ECA, PE, and Bogotá Update
With about a month of school left, this school year is quickly coming to an end. Many of the teachers are exhausted and the students are antsy. I am currently teaching flag football to the girls in grades 5-12 for PE class. The soccer tournaments will finally be over after this week after the high school guys’ championship between Staff and 11th grade on Tuesday and Wednesday. I have certainly learned a lot about officiating soccer and have had my fair share of being yelled at! One highlight at school was Celebrate Colombia, a day dedicated to each class doing a Colombian dance or performance. It was really cool to see all the students perform for teachers and staff, other students, and parents.
Another highlight was speaking at elementary chapel several weeks ago. I talked about doing what’s right, shared the gospel message, and did a few illustrations. I know who two of my probable roommates will be for next school year, so I am excited about that. One lives in western PA, the other is from central PA, and I am from eastern PA, so Pennsylvania will be well-represented in Bogotá. There have been several situations at school that have been challenging to work through and it’s been good to see how God has grown me through them.
Longing for More
One thing I have been praying about a lot is for the spiritual gifts and more of the Holy Spirit, particularly the gifts of healing and prophecy. This has been a Holy longing that continues to build up inside me. I have been asking God a lot what I am supposed to do about it. I desire to go out into the city and pray for people to be healed and things like that, but I don’t feel God wants me to do it alone. It seems impossible to find a group of people that regularly do the same and have a similar mindset. God, what am I supposed to do? I believe God wants to give me the gift of healing and I have been asking for the gift of prophecy and for dreams.
I feel a little confused right now with what my next steps are and what God wants me to do with these feelings and desires, but it’s obvious that He is preparing me for something. It’s definitely a lesson in trust and faith! God has been building my desire and love for Him. I had an experience two weeks ago where I felt the Holy Spirit fill my body as I lay in my bed feeling almost paralyzed. Pains that I had been having went away and I could feel Him shooting out my hands and feet. I have been filled with the Holy Spirit ever since.
Treasure Hunting
One thing that has caught my attention this month is something called “treasure hunting.” This is where a group of people meets to pray and write down clues God gives them and then goes out to bless, pray for, and encourage others. The people are the treasures. This first time I did it with two others in and around a small park in the city. We had the chance to pray for several people, one of whom started crying when sharing about her son’s difficulties. I gave her a hug and she seemed genuinely touched. It was so cool to see how God led us to bless others. The second time I did it with one other person at a huge park toward the center of Bogotá. This one didn’t go the same way as planned, but I got to spend some good time with my friend. I want to continue doing this in different parts of the city and be open to how God wants to use me and the group – to heal, encourage, pray for, bless, and just be the light of Christ. I just want to find a group that really desires to do this, too.
The Spiritual Battle
Recently God has been opening my eyes to the reality of the spiritual world and the war waged between Christ and Satan. Through different videos and other things God has been showing me that most of life is a spiritual battle and that I have to fight against evil as such. I know that God has equipped me to fight in this war and has given me all power and authority through His Spirit, but I am learning how to do battle. God has given me (and all believers) the power and authority to heal sickness and disease, cast out demons, speak divine words into others’ lives, preach the gospel, and to bless and encourage. What an amazing privilege to be God’s representative! I really want to grab onto this truth, because Jesus says all things are possible through Christ for him who believes.
One passage that has been challenging to me is John 15:7 – “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
En Cristo,
Jonathan
With about a month of school left, this school year is quickly coming to an end. Many of the teachers are exhausted and the students are antsy. I am currently teaching flag football to the girls in grades 5-12 for PE class. The soccer tournaments will finally be over after this week after the high school guys’ championship between Staff and 11th grade on Tuesday and Wednesday. I have certainly learned a lot about officiating soccer and have had my fair share of being yelled at! One highlight at school was Celebrate Colombia, a day dedicated to each class doing a Colombian dance or performance. It was really cool to see all the students perform for teachers and staff, other students, and parents.
Another highlight was speaking at elementary chapel several weeks ago. I talked about doing what’s right, shared the gospel message, and did a few illustrations. I know who two of my probable roommates will be for next school year, so I am excited about that. One lives in western PA, the other is from central PA, and I am from eastern PA, so Pennsylvania will be well-represented in Bogotá. There have been several situations at school that have been challenging to work through and it’s been good to see how God has grown me through them.
Longing for More
One thing I have been praying about a lot is for the spiritual gifts and more of the Holy Spirit, particularly the gifts of healing and prophecy. This has been a Holy longing that continues to build up inside me. I have been asking God a lot what I am supposed to do about it. I desire to go out into the city and pray for people to be healed and things like that, but I don’t feel God wants me to do it alone. It seems impossible to find a group of people that regularly do the same and have a similar mindset. God, what am I supposed to do? I believe God wants to give me the gift of healing and I have been asking for the gift of prophecy and for dreams.
I feel a little confused right now with what my next steps are and what God wants me to do with these feelings and desires, but it’s obvious that He is preparing me for something. It’s definitely a lesson in trust and faith! God has been building my desire and love for Him. I had an experience two weeks ago where I felt the Holy Spirit fill my body as I lay in my bed feeling almost paralyzed. Pains that I had been having went away and I could feel Him shooting out my hands and feet. I have been filled with the Holy Spirit ever since.
Treasure Hunting
One thing that has caught my attention this month is something called “treasure hunting.” This is where a group of people meets to pray and write down clues God gives them and then goes out to bless, pray for, and encourage others. The people are the treasures. This first time I did it with two others in and around a small park in the city. We had the chance to pray for several people, one of whom started crying when sharing about her son’s difficulties. I gave her a hug and she seemed genuinely touched. It was so cool to see how God led us to bless others. The second time I did it with one other person at a huge park toward the center of Bogotá. This one didn’t go the same way as planned, but I got to spend some good time with my friend. I want to continue doing this in different parts of the city and be open to how God wants to use me and the group – to heal, encourage, pray for, bless, and just be the light of Christ. I just want to find a group that really desires to do this, too.
The Spiritual Battle
Recently God has been opening my eyes to the reality of the spiritual world and the war waged between Christ and Satan. Through different videos and other things God has been showing me that most of life is a spiritual battle and that I have to fight against evil as such. I know that God has equipped me to fight in this war and has given me all power and authority through His Spirit, but I am learning how to do battle. God has given me (and all believers) the power and authority to heal sickness and disease, cast out demons, speak divine words into others’ lives, preach the gospel, and to bless and encourage. What an amazing privilege to be God’s representative! I really want to grab onto this truth, because Jesus says all things are possible through Christ for him who believes.
One passage that has been challenging to me is John 15:7 – “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
En Cristo,
Jonathan