The girl who didn't speak

I met  her in India. She totally stole my heart. And it only took her a day to do so..
Here is why :

" If you would see me running down the street, full of energy and attitude, making faces as I run past you, you wouldn't be able to say that I can't hear almost anything and that I'm actually very sweet and gentle. I'm pretty good at hiding it, aren't I ?
But if you would play with me or show me your music player, you would have me in your lap and showing you how to use this device. Without using words of course. Because then you would notice that I'm different from other kids. I don't speak, nor can I hear what you say. It's almost like playing game of quietness, I like it!!
  But I love the attention, I get upset when other kids steal it from me. I will stare them down and show everybody how upset I am by walking away..
If you're clever, you know how to make me want to sit with you again. I'll give you a little hint: Your interesting and surprisingly flat music player. You have to show me that you want to be my friend. You have to work on our friendship. And if you win me over, you'll have my friendship forever, or until the next time you see me again.
   But the day is not over jet, we still have nap time. So come & lay down next to me. Give me your hand and I'll show you what I would like for you to do. Put your finger on my palm and watch what I do. Gently make slow circles and trace my fingers, touching every fingertip one by one. Please don't stop and I promise I will fall asleep soon. I will snuggle with you till nap time is over. And before the day is over I will climb up your feet while you sit on the bench and make you laugh by dancing on your lap!
I will give you a big hug and disappear fast, hoping to see you tomorrow again.
I'm the girl who doesn't speak. I am being raised by many women and I live in the brothels. "

Looking back on my trip..

This is a little something from my diary, enjoy

(sorry if some of it sounds weird, it's taken out of my diary and it is written here as it was written in that moment, with all the feelings and thoughts I had)

Giving bread to sleeping street kids

08.01.2013

Today we’re going out on the streets early in the morning when it’s still dark, to give out bread to the sleeping street kids. We’re about ready to walk out of our rooms already feeling the cold that’s coming in from the outside. It makes me think about the kids who actually had to stay outside with God knows what kind of sleeping stuff..

 ...

It wasn’t what I waited for. When we got to town we didn’t see a lot of kids sleeping everywhere. There were specigic places where they would sleep. On our way to find them, we saw 2boys who our leader knew. He stopped to greet them and so did we. He tol dus that they will come with us and when we find a place that sells bread and chai, we’ll buy it for them. Another boy joined us as the kids were calling him. He had his sigarette still in his hands as he came closer to us. They didn’t speak a lot of english but that was ok. Our leader knew enough english to translate the important things. We got each boy cup of chai and a „donut bread“. As they all sat down in the alley, we watched them eat and smile. You could see how thankful they were to reveive their bread and something hot to drink. We asked their names and how old they are. I was taking pictures and didn’t hear the answer but I was told that the youngest was about 14 and the oldest 17years old. But they all looked too short and little to look the age they told us. They also said that they have been on the streets for about 7years so I imagine that it would be hard to tell your exact age. I can’t imagine how their life is from day to day. And when they have the month that is the coldest, having to sleep on the street when having almost no warm clothes to wear.
I love though how one boy licked his peanut butter like ice cream. You could tell he liked it as he made noises and faces while eating it. Garett gave each one more.

As we said our goodbyes and went on our way to find more kids, we walked up to this old gate. Our leader said that people sleep inside that garden, where allt he trash was. He showed us the little sleeping area that was made out of trash. It was sad to see how this little place was next to a very beautiful and big house. And you can see that everywhere you go. Slums are bulit next to very beautiful houses..

When we entered the gate we walked into a house, an open house where we saw 4boys sleeping on the floors, all covered by blankets, only feet showing. One of the boys woke up fast and it was almost awkward to watch him, he smiled and walked behind the corner. The other one woke up for a second but went back to sleep. They stayed there for a little bit but they all started waking up slowly.. I felt so awkward just watching them as they woke up and had sleepy faces on. I wonder what they felt..

We waited for the guy who owned the place to set everything ready. His wife started cooking and one of the boys started the fire for us. They invited us to sit closer by the fire to warm our hands. We felt more for the boys who had woken up in the cold and let us sit by the fire. They were so humble. As we all sat closer, the food got ready. We paid the house owner for the food made for the boys. We were told that they can sleep there but they have to collect plactic bottles in order to earn their sleeping place. But breakfast isn’t included. We sat quietly and watched them eat. They were smiley but also tired. Garett gave peanut butter „to go“ to them as well. He actually gave each 2. They didn’t eat them right away but asked what they were.

  We asked this time as well what their age was. 2 of them were 18years, one 16, and the other 14years old. We didn’t speak much to them but I enjoyed their company. I hope they didn’t think of us as just tourists who wanted to do good and take pictures in return.

We again said our goodbyes and said „ jeimase “, leaving them with smiles on our faces and theirs.when we got on the streets I got suddenly sad. Because I consider them as my brothers now and it was hard to leave them. At the same time I am happy, thankful that there is somebody who will continue to visit them and share Christ’s love for them.

I will try to remember to pray for them..

I believe we’re also getting better in buses and finding out way back. It was a good morning and we’ll go to men’s rehab center soon after lunch time. Just enough time to finish my message on Father heart of God, wash my hair, take a short nap, and go..

Better later then never

These are only some of the pictures from our time in Nepal and India! Every person on this picture means something to me!! I will post stories separately! Enjoy :)

So close, yet so far..

     Hi my dear ones,


My DTS is almost over and I realized I haven't updated my blog for many weeks now.
I am really sorry for that!

So where to begin..hmm.. Since last time I wrote, we've had many speakers coming in and sharing some pretty amazing stuff with my school. But I guess what I would like to share with you is what's been on my mind lately..
There's actually been a lot on my mind lately so it will be really hard to tell you about everything!

I have been here for 3 months now, and let me tell you, it has been probably the most important 3 months in my life and I know for a fact that these next 2 months in India and Nepal will be life changing. I know that I will come back as a different person, I know I will not be able to look back on my life and say I want to continue to do what I used to do! I know and I expect a change in my life, from God. A Change in my dreams that were mine, but now belong to Him just like my life.
I have come to a conclusion that my life was never mine to begin with, but because I have had the free will, I have decided to make a lot of the decisions on my own and that's why I have made a lot of mistakes as well! But now being here and learning that, we really need to surrend our lives to Christ so that He could take control in our lives. So that we would let Him use our lives to change the world by starting with ourselves. Because you see, we cannot change or understand the world unless we understand ourselves, us in God. How can I tell the world who they are, if I don't even understand who I am?  I need to know who I am in God, I need to know that I am his child, his beloved, His, before I can make a difference in the world. And God doesn't want me to just help people, He wants them to be changed forever. He wants them back, so it is not enough when I try to help them, because when I just help them, I help them to continue the way they have been living, but if we are able to change their lives and by changing I mean lead them to God and letting Him do His part (restore them), we are able to get them out of this mess. And why does God need us?  Without God man cannot do, and without men God will not do! We are his tools, we are His to be used in this world. God has called us, me and you to be His extended hands and feet in going to places and reaching the unreached. It might mean you are called to your hometown to the ones who have heard about God, but have never met Jesus. To reach the students, elders, homeless, jobless etc in your own city or your neighbour cities.  I am not sure what my calling is exactly, but I know I have a calling. There is something in me that breaks every time I hear stories about kids in different countries, girls in human trafficking, so I believe I have jet to discover my calling, but I already know my destiny, it is God, right here, right now!
Hearing this I hope you have a bit clearer picture of what God has been teaching me!
Now it is time for me to serve his people, put everything I have learned into actions and reach the fatherless in Nepal and India. Now it is time for me to go!
Don't you think that this is it, no more posts, I still have 2months in Nepal and India, to tell you all the great things God is doing in these nations, in me, through me! There is more to come!! This is not the end, not yet! So bare with me !
And thank you all who have been with me throughout the DTS time, praying for me, thinking about me, helping me with finances. I hope this will speak to your hearts!
This is from my heart to yours,
Love you all,
Liis

Finish the task

 
          So after our week of Spiritual warfare we were able to go to Ohio and be apart of Dts conference called: Finish the task.
We had a lot of different DTS students coming together from all over the United States.
Our journey there was longer then we expected. About 10min into our trip, early in the morning, our bus broke down and we had to wait for about an hour before we were able to get back on the road again. It was fun because half of the time we just stayed in the bus and the other half we decided to take the little van and group-by-group take the students back to our base. Afer everybody got back to the base and settled down, some ate their breakfast and some thought about taking a shower when we found out that the bus was fixed and ready to go again. It was funny to see how people started running around and getting ready for another try. We got passed the spot where our bus broke down and felt like we can do this. Our bus ride was long but a lot of fun. Good for me cause I was able to talk to one of the Northwood dts Staff members  (another dts 2h away from us joined us for the journey) on our way to Ohio.
      The night we got there was a happy moment. The minute I noticed my dear friend Nicole, I ran to her and didn’t even care about the ongoing konference meeting that was happening, I just hugged my dear friend and told her how much I had missed her. I realised I had missed a lot of people so It was so nice to re-unite with all of them.
The conference was one challenging experience for me. Having all the people around me and getting out of my comfort zone, while sharing a big gym floor with about 100 girls, having no privacy while taking a shower in a basement where the shower water was up to my ancles, having to sit with new people while eating my breakfast/lunch/dinner. But I must confess, it was nice to meet other DTS students and hear all about their program.

We didn’t just meet new people, but I also spent time with God, and taking part of different sessions.

Some of the things I learned:

During the conference they talked about different topics,
I really liked the thought of my identity.

„Your greatest identity is to be known as the Child of God“

I want my identity not to be in what I do, where I go but in what I know - Jesus Christ, my saviour.

I loved that they touched the topic about Passion as well.
One of the questions during that session was:

What is it for you?

One of the students answered: Fuego, another one said that in greek „passion“ means „suffering“ . God’s passion for the people can be put into suffering.. He suffers for us.

One of the things I learned about passion was that passion is not about emotions. It is the work of Christ on the cross!!

But how do I get the passion?
Intimacy with God, I need to ask for it, exepting God’s love, receiving it. Also getting around people who are passionate.
So I also cant let the enviroment around me change my passion, I am not a thermometer, that changes in the enviroment.
So I know now, that it is not about my emotions, I can feel happy, sad, cry, not cry and still be passionate, because I know what Jesus did for me on the Cross and it makes me passionate for this world to know about my Jesus.

During the conference I heard God speaking to me while hearing the topic about Justice.
We were in the middle of talking about biblical justice and how the people are so much more important and how we need to seek for the Lord for solutions, when I got this understanding in my heart:
    I can never go back to normal!!

Basically I came to the understanding that I can never go back to what I did before dts. It was so sudden and so real. It was almost a bit scary to think that my life will be changed forever but exiting as well!

I want to be passionate for God and for His people, for the rest of my life!

One of my fav sessions was hearing about Muslim culture.
it was so very exciting to hear how this family lived among Muslims in India and in Thailand. How they lived amond the muslims. They learned about the culture and language and how to become friends with them and love them. And not forcing Jesus on them but letting the Holy Spirit work through them. Because we are not the Holy Spirit, He will reveal himself when it is the right moment. And he will give you the opportunity to witness to them. Not judging them would be a great start already!
Knowing also that the discipleship proces is not fast, it will take time.

Something that I learned about muslim people is that they have a great power of shame and honor in their culture – at times it is so strong that it can lead them thorwards killing their own children if needed. Why he said that was when a muslim becomes a follower of christ, and is no longer a muslim it is a great shame to the family.

I also learned that I as a „white person“ will be labelled into a „christian“ group, and the group is an overall statement, but in their culture it is not about you declaring you are a christian, but you showing you have a relationship with Jesus. It is personal and never a religion.

I believe I am called to missions, I don’t know if full-time, I don’t know where, but I know that I will never go back to my old life again. I want to give my life to god. It is life-for-life desicion. Jesus gave his life for me, and now I give my life to Jesus and let him use me where I am needed.

I really enjoyed my time in Ohio, and learned new things about this world, about God and how to continue my relationship with Jesus and being confident in who God created me to be!