smiles. i'm not going alone.

Dearest friends :)

As i think about leaving for Nepal tomorrow morning, my heart is filled with anticipation of what the Lord has prepared for me as i serve alongside Him and the other co-labourers He has provided. It is indeed a great privilege to be setting foot in that land. Even as i prayed and sought the Lord the past 2 weeks, i have been encouraged time and again that i am going "not by might, nor by strength but by His Spirit" and i believe with all my heart that it is gonna be a great time of discovery and experiencing God in ways that i have never imagined before. Because of that, i am excited by all that the Lord is going to do in and through my life. As one of my teammates says, "I'm pretty sure Gos is gonna surprise us in many ways..." and that, i embrace.

I would like to share with you all how the Lord has been encouraging me with these verses,
2 Timothy 1:6-7 "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

And i especially like what verse 8-9 says,
"Therefrore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me (Paul) his prisoner, but share in the suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began..."

Isn't the God we serve so awesome? I am going in His power! I know i do not go by my own capabilities or becasue of what i have but because He knew that i was going before i even did. It never fails to amaze me how God desires to use our weakness to make His strength complete. It is my heart's desire that i will, by the grace of God, inspire others to worship the King of Kings and give Him the due worship. I like what John Pipers says, "Missions exists because worship doesn't." and yes, that is my prayer that the Lord will use me in whatever capacity possible to bring people into being awed by this great God that we worship.

As i leave, i covet all your prayers. We are going together during this 2.5 months because you are fighting the spiritual battle together with me as you pray. :) So here are some things you can pray for:

1. Sensitivity to the Spirit
- That i will only act according to the wisdom and discernment God has given me
- That i will speak boldly the words He places within me
- To be sharpened in hearing the voice of God

2. Family
- God will be their trust and reliance
- That they will be assured that God is watching over me. Indeed He is faithful to do that!
- Protection from the darts of the evil one

3. The Team (Kit Peng and Jessica Tan will be going with me)
- Unity, that we will serve with one mind and spirit
- Relationship to be strengthened
- Us to compliment one another in our working styles
- Openness and communication to be effective
- To spur each other on to love and good deeds

4. Nepalese
- That our love for them will manifest Christ's love for them
- Favour in relationship building with the youths, children and local church workers
- We will build into their lives in any way possible
- God to prepare there hearts (receptivity to the ministry that we will be doing there)

There are countless things to pray for, but these are the most pressing. Please pray as the Spirit leads as and when you can. :) Rachael Lim will be my prayer co-ordinator and will update once in a while through the "prayforus" yahoogroups. So if you aren't in the groups but you will like to be, please let her know.

Thank you very much for all the support that has been showered, the encouragement and the prayers that have already been uttered. You have no idea how much they have been a blessing to me. I really appreciate it. :)

Have a great few months ahead, will miss all of you dearly :)



See you in August with lotsa good reports,
Rachel :)