of the enemy.
This hope came in the form of an ‘A-ha moment'. You know those times that you look around and
everything just clicks. The time, the
place, the people, the situation...it was just so...PERFECT. It was a Sat. night and I was sitting,
cross-stitching, with 20 of the younger girls. We were watching the Tom and Jerry cartoons. Let me repeat this. I didn't catch it at first either. It's subtle...until firecrackers explode in
your spirit. I was watching Tom and Jerry
with 20 precious daughters of the Most High King...20 innocent girls who were NOT
victims of human desire, but daughters who were actually able to be KIDS.
Last year I remember telling someone – I think I actually
wrote it in my journal – "It's not fair that these kids (referring to girls in
SE Asia who are sold as sex slaves) are having to service multiple men each
night when they are supposed to be doing their math homework and watching TOM
AND JERRY."
This statement exploded in my mind and brought tears to my
eyes as I smiled at the sea of shiny black heads who's eyes were glued to the
television. I laughed to myself as I realized
the clincher. Earlier that afternoon I
had seen a few of these girls doing their math homework!
Please watch the video of Eden House below. A lot of these girls are the individuals with
whom we got to share Jesus, eat curry, laugh and watch Tom and Jerry.
( Destiny Rescue is another great organization that we had the privilege of working with one evening. They, too, are dedicated to rescuing women
and kids from risky situations. While we
were up there, they had to cancel plans of taking us 4-wheeling through the
mountains. We were a bit
disappointed. But, come to find out, something
a TAD more important came into their radar...and that just might have included
rescuing some girls from a nearby brothel...)
On December 3rd, 8 days after our original scheduled flight, we were able to fly out of Bangkok. Only we landed in England instead of South Africa. Did we get lost? Maybe. But I choose to believe that God had other plans in mind - and that included London for the Christmas season. Crazy, I know. But true none-the-less. This definitely tops my UNEXPECTED chart! Here's a quick recap to get you all back aboard the journey and into the prayer loop.
)
The week of being held in limbo in Bangkok - though frustrating - was a Godsend. The squad pushed through it beautifully. One afternoon we ATL'ed it (Ask The Lord) and some of us ended up inside one of the universities talking with English students (above). We asked them what they thought of all that was happening in their country in regards to the political uprising and airport riots. One girl's father was a soldier at the airport, so she didn't like the riots, while another girl was pro-uprising because she wanted to see the prime minister kicked out of office. We also got in some juicey gossip that the Queen was actually supporting the protestors because she too wanted the Prime Minister outsted. (Which make sense because the Prime Minister was seen as a direct threat to the King.)
I spent many hours in the Etihad Airlines office alongside the other hundreds of stranded passengers. (In fact, the day we finally flew out, I believe the Bangkok Post read that over 350,000 tourists were currently stuck in Bangkok.) Though, on the surface, one would not know anything was going on, the negative undertone of the uprising was growing and we were feeling more and more pressure to find a way out of the country. We did not feel in any way threatened, but didn' t want it to come to that.
So, a decision had to be made and we decided to take the next plane out of there...even if the destination wasn't South Africa. They could promise us a flight out in the morning to London, but had no idea when they would be able to fly us to Johannesburg. So we accepted and God got all 32 of us on one plane (which was a miracle) to London with a layover in Abu Dhabi.
The process of actually getting out of Thailand was classic. They bused us to a conference center in Bangkok where we got our ticket, passed through 'security' and hung out for a few hours. Around midnight we loaded our bus (as they took our airplane tickets) and transfered us about 1 hour south to the military base. There we waited for another few hours on the bus...b/c we were on a military base they couldn't let us wander around. By 4:30am we loaded our plane and at 5am saw the light at the end of the tunnel. We were free of Thailand and headed to England. (Thought I do admit my heart is NOT free from Thailand. Nor will it ever be.)
Then we landed in England. And it was cold...
But the Lord had gone ahead of us and prepared the way. The YWAM base in London let us crash there for a few days before we located our ministry for the month. A day after I arrived, I was able to catch a bus up to Oxford to catch John's last performance of Barber of Seville! It was crazy seeing him knowing that the next day he would be back at home giving my parents a hug from me. The opera was amazing and seeing a friend from home was a huge blessing.
London will be tricky. It's like returning home. Only we still have half the race left. A re-entry that's really not the end. A test. The perfect test. Will I still choose to serve my Savior as my Lord and Master while I am daily confronted with worldly distractions? Will I get caught up in consumerism once again? It's X-mas for crying out loud... Simplicity. Abandon. Poverty. Are they only figments of my imagination?
Poverty. That's funny. Originally I was going to be holding orphans over the holidays...amongst the poorest of the poor in the dirt of Swaziland. Poverty. Poverty. Poverty. The devil is sneaky. Poverty is here. It lives in the hearts of the rich. The rich don't need a Savior. While it might not be apparent upon first glance, I am sleeping amongst orphans. Sleepy spiritual orphans. England needs a Savior this Chrismas. England need to be awakened by her Lover. (Below: Oxford University)
Some people in London are awake and they are praying for a revival. And they were praying for more workers. More harvest hands. And here comes 32 individuals ready to bring HIS KINGDOM and GLORY to this nation. We are an answer to their prayers and they are an answer to ours. God smiles.
This month we are working alongside an organizaiton that does cross-cultural minstry in and around London. Due to the nature of the outreach, I am not allowed to publicly share anything more than this. I can say that GOD will be elevated above all other god's this Christmas season and that I believe others will see with new eye's. Sleepy men and women will awaken. And new brothers and sister will receive the only true gift of the season - Life. Jesus. God in the form of a Savior. Truth in the cry of an infant. Hope in the grasp of tiny fingers...
If you want to know how you can be praying specifically for me and the squad this month, please e-mail me (stephanie.fisk@gmail.com) and I will let you know. God bless.
I can not believe that I am already half way through with another World Race...
2008 brought Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and now England...
2009 brings Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa, Swaziland...Romania, Ukraine, Moldova...with a few God
surprises thrown in here and there...
The more I live, the more I realize the journey is not about the place. It's about God, the people, and me. It's about how our journeys intertwine. It's about how we love each other. It's about Him and His Kingdom.
God is reflected in each and every person I meet. We are created in his image. Can you picture that? Can you even begin to fathom his REFLECTION? The more I learn, the less I know. What a journey, heh?
I still wake up each day in need of a good pinch. I don't understand this great gift that I call my life. A blessing from my Maker who loves me. What a magnificant Father I have:)
Enjoy this video. One of my squad-mates, Katie, made it in honor of our halfway mark.
I was taking steps. And the Lord directed them in a different direction. Which took me some time to digests, but my mind kept flashing back to what the Lord had spoken earlier..."You have to start taking steps before I CAN DIRECT YOUR PATH ." Standing upon this truth, I accepted the position to lead the July '08 race. (Though scared out of my mind!). And it has been a huge blessing to my life! The Lord is teaching more and more about loving and how to lead out of HIS LOVE. I never could have imagined that I would love this crazy bunch of radicals as much as i do! 
It's 10:19pm on New Years Eve. I could be dancing the night away in the shadow of Big Ben or throwing back some brewsky in the local pub. Yet, I sit here. In front of the computer screen with my thoughts. My hood up over my head and a blanket wrapped around my shoulders. Sitting...with a trusted friend. A computer screen that has become home over the past 2 1/2 years. A screen that has illustrated my life and painted pictures. A screen that has died and come back to life. A screen that persevers to tell the stories and draw you into what the Lord is doing all over the world. 
Below: the six of us (plus a retired doctor from Nevada) at the Golden Triangle. As you can tell from the photo that both Thailand and Laos are to our sides. Burma is directly behind us. This is one sad point on the map. It's known around the world for it's opium trade and human slave trade. 
Last year, I had the
honor of leveling the ground (with a potato sack and my trusty ol' muscles) to
help make way for a church building in Bandin, Thailand. A year later I was able to return to see the
finished product. Not only was I able to
see physical church structure, but witness the power of the church in
action. Beware! What you read may cause an uprising in your
spirit. It's not blasphemy or
make-believe, but a powerful encounter with our Maker that I witnessed first-hand. 
So, when you were 24 years old, did you ever think about
crossing a very dangerous border in order to deliver medicine to kids... most of
who are orphaned. Right now, these
hungry, scared children are hiding in a jungle in order to prevent their
capture by the Burmese rebels; their capture would enslave them as child soldiers. They would be abused, raped, instilled with
fear, and turned into killing robots. And they may be only 5 years old. Now, imagine rescuing and bringing 4-5 of these kids back with
you...through the jungle, past the border guards with big guns...into a refugee
camp along the Thai/Burma border and into a home. 
I was so blessed to be able to reunite with my American and
Karen friends while I was back in Thailand. Returning to work alongside their ministry is looking very favorable in
my future. The partnership that is
taking place within this ministry is beautiful. A true picture of the
body. An American and Karen couple share forces. From this relationship,
they minister to the people throughout Northern and Western Thailand and the
refugees on the Thai/Burmese border. Through their interaction, they empower the local Karen people to
realize their dreams in order to reach their own people. 
Since I cannot blog much about my current experience in London,
I will take this opportunity to tell stories about last month. Most of my time was spent in Northern
Thailand – my favorite'ist' place on the face of the earth. If I were to keep you all in the dark about
this experience, I would be leaving you out of a very special part of my heart,
and dare I day...God's heart.
)
