Posted in Romania by Emily Chan on 5/19/2012
It's been a busy month in Romania, and we are off to Moldova for our final month next week! It's amazing that we only have five weeks left of the World Race.
I hope you enjoy these snapshots from Romania!
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Posted in Romania by Emily Chan on 5/15/2012
The past three weeks have flown by in a blur of busy days, and I just realized I am long overdue for a ministry update from Romania. So, with apologies for the belated post, here is the latest scoop:
It is Month 10 on the World Race, and we are in our third week of ministry in the small village of Sistarovat, about 45 minutes way from the city of Arad and not far from the Hungarian-Romanian border. Tucked up among grassy hills, our home at Seven Springs Christian Camp is more like a castle than what I would normally think of as “camp.” Four stories high, our cozy lodge has picturesque views of the surrounding countryside, including the plethora of sheep, cows, ducks, geese, and horses that dot the neighboring hills. The “Summer House” lies only a hundred yards away, boasting 60 bunks and 24 beds, while the soccer field and beach volleyball court lies just beyond that.
Our ministry focus this month has been to prepare the Seven Springs property for this summer’s season of campers. This includes washing bed sheets, blankets, and towels for more than a hundred beds, scrubbing paint chips off of the floor and walls, weeding, mowing and raking the extensive lawn, and cleaning thousands and thousands of carpet squares.
I have to be honest and say the manual labor has been a bit tougher on my body than I expected. I have spent most of my days scrubbing carpet squares, working alongside my hearty team of six until our hands are pruney and sticky from the sudsy water. While the work can seem endless, I enjoy the occasional water fights that erupt, which certainly bring much needed refreshment in the heat of the sun.
There are moments when it would be easy to complain about the seeming ceaseless monotony that characterizes our days. It would be easy to grumble about not being able to interact with more local Romanians. It would be especially easy to complain about the fact that my pants are too tight from all of the bread I have been eating. But I think I would be missing the point.
At the beginning of this month, our team leader Tom put things into perspective. He said that our goal this month was not to be the most efficient workers, making sure that every single task was complete by the end of each day. He made us realize that there would always be more to do; such is the reality of life when you have to upkeep a large property like that of Seven Springs. Rather, Tom challenged us to make each moment of service count for God’s glory. Quoting I Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
Whenever I find my attitude slipping into something not-so-pleasant, I have to remind myself to take a step back and realize that God receives the glory when I serve with joy. Sometimes I find that the best way for me to turn my frown upside down is by playing the “Thankful Game.” I find that as I thank the Lord for the small things (like cold water from the hose in the heat of the day, flushing toilets, or sipping hot chocolate on rainy days), and the not-so-small things (growing closer with my teammates, celebrating my 30th birthday with half of the squad, and enjoying the incredible sunsets and rainbows that we frequently see from our hilltop perch), my entire attitude changes. I become thankful for having the opportunity to serve Him here in Romania. I begin to think of ways that I can pray over the camp and the people who will be here this summer. And, the negative attitude in my heart is suddenly replaced with nothing other than the joy of the Lord.
We have one more week left to serve here in Romania, and though I am sure there are still more carpet squares left to conquer, I plan to serve with a smile on my face and thankfulness in my heart.
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17.
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Posted in Romania by Emily Chan on 5/15/2012
42 days. I will be on US soil in 42 days. Is that even possible?
A year ago today, the World Race was the reality of my upcoming future. Indeed, I was only days away from meeting my fellow Y-Squad mates at Training Camp in Tennessee.
Today, the World Race is my present. We have traveled through more than 10 countries (14, if you include Qatar, Poland, Hungary, and Hong Kong) in the past 10 months, we have served alongside dozens of ministries and hundreds of people, witnessed miracles, learned more about our identity as sons and daughters of God, and grown in ways that we probably will not fully grasp for years to come. We have exactly five weeks of ministry left (one in Romania, four in Moldova) before we meet together for our final debrief in Bucharest, Romania. And then on June 26th, we will board a plane and fly back to the US.
With all that we have seen and done, it is hard to believe that in 42 days, the World Race will be a memory of my past. But then I am faced with another reality: In 42 days, the next part of my race will begin.
Truth be told, the thought of what lies beyond the World Race is completely baffling. I’m tired. VERY tired. Not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, too. The World Race has indeed been rewarding, but there are days I honestly can’t wait to be finished. I still have no idea what I will do when I get home, except at least a week of sleep. And a few weeks of my Dad’s much-missed cooking. And countless hours of much-missed laughter with my Mom.
The other day, as I was thinking more about reaching the finish line of the World Race, the Lord gave me the following picture (and yes, these are my feeble attempts at drawing what He showed me):
God then reminded me of Hebrews 12:1-2, a passage that has sustained me through much of the World Race: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
I felt like God was challenging me to “throw off everything that hinders…” including my tiredness. I felt like He was cheering me on, along with all of heaven, shouting, “Keep going! Keep going!” And suddenly, I realized that it’s not about finishing the World Race, but it is about pressing on in this glorious race called “Life.”
Yes, life can be challenging and downright exhausting at times. But in the picture the Lord gave me, I suddenly saw something I’ve never seen before: Beyond the finish line, I saw golden streets and glorious mountains. I saw a place of complete restoration and peace. I saw Jesus, who has already completed this race, seated in rest and joy beside His Heavenly Father. And I felt Him say that He would sustain me and give me everything I need until the end of not only the World Race, but also until the very end of this race called Life.
I might not know exactly what I am doing in 42 days. But I can run this present race with renewed hope, knowing that the same God who promises rest beyond this Race is giving me everything I need to press on today. And so I run.
“Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)
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Posted in General Posts by Emily Chan on 5/5/2012
Dear Global Prayer Warriors,
Thank you for your continued prayers for my beloved friend Lina Charlene Mujambere.
Lina remains in a coma after more than a week. She has had two lumbar punctures to determine what is causing the continued swelling in her brain. The doctors have been monitoring her vital organs, and while her body seems clear of the respiratory infection that initially sent her into the hospital, she is still far from a full recovery.
Several days ago, Lina's doctors were testing her for viral encephalitis. However, now the doctors suspect Lina may actually have a rare auto-immune disease, called Guillain Barre syndrome, which is causing her immune system to fight against her nervous system, rather than try to fight the virus.
Please continue to join me in kneeling before the Father and believing for His complete restoration and healing for Lina.
I am humbled that so many people around the world have read this blog and joined in our intercession for Lina. Keep kneeling and believing in our faithful Father, beloved prayer warriors!
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Posted in General Posts by Emily Chan on 5/1/2012
My Beloved Friends and Family Around The World,
I would like to ask you to join me in kneeling for my dear friend Lina Charlene Mujambere.
Lina (on the left, in white) is from the African nation of Burundi, but she has been studying in Beijing for the past few years. I met Lina about two and a half years ago, when the Lord brought our paths together at the young adults group I attended in Beijing. Lina shines Jesus' light in all that she does, from serving on the church leadership team to playing and singing on the worship team.
Several hours ago, I received an e-mail from another friend in Beijing, asking for prayers for Lina. Not knowing what was wrong, I wrote back and asked, only to discover that Lina was hospitalized last week and has been in a coma for four days now.
What started as a seemingly trifle cold/flu bug a few weeks ago progressed into a vicious and aggressive form of pneumonia. Unfortunately, the pneumonia led to hypoxia (a form of blood poisoning when cells are not receiving enough oxygen) which in turn led to her slipping into a coma.
Presently, Lina is stable and her respiratory system seems to be healing, praise God. However, her brain is still unresponsive, and it is unclear if the hypoxia may have left any permanent damage or not.
Please join me in kneeling before our Father, the Great Physician, and believing in faith that He will heal Lina completely. Thank you for your prayers.
"See now that I myself am he! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand." (Deuteronomy 32:39)
"He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." (Job 5:9)
"Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." (Psalm103:2-5)
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Posted in Romania by Emily Chan on 5/1/2012
To love or be loved? That is the question.
So often on the World Race, I have shared with others that my life’s purpose is summed up in four words: Love God, Love Others. And while it IS fulfilling to live life in such a way, I have been realizing that I really can’t do that on my own. It just doesn’t work.
I John 4:10-11 reminds me, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
He loved first. He loves now. And He will love forever, because that is the essence of His very nature. God IS love.
In the midst of the daily grind of life, I try to justify my actions as those borne out of love… “I’m serving this person because I want to show them how much I love them,” or “I will stay up late talking with my teammate, because it shows that I love them enough to sacrifice this time for them.” While my motives might seem true enough, I admit that my love is finite and limited. I cannot love endlessly, and I certainly cannot love unconditionally at all times. My love is imperfect when I try to love out of myself.
Likewise, when it comes to loving God, I know I am still in the process of learning to love Him with ALL of my heart, with ALL of my mind, with ALL of my soul, and with ALL of my strength.
Indeed, I am faced with a big conundrum. How do I completely love one who, by definition, IS love? And, how can I learn to love others with that same unconditional love?
Easy. Be loved by Him.
What?
You heard me. Be loved by Him. Let God love you. Let God show you HOW MUCH He loves you.
When we open ourselves up to be loved BY God, He fills us up with His perfect love. He loves us despite everything we have or have not done in life. He loves us despite our imperfections. He loves us because He loves us, because that is His nature.
And in receiving His love, He gives us the love with which we can love Him in return. Even better, as we love Him, He continues to pour more of His love into our hearts so that we can then pour that love into others.
I pray that you would rest confidently in God’s love today. Know that you are loved by an everlasting love. You are loved unconditionally. Nothing you can do today, nothing you have done in the past, nor anything you can ever do in the future, will be able to separate you from God’s love.
Soak in God’s love. Love Him with the love He loves into you. And as He gives you the biggest bear hug ever, I pray He will squeeze the love He has poured into you on everyone else around you. Today, may you know God’s love.
Receiving a hug from one of the sweetest girls at a Children's Home in the Carpathian Mountains, Ukraine.
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Posted in Ukraine by Emily Chan on 4/23/2012
Try as I may, I think it would be nearly impossible to express the joy in my heart as I look back on our month in Ukraine, and the extreme sadness I feel knowing that tonight we will leave this beautiful place for Romania. Still, I am looking forward to all that the Lord has for us in our final two months on the Race.
Nearly one month ago, we arrived in the city of L'viv, near the Polish-Ukrainian border, after nine hours of flying and an overnight train ride from Kiev. The skies were blue that first morning, which were truly in stark contrast to China's perpetual grey. It was love at first sight.
We partnered with a missionary family, aptly named the Blessings. Mark and Rhonda have been serving in Ukraine for more than 16 years, and their three beautiful daughters are now also serving in Eastern Europe. They live in a tiny little 700 year old town, Domazhr, which is not far from L'viv and literally looks like the village from Fiddler on the Roof. From the moment we first met the family, I was truly humbled and blessed by their warm reception and the ways in which we quickly felt like part of the family.
The Blessings have a strong calling on their lives to reach out to God's chosen people, the Jews. As part of their ministry, they have been building Bethel House over the past few years as a way to reach out to Jewish families in the community who are relocating to Israel. Although the bulk of our ministry was painting and preparing the third floor of Bethel House, we also held weekly English Clubs to minister to university students, as well as participated in a local feeding ministry.
One of the highlights of this month for me was learning about different Old Testament Jewish prophecies which were fulfilled in the coming of Christ. We celebrated a Passover Seder on Palm Sunday, and then we had weekly Shabbat serviceswith the Blessing family. I have been reading through the Old Testament in my quiet times, and, being the kinesthetic learner that I am, it was definitely enlightening to participate in some of the old traditions and then view them in the context of the new life we have in Christ.
To summarize our month in words would probably take a novel, but I have included a slideshow to share snapshots of some of our ministry here. I sadly do not have pictures of the inside of Bethel House, as my hands were covered with paint most days, but I hope you will enjoy the snapshots from other aspects of our ministry.
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Posted in Ukraine by Emily Chan on 4/20/2012
I have often heard my brother say that “Change is the only constant.” The older I get (I hit the big 3-0 next week!), the more I realize the truth in that statement. We are in a constant state of flux. Small and big moments alike can have a profound impact on our lives; sometimes we realize their impact immediately, while other times it takes us years to realize the significance of those moments.
As we enter into our final eight weeks of the World Race, I realize that change has been all the more constant during this 11-month journey. We have moved from country to country, ministry to ministry, and contact to contact. We have seen the world…quite literally… and experienced everything from outdoor squatty-potties and fried rat bugs to hot showers and gourmet three-course meals. We have met people who have inspired us by their stories, and we have seen heart-breaking circumstances where God’s presence was so desperately needed.
In the face of such constant change (oxymoron that it is), I’ve begun to realize how much more difficult it will be to fit back in to life in the United States when I return. In some ways, I feel like a puzzle piece that has been removed from the bigger picture, chewed up by the dog, sent through the washing machine a few times, and then worn out by the normal wear-and-tear that is life on the World Race. It boggles my mind to think about trying to fit back into the bigger picture, when I know my own picture and puzzle piece now look completely different.
I know that the picture in the United States has changed significantly, too. In the course of eleven months, I have missed three dear friends’ weddings, the birth of my cousin’s daughter, the engagement of one of my best guy friends, and countless other momentous occasions in the lives of my friends and family. Add to that the fact that I have lived out of the United States for nearly six years, and I know I have missed so much more. We have each changed in innumerable ways, though some more drastically than others, and the realization that it will not be easy to reconnect in the same way with certain friends has been absolutely heart-breaking to me.
How do you fit into “normalcy” when your life has been anything but “normal”?
I remember when we moved to the United States in 1999. I had never attended a public school before, much less one in a tiny little town where most kids’ parents had known each other since THEY were in high school. To make matters worse, I was a high school senior, and I knew I had exactly one school year to make connections that would likely cease once I left for college. I struggled on a daily basis to try to connect with people. My questions drove people crazy. No one could understand why this American accent-talking, Mexican-looking girl had no idea what the latest pop culture buzz was, nor why she kept talking about her experiences in a faraway country that seemed so foreign to their local microcosm.
I faced a rude awakening then, realizing that in the grand scheme of things, people couldn’t really relate to my experiences. Truth be told, they had grown tired of trying to feign interest whenever I spouted off something about my life overseas. I can hardly blame them, but it still hurt. Ultimately, I knew it was either “sink or swim,” so I tried my best to wade through that year before heading on to university life in California, where I had to begin the adjustment process all over again.
Now, twelve years later, I face the same conundrum. How do I reconcile the changes that have taken place in my life on the World Race, and during five years overseas, with the changes that have taken place at home? My family members each have their own daily routine, and while I know they are eager to welcome me home, after the first few weeks of swapping stories I am sure we are going to have to figure out how to adjust our lives to fit one another back in.
I say all of this not to complain, nor to lament, but merely to process for myself what the transition ahead might entail, and the months to come thereafter. God has yet to reveal to me what I’m doing after the World Race, and while that can be a bit scary, I have full confidence that the same Faithful One who has walked me through so many changes up until now will continue to walk me through whatever is ahead.
My beloved friends and family, whatever changes we have each been through, I pray we can somehow work together to find patience and grace for one another when we do meet again. I pray that Jesus will be our common ground, and that we can bear with one another in Love as we celebrate what He has done in each of our lives. In two months, I will come home expecting nothing except the hope of seeing each of you again. Thank you for your love and prayers throughout this journey of change. Know that you have had, and will continue to have, my prayers as well.
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
II Corinthians 3:18
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Posted in Ukraine by Emily Chan on 4/17/2012
It is no secret that music affects the atmosphere. Walk into a coffee shop where your favorite songs play and your heart will be filled with joy. Walk into a loud bar in Thailand where the music is raucous and the lyrics offensive and, if you’re like me, you’ll probably want to walk right out.
Several years ago, I attended the Bethel School of Worship, where my mind was radically challenged with a notion: to sing over the nations. I knew that music impacted the atmosphere, but I began to realize the power of worship when we sing over places and people. The Bible says that God dwells in the praises of His people. The Bible also tells us that God rejoices over us in singing (Zephaniah 3:17). In that, I realized that when I sing His praises from deep in my heart, I am ushering in His glorious presence, and my heart’s song meets His. I tend to sing everywhere I go, but after that revelation, I began to sing with intentionality, knowing that the songs (as well as the words) I sang had power to change atmospheres by ushering in God’s presence.
Since then, God has continued to challenge me to “sing over the nations” wherever I go. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had the opportunity to sing over churches, over the red-light districts of Phuket, over cities from mountaintops, and over individuals.
There have been two distinct moments on the World Race when I’ve felt strongly compelled by the Holy Spirit to sing over sick individuals. When we were in Malaysia, we visited a Hindu family home where their daughter struggled with kidney failure and abnormal growths on her arm. The spiritual atmosphere of the house was deeply oppressive with its collection of Hindu idols, but I felt the peace of the Lord resting on my heart. As we prayed over the young girl for healing, I felt the Lord tugging on my heart to sing over her. Holding her hands, I sang “It Is Well,” with every bit of my being. While we did not witness physical healing in that instant, I believe God’s presence was actively working in that house at that moment. The family had been guarded, though hospitable, up to that point, but there was a sudden change in their countenance as I felt God’s presence and peace fill the room. I do not know how the Holy Spirit worked that night, but I do know that His presence was very real in that room, and if I had eyes to see Him work in the Spirit, I believe I would have seen His light pierce every dark crevice in that home.
The other moment when I felt compelled to sing was this past weekend, while we were distributing food to some of the poor of L’viv, Ukraine. Ponnei Vera (Faith) is a 90-year old woman who broke her hip not too long ago. Her daughter, Ponnei Nadia (Hope) has been taking vigilant care of her since then, spending every day and night at her mother’s bedside. I met them both several weeks ago, when we delivered food to their tiny apartment on the top floor of an old Soviet apartment across from a beautiful Catholic Cathedral. Ponnei Vera’s bedroom window looks straight at the striking archways of the cathedral, where the words “Soli Deo Honor Et Gloria” – To God Alone be Honor and Glory – are written in beautiful script.
During our first visit, I had sat awkwardly while Lindsay, our wonderful contact, conversed back and forth with Ponnei Vera and Ponnei Nadia in Ukrainian. Our visit was short, but I remember falling in love with Ponnei Vera, especially her repeated wishes for, “Good health, good health, good health, and God’s grace” over each of us. Her daughter, Ponnei Nadia, seemed a bit more reserved, although she warmed up a bit as she shared stories of her family with us.
When we returned to their small apartment this past weekend, I felt God’s Spirit move as soon as Ponnei Nadia opened the door to welcome us in. While Lindsay spoke with Ponnei Vera on her bed, I looked at her daughter, Ponnei Nadia, and knew God wanted me to sing specifically over her. I told Lindsay about the Lord’s stirring in my heart, and before I knew it, I was singing, “It Is Well” once again. I could feel the Lord’s presence in the room and wanted to get lost in it, but as I continued to sing I felt the Lord urge me to look at Ponnei Nadia’s eyes. I was startled to see big tears welling up in them. I could tell that the Lord had been ministering to her heart while I sang. I told her God had asked me to sing over her, and that He loved her and was proud of her.
I discovered later that Ponnei Nadia was a well-respected geneticist, whose strong scientific background has often made it difficult for her to accept faith over fact. However, her recent interactions with Lindsay and the other members of the feeding ministry have challenged her to reconcile those differences, especially when God’s love for her and her mother has seemed to defy all logical explanations. I believe that when God’s presence filled her home as I sang, Ponnei Nadia once again faced the realization that God’s love defies logic, and that His love for her cannot be contained within the limitations of scientific explanation. I knew she had felt God’s presence touch the depths of her soul, and I have to believe that He is doing a work in her that will continue to defy logic as He shows her more of His great love.
I do not fully understand how sound and songs influence the atmosphere, but I do know that they do. I know God has caught each one of Ponnei Nadia’s tears and stored them in a bottle close to His heart. I know that just as the songs God tells me to sing change the atmosphere, the songs He sings over us in return change hearts. His song resonates deep into the hearts of His beloved children.
The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. ~ Zephaniah 3:17
Can you hear Him singing over you?
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Posted in Ukraine by Emily Chan on 4/12/2012
Last weekend, we put together a Youth/Young Adults retreat for the teens and 20somethings at Living Word Church in L'viv, Ukraine. We focused on the theme "Abundant Life: Love God, Love Others," and shared different testimonies of how the Lord has taught us about what it means to live an abundant life in Christ.
Although it is pretty much impossible to summarize the World Race into five minutes, I tried to capture the heart of why we are on the World Race, and how the Lord has been teaching us about living an abundant life through our journey around the world. The latter part of the video was created to serve as a challenge to the youth about what an Abundant Life might look like for them. I hope you, too, will be encouraged! :)
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