TAKING THE KINGDOM TO THE WORLD - Luke 17:21... For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.

Where are We?

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The most interesting Lunch and Breakfast I ever had!

The most interesting lunch ever:

So we were driving to a hilltribe village when.....

We stop for lunch on the side of the road. What would you expect at a road side restaurant in Northern Thailand? (Time alloted for thought)

Here is what we found:
1.   A small kitchen with a few tables under a bamboo roof.
2.   A python that was approximately 20' long. I bet it weighed more than me!
3.   Elephants walking down the street.
4.   And baby chicks in a cardboard box.
5.   Oh and pretty good fried rice.

Check out the photos below!

The most interesting breakfast:

When we arrived in the hilltribe in the afternoon and had dinner. The next morning we had breakfast at one of the villagers houses. The breakfast was very normal; rice and pork, just what you would expect. The next day I expected a similar breakfast and boy was I wrong. Will and I went down for breakfast and I was amazed with what I saw for breakfast. The menu contained:

1.   Rice
2.   Pig Intestine
3.   RAW PORK

I am sure you are wondering what I ate.... I did eat intestine but could not stomach the raw pork. I hope you find that play on words comical because I do!

Please see photos below:

May be out of touch for a while! Love yall

5 Months and Counting

Sat, 6 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Hi family and friends! It's hard to believe that our time on the World Race is already halfway over! It seems like just yesterday we were hugging all of you goodbye. I can't put into words how encouraging it is to read all of your comments and emails. You have all been such an amazing support system. Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement! We miss you all so much!

Thanks to all of you, Brad and I have raised over $20,000 to go on the Wold Race. THAT IS AMAZING! God is so faithful to provide when He calls you to something! I mean, if I knew how to raise $20,000 on my own...

In order to stay out on the mission field, Brad and I still have to raise another $6,000. While that seems like nothing compared to the $20,000 God has already provided, it is still a handsome chunk of money. Since we are headed to Africa next, we're not sure how often we will have internet access in order to raise support. So we are calling on all of you, our cherished loved ones, to get the word out for us.

Brad and I have put together a video of some of the things God has allowed us to be a part of since we left in October. We can only pray for the second half of the race to be just as amazing! Please feel free to share our video with as many people as possible. Even if someone is not able to give financially, this video shows just a glimpse of how God is moving all over the world! He is so good!

We love you all!!

Bells Will be Ringing

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The other night Nicole was praying for me and she saw a vision. In the vision I was riding on a bell and I was banging from side to side. As I crashed against the sides of the bell freedom was being declared to the people. So I got inspired.... Here is me ringing freedom!

Just in case you do not understand the photo here is one more of me ringing away!

6 Months Left, 6 Meals, Six Nights

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I can not say that I am starving on the World Race, but at times I am hungry. I have eaten a ton of western food... but nothing tastes like home. I often ask myself what I will eat when I get home. So I sat down and made a very detailed list! No Mom it is not home cooking I want. I want what I want..... like a small child. So with six months left I ask myself, "what six meals do I long for the most?"

Here is how I responded to myself:

Montery- Mexican Food! Yes, chips, salsa, guacamole, taco, burrito, and cheese dip!

Taco Mac- Bar Food! Queso and tortillas, hot wings all drums extra crispy, extra ranch!

Outback Steakhouse- Chili Cheese Fries! Steak!!! Potatoes!!

O'Charleys- Loaded Potato Soup! The club sandwich with honey mustard and french fries!

The Melting Pot- Long romantic dinner. Cheese, Bread, Salad, Meat, Mushrooms, Chocolate

Papa Johns- PIZZA! Large Pizza, Lots of meat, lots of cheese, lots of red pepper.

Business Man or Bum?

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Last night Erika and I were walking though a night market when we stumbled upon this family.

As we began to walk toward them I began to look away. I am certain that being a beggar is a great source of shame for this lady. Therefore, I did not desire to be like everyone else that just peers down their nose at her for cluttering the streets. My heart breaks for these people, they have so little that begging is their best chance for survival. As we walked closer Erika asked me, "Is it ok if we stop and give the lady some money and pray for her?" I was torn to say the least. I could hardly look at this child or her family because I could feel the shame. In addition, my heart just flat out breaks for people stuck in conditions like this. So it is easier for me to just look away rather than to press into the situation.

Honestly, I avoid these people because it hurts me to much to

stop and look at them. If you factor in that we do not share a

language there is no point in stopping. This was the logical thought pattern that allowed me to feel comfortable with just walking by. However, my beautiful wife has a heart the size of Alaska that was beckoning her to make a difference. As you can imagine, we stopped. We stopped in the middle of the night market and prayed for this family in English. This family did not understand a word that we said, but I hope that the fact that we stopped demonstrated something to her and her child. So we prayed. We prayed that God would take the spirit of poverty and the orphan spirit from this family and reveal to them His love.

After we prayed we said goodbye and walked away. As we were walking I kept thinking about this lady , her child, and the millions of people like them around the world. I was just thinking to myself, I had the resounding thought, "this is not fair." As I was thinking I could not help but recall a conversation I had earlier that day with a friend.

My friend had been asked the question why did God chose you. As He began pondering he became filled with an indignation that he was chosen. He realized how unfair the process of God's choosing was. At this point the Holy Spirit wacked him upside the head and said that is it! It is not fair, you did not do anything to earn it! It is by MY GRACE ALONE that you are chosen. Intellectual property from Weston Belkot.

I realized in this moment the power of God's grace. There is a deep reality that everything I have now or will ever have is simply because of Him and not myself. I am a middle class white man by God's grace and God's grace alone. My mother and father were both white. By default I am white. I am middle class and that is by His grace also! I did not create myself in the womb with strong hands and a sharp brain God did. Yes I work hard to make money but I would not have the skill set unless God had given it to me. Yes I went to college, but the money that allowed me to go was from the skills that God gave me in the womb. I can trace everything in my life back to the grace of God.

I have realized that everyone in the world is where they are because of the measure of Grace that they have been given. Some people work really hard and improve themselves. I am one of those people! Yet I have realized that even our ability to dig deep and press in is a measure of grace that was given from God. God has given me an immense amount of giftings therefore, there is much that is expected from me. God said, to whom much is given, much is required. He also says to him who has more will be given. He says he who is faithful with a little will be entrusted with much.

I am asking everyone to answer this question:

Who pleased God more in this story? The lady taking care of her family or Erika for giving her money and praying for her?

There is no right or wrong answer! I am just curious what peoples thoughts are.

The Heart of the Matter is what Matters

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Life on the 'World Race' is incredible and God is doing amazing things in me! I truly believe that He needed/needs to do a lot in me before He can do a lot through me.... I think that is a good word that maybe some people need to chew on. It is meaty but chew on it. Ask God to search your heart and to know your ways. If you are willing ask Him if there is anything inside of you that needs to be removed then trust Him with the scalpel. I did not intend to say any of that, but my team is encouraging me to share my thoughts more freely when they start coming. So thanks Erika, Jessica, Nicole, and Will for encouraging me to be a better man!

Here is what I intended to say in this blog:

God has been faithful to remind me that I am a city on a hill and a candle on a table.

Matthew 5 14-15 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

The point is no matter where I am or what I am doing I need to be shining for Jesus. There are no off days and there are no breaks. Don't misunderstand me and hear that God is a mean boss that forces you to work at all times. That is not what I am saying at all! Rather, I think that God wants us to be honest and transparent with Him at all times. We need a continual washing of the mind to keep Jesus as our focus! There are a million cool things to be distracted by! At the end of the day and at the end of life none of those things really matter.

I just finished reading The Final Quest by Rick Joyner. The author discusses the possibility of people making the bible a God rather than looking for God to speak to them through it. By all means the bible is the word of God! I am serious about the bible because I like to meet God in the pages and hear His story and His heart as He tells me the story. I believe that the Bible is Holy and every word in the book is true! I believe God wrote the bible for His people. God did not have to give us those stories! Yet in His providence He chose to allow us to learn from others success and failure! He created a map that pointed toward Him and His glory. He chose to carve His heart into a book that tells of His love for humanity.

The Final Quest also offers the idea that people preach Paul and his epistles over the Gospel. Paul only built on the foundation of what Jesus did. Paul's writings are not the foundation of our church... rather they are the first few floors of the gospel and Jesus is the foundation! What is said of Jesus in the first four Gospels is the foundation! I am not bad mouthing Paul in any way! I admire that man and his ability to father the church! I spire to be a man with Paul's convictions and love for Jesus' Bride. However, I do not strive to be Paul or anyone else. Nor can I boast in Paul or any other man. I must make my boast and my claim in Jesus who is the author and perfecter of my faith. I think I am discovering the simple truth of Christianity that Satan has hidden from the Church for centuries. God desires a heart that is devoted to Him. If we are faithful to keep Jesus as our primary focus life will be easier. There are no bullet points, no schedules, no books. There is a simplicity that we can not handle. Hear me out, God is all knowing and we could spend our whole life attempting to figure God out and fail. He is infinitely bigger, smarter, more handsome, and stronger than we could ever know. Yet Jesus wants two things He wants to be loved and for us to love people. God just wants to know His creation more!

This is the simple truth of Christianity. God desires a people that trust Him and His ways. If we as the Church began to trust in God and not ourselves or our pastor or our best friend God would begin to shake the nations as we have asked.

Here is my primary point... what are you focusing on? What is the main thing in your life? What do you think about the most? Who do you trust more God or your pastor? God or your wife? The questions could go on... but I will spare you! At all costs find a way to make Jesus your focus! I have begun to do that in the past month in a new way and it has brought more happiness, joy, peace and love than I knew were possible. I know God is my guide and my sustainer!

I struggle to make my thoughts clear because I am an awful writer... That being said, I hope this is clear, but if it is not please email me!

bbaldwin.g1@gmail.com

Pesky Printers

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Have you ever had a day that just gets under your skin? Have you ever had a piece of technology annoy you to the point you wanted to throw it? Do not worry my friends you are not alone! Last month while we were in Cambodia I nearly reached my breaking point with a printer. In Cambodia people are very economical/cheap. During our stay we were privileged enough to use an external ink cartridge printer. For those of you that have never used one I will explain what it looks like. It is you normal every day printer... with a hose that runs out of it to ink jars sitting on the table. The hose is connected to the ink feed inside the printer itself. Therefore, as the cartridges go left and right so does the attached hose.

In Cambodia they use sticky tape to keep the hose mounted to the cartridge. This is a great idea except temperatures are in the 90's and tape does not stick in that kind of heat. The result is the hose getting pinched and the print job getting ruined. I forgot to tell you that the hose never keeps ink inside. There are ALWAYS air pockets the cause the printer to stop because it is out of ink. I sat at the printer almost every day... fighting and fighting the stupid thing. One day I actually got a knife and started cutting the printer. No worries, I received permission from our contact first. I cut the printer in the areas where the hose was getting pinched. Thanks to my idea the printer was working again.... for about three minutes.

One day Jessica walked into the room and would not even walk near the printer, she just stood in the doorway. She told me that her anxiety level became overwhelming if she stepped to close to the printer. I laughed at her because I could relate to her anxiety. I was stuck at the printer all day long for two weeks. It got so bad that one day Nicole was assigned to be my support. Nicole, God bless her, just sat there telling me jokes and playing music for me. I am very fortunate to have her as my team mate!

Fast forward to later that night. We were sitting around the dinner table and I was venting my frustrations about the situation. I decided that I had had enough and I was going to anoint the printer with oil and prophecy functionality over it! So that is exactly what I did. The next day I went to work early with a zip-loc bag full of plam oil. As I walked into the office I could hear western face off music playing. At this point it was just me and the printer. I told the printer this town is not big enough for the both of us! (Ok I made that part up! It never happened) So back to reality. I walk in the office and give the printer a good stare. I slowly walked over to the printer and opened up my bag of oil. I stuck my index finger in the bag and pulled it out and rubbed that oil all over the printer. I began to tell the printer that it was no longer allowed to malfunction. I reminded the printer that Jesus was the name above every name. (Visual Illustration)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jesus

Epson

I proceeded to inform the printer that it was required to print when it was told to print and errors were no longer acceptable.

Might I tell you that it worked! The printer did not malfunction for the rest of the day. The next morning Nicole went into work before I did because she had to print some brochures for her project. She told me that when she sat down at the computer she was pretty confident that an Angelic hand was upon the printer!

Hebrews 1:14
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Here is the point. God loves us! God cares about everything we are going through and it is His desire that we have good stuff! If you don't believe me read this.

Luke 12:32
"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Try to remember no matter what you are doing... it can be for God. I am not trying to be super spiritual and say everything is for God. I am simply saying that you can chose to point your focus on Him in everything you do.

You Know Your are in Asia When

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

You know you are in Asia when...

The Top 15 Ways

There is a 7-11 on every corner

The sidewalk is unsafe to walk on because motor bikes drive on them as if they were roads

There are scales everywhere to weigh yourself

You weight is in Kilograms

Everyone you walk by says hello

People whiten their faces to be more beautiful

You see people wearing pajamas all day long

The primary mode of transportation is a moped

Moped have at least 3 people on them and no one is holding on

You see at least three men taking a pee on the side of the road every day

There are signs in the bathroom that say do not stand on the toilet

Squatty Pottie

Your bus driver honks every two feet

Your driving on the wrong side of the road

Your English skills diminish to a third grade level
Signs that look like this

Cambodia Video by: Jessica

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This is what happens when God gives you cool team mates and a blog page!

Cambodia Update 2

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Sorry it has been so long since I have bloged. I have been struggling to put into words everything that is on my mind. The things we see every day are both amazing and horrid at the same time. We are fortunate enough to watch a county rebuild itself from years of genocide and wars. First, the after math of the war and genocide are awful and it has ravished the people that live here! However, they are resilient in nature and chose to be resourceful and bounce back. The people here have a great sense of hope and accomplishment for what they have and what has been accomplished. The people here are so resourceful and have the availability and determination to accomplish anything. In that is the horrible struggle of having no money and no way to make money. There is a nasty cycle here that keeps people in poverty and I am certain that there are governing authorities that work to keep things the way they are. When I say governing authorities I mean both political and spiritual. I hope to clarify what that means in detail below.... but I am just getting my thoughts so if there is no structure please forgive me!

Every month we are in a different country and because of that we face different challenges and obstacles. I will use an illustration as an attempt to clarify my point. Let me paint a picture.

You have a new friend and your new friend has three children. Each child is different yet each one of them are very similar because of the rules there parents have established. The most important rule your friend has established is that confusion is the main method of discipline in her house. Your friend has decided that if the children never know what is going on they will always need their parents. As a friend you think this is silly so you try to teach the kids how to think on their own. Yet you have no authority or a place of influence to teach the children otherwise. It is actually stupid for you to attempt to teach the children when the power lies in the parents.

I think this is a paradigm that I often find myself in on the World Race. God has given us ALL AUTHORITY! It is made very clear time and time again that all authority is given to God's people. Yet at the same time God gave us free will to decide when to exercise that authority that has been given to us. Jesus was not a moron, He was not reckless in his decision making process. Rather, Jesus told us that He only did what He saw the Father doing. Jesus lived a life of submission to the authorities that were placed over Him. However, Jesus also knew how to take the authority that was GIVEN TO HIM and to beat the hell out of people, cities, and countries. I mean He literally beat the hell out of them! He took every ounce of matter that was not of God and cast it out! Yet He always had the discernment and obedience to do what was the Fathers will!

While on the WR I find myself in places where the problems are very evident yet the source of the problem stems from a place of authority that is beyond the reach of human hands. For example, in Cambodia there is a major problem with communication. Often you are mis understood or not heard at all. I believe with all my heart this is a spiritual principality at work keeping people in confusion like the parent discussed above. I have had a very hard time hearing people and feeling heard this month. Yet I know it is not the people around me but a larger force at work. This is why we pray for divine appointments! We want to be sitting in from of governors, business leaders and kings. If we were able to teach these men and women Kingdom principles their lives would be radically changed! Moreover, their communities and nations would be transformed into the likeness of God. I am ready for community transformation to take place! I am realizing that that starts with me! I need TRANSFORMATION!

I spent five hours on a buss yesterday and made the choice to press into God and share my hear with Him and attempt to hear His heart as well! There is nothing quite as sweet as when God reveals His heart to us!!!!!!!!!! On the buss I was just imploring God! I was begging Him to speak to me more and share His heart with me! I was telling God, "I know I am a lowly servant, yet I desire so much to offer mt heart to you in full abandonment!" The Lord in His grace showed me that I am a man who hears and does not hear.

Let me explain. When Jesus was talking with Nicodemus in John 3 Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus was saying. Jesus responded I speak of earthly things not heavenly things, how is it you a teacher of Jerusalem do not understand (rough quote). God revealed to me that often when He speaks He speaks through people... especially the people closest to us. Then He showed me that I do not listen when they speak. God in his gentle nudging asked me a deeper question. He said, "Brad, how is it you expect to hear Me... God... a Spirit, when you are unable to hear the people I have set in your midst?" I felt as if I was sitting in His throne room and He was speaking right to me! I am overwhelmed just thinking about it!

My point in all of this mess is that God is moving and He is stronger than any mess you stand against! I want to be a man who HEARS God when He speaks. Also, I want to have the boldness to proclaim those words to others!

The Greatest Commandment!

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This started as an email to my sister... and I would up inspiring myself to blog.....

Sister and Nephew

We are in Cambodia at the moment! It is really difficult here! This is by far the most developing nation i have been to so far! There is construction everywhere and poverty abounds much more than anywhere i have been. I feel so fortunate to be here! It is helping me see how good I have it in some ways and how screwed up I am in others! These people truly have nothing but relationships! Friendship means so much to them and material things mean nothing because it is so far beyond their grasp. It makes me realize how much my priorities are all screwed up!

At the end of the day I realize Jesus was correct... shocker I know. But, He said that the stuff we accumulate in our life time can not go to heaven... so why store up earthly possessions?(Brad Translation) I know that my relationships and the love I have for people will make it through the eternal fire! I want my life to be about loving people! Not in a dirty Christian cliche "I love people"... but to genuinely love people. I have been asking God to show me how to see people as He sees them. That is difficult cause he loves everyone as they are and knows their life history, what affects them, and what has shaped their lives. I have been thinking about how Jesus told what the greatest commandments are. He said, First love God. The second is like the first, love everyone like you love yourself.(Brad Translation) The second is like the first! Think about that for a moment! To love others is like loving God. I would take it a step farther and say it is the same as the first! If we love people we are loving God because God lives in everyone. He said what you have done to the least of these you have done unto me! He is inside us and we can love Him by loving people, and we can love people by loving Him. It is so simple... yet so difficult!

Jesus also said that if you want to be first you need to make yourself last. Loving people means preferring them more than yourself! This is where the rubber meets the road! Loving people is a choice and a commitment... not to say loving people is hard. It is easy when you have the Fathers heart. Yet, loving people means you have to die to yourself ensuring they are taken care of first! Love in its purest form always makes others more important than you.

The Killing Fields

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Cambodia Update

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This past week, our team's main project was turning tables.

It WASN'T what you'd imagine... not quite like Jesus turning the tables in the temple courts. :-)

Catchy title though, ya??? :-)

We turned plain, simple, wooden 1^st grade tables into beautiful, bright, education tables full of life, color, Khmer words, and lots of fun pictures!

Here's a short video that shows the progression of our work:

Turning Tables from Nicole Ricketts on Vimeo.

This seems like a pretty basic type of project, but I would say that our team learned a lot through all this. Our full 10 hour- Saturday of painting the pictures on the tabletops went SO well! When we sat back and thought about it, it was only through the joy and the power of the Holy Spirit that we worked so well together. There was no fighting over paintbrushes, colors, or "territorial claims" to a certain desk. Everyone was super helpful in passing around jobs, asking for help, and really worked together in the way everyone always wishes it would! It was fantastic.

However, we did have our share of setbacks. We couldn't find materials when we needed them from the market. We found out that varnish is different than polyurethane, and that even though it calls for a portion of paint thinner, it only makes it eat through the paint and leave you with really nasty streaks. There were many times when we could have chosen to fix the problem with our own strength. There were a few times my perfectionist mindset got the best of me, like when a white glob of paint dripped down on top of my globe, or I totally messed up my Khmer writing.

At the same time, I was super proud of Jessica for initiating that we come to God for the answer on "how do we make these tables work?" From the picture design to the top coating, we really did ask the Lord to be a part of the whole project, and I LOVE that. Jessica has been reading a book that tells story after story of how Christians often ask God to bless their work rather than asking Him to lead us into our work so that it IS, in fact, blessed. It was really awesome to get to practice that during this project.

I've come to realize that much of life falls into this category for me. It's REALLY easy to fall into "business mind" mode and begin to tackle things within my own strength, within the knowledge I've accumulated through studies and experience. I have a feeling much of this month is going to be teaching me about how to let the Holy Spirit breathe life into EVERY faucet of the business world. He's given us knowledge and experience TO USE, but He DEFINITELY still wants us to ask Him what to do with those gifts!

I think it's something that many of us can work on, and I think the Holy Spirit is waiting for our generation to come to Him for these things! Can you imagine what could happen within corporate America if all the Christians came to Him on a DAILY basis and asked Him to be a part of each thing that they did at work? I believe it would change our country in a massive way.

One step at a time; one table at a time.

Redemption Road

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This is a video that my team mate Jessica Johnson created while in Thailand. As most of you know Erika and I were separated for the month. I was in Northern Thailand and she was in Phuket working in the Red Light District to free girls from a life of prostitution. This video is an effort to show you how real the work there was!

I hope it gives you chills down your spine! Feel free to go to Jessica's Blog page and tell her how great she is!

Appology to You All

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I stole this blog from, www.andyross.theworldrace.org.

I changed what was said and made it more my own... but this is plagiarism in purest form!

When I was getting ready to leave on the World Race I had this idea that it was going to be a year of totally removing myself from my life and doing the Race with very little interaction with folks back home. I though this would help me grow and change faster with less influential factors. I have been putting little effort into staying in touch with you all and I haven't been blogging a lot because I am not much of a writer. Writing has always been something that is hard for me. For one I am a terrible speller and two I am can't ever type/write fast enough to get my thoughts on paper before they escape my little head. In addition, internet access is sparse and expensive at times... I have lots of excuses not to blog a lot, but they are nothing but excuses.

I was talking to a friend who has a friend that just got back from the race not to long ago. This friend of a friend

is having a hard time being home and getting back into the swing of things. My friend and I were talking about this and he said:

"I think her struggle is caused by a combination of things. Being back in the states and really being able to see what is wrong with the way we do things there. And trying keep all the good parts of herself that she found along the race with her as she reconnects with all of her friends. And it sort of hit me that it is not just good to keep in touch with people at home so they can see where there support is going and so they can feel included in what happening here. But it is really important to bring them along on my personal journey so that they can be a part of the and know more about where I am at when I get home."

I haven't been doing a very good job with staying in touch and I want to apologize and commit to blog more and to be more open about whats going on with me and my journey with the Lord here. It is my hope that through me sharing what is going on with me and my life that you will all feel closer to me when I get home than you did when I left. It is my desire that we can continue to build on the foundation that exists so that we will be closer when I return home. It is my deepest desire that when I return home that I am not a stranger to you all! I want you to feel as if you were on this journey with me! I want it to be evident that you are here with me in every country and I love you! One of the biggest things that God has really put on my heart is how important real community is and how it really helps us to grow and become the men and women of God that we were created to be.

I love you all so much and commit to doing a better job of staying in touch! One thing I have grown certain of on the race is that life is not about what you do! What we do is insignificant compared to who we do it with! I refuse to ruin the opportunity to do life with you all! Each one of you holds a special place in my heart and I need you in my life! Thank you for all that you offer me as friends and family!

Manistry Video

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Below is a Video from our month in Thailand. Keep in mind this is manistry at its peak!

VIDEO CREDIT GOES TO WESTON BELKOT
westonbelkot.theworldrace.org/

http://www.vimeo.com/8584969

Places of Authority

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The past week has been absolutely crazy!!! God is very faithful to allow His children to sit in great places of authority. As you all know I am in northern Thailand doing work for the Kingdom of God with many men.

Our ministry looks substantially different than the first half of the month. Currently we are living in a wide open two story house with running water. Notice I did not say hot water or shower... just running water. We are growing accustom to taking bucket showers and using the "squatty potty." I could only imagine you may be pondering within yourselves at the moment as to what that means. It would be an honor and a privileged to introduce you to the latrine.

Yes we stand over that for our business

Yes that is a wastebasket full of used T.P.

How is that for the comforts of home? Anyway, we are living in a large home that is very barren! There is no furniture and we are all sleeping on the floors. Some of the men have erected their tents to create "privacy." We are learning that music should be banned before 7:20am and lights should go out around 11:00pm. Community living is great and it creates a better you quickly.....

For the past week we have been going through different villages sharing God's heart and love with the people (primarily children) we encounter. At the moment I am amazed with the places of authority God has allowed us to stand before and present His truth. Through God's grace we were invited to speak at many schools. So far this week we have already been allowed to present assemblies in two schools. Keep in mind there is not really a public school system and everyone here is Buddhist. The time at the schools have been amazing! There is a huge language barrier between the children and our team... yet love transcends all language. We are having a great time making the children smile as much as possible. God has taught me that EVERY time I make a child smile I make God smile. God delights in His children and when we take time to show love to His children we give and receive God's love. The Kingdom of God is about love... and being a child. If we can not combine those things we are missing the purpose of our existence!

Sample Assembly:

Free time playing with kids- We make up fun games that cause laughter. We taught one school how to do the wave! We put size 15 shoes on 6yr old boy and made him run.
Introduction of team members- This is absolutely hilarious! We pretend to be Ninjas and Sumo wrestlers. We have kart-wheel and hand stand contests.... Grown men acting like children...
Teach and play a game- We use this time to help the kids wear off some energy and just allow them to have a blast! Being a kid is great!
Personal testimony- in this time one person shares a five to ten minute story of how God has changed their life in a dramatic manner.
Sing Worship over children- This is amazing. Five or six guys get up and sing songs of praise to God over the children. Feeling God enter the room full of Buddhist children is something words cant explain.
Play another game- Time to get the kids up and active so they will be able to pay attention a little bit better.
Perform a drama- reenactment of the good Samaritan. We use the drama to remind the children that helping others is a very important facet of life!
Preach a short message- alternating speakers share the message of Jesus Christ to the children.
Pray over all of the kids and school- after the message the children line up and we extend our hands toward them and proclaim the Kingdom of God over the children. Then we shake every child's hand and prophesy over them as they walk by.
Autograph time- white people are an anomaly here. Because they see so few white people we are an instant novelty... and we write funny so the children want us to write to them. I felt like a rock star! I had a circle of 10 - 15 children surrounding me forcing pens and paper in my face. I chose to prophesy over the children in my writing. I would look them in the face smiling until God gave me an unction. Then I wrote exactly what God said about each of them with a drawing to accompany the letter. Please keep in mind these were stick figures, hearts, crosses, smiley faces. I felt famous and know the Heaven rejoiced in my actions.

God is showing me that we have the availability to maximize opportunities or squander them. In Thailand, it is very easy to sit back and enjoy where we are and not press in and "sow the spirit." However, that would defeat the purpose of our trip. It has been a great tool to know that The Kingdom of God is within us, and wherever we go the Kingdom is at hand! That means we have the ability to change the world just as much as Jesus did. Jesus proclaimed, "greater things than I have done you shall do." So we strive toward that one baby step at a time.

All of this is amazing stuff! However, one things that has amazed me most up to this point is..... (that is a drum roll.) The places of authority God has placed us before. Since we have been here we have shared the message of Jesus with two school directors and almost 250 children. In addition, we have shared in two churches twice at both church. Churches are not the same in Thailand... they actually have non-Christians attend their services. The church we were at tonight had 30% Christians. The other 70% attend because they feel loved and accepted and are curious about the Life that exudes from the people. I would approximate that around 500 people in Thailand have been presented the gospel both in word, drama, music, and action. Pretty sweet!

That is cool! However, here is the kicker that sends my joy through the roof. We were invited to sit with a local government official the other day. We sat in his office for almost an hour and we all prayed within ourselves that God would grab the man and help him lead his people with Kingdom principles. The government official shared his vision for the community with our group. Part of the plan is to develop rock climbing areas in the village. One of my fellow racers has lot of knowledge on the subject and offered his insight. The official was intrigued and they spoke briefly. Before we left we asked the official how we could pray for him and if we could pray in the room. Please keep in mind he is not a Christian yet! He allowed us to pray to God in his office! I am fairly certain that is a big deal. Two nights after we met the official many of my team members went to a Mui Thai fight. When they arrived all of the seats were already taken. Luckily, God had reserved them VIP seats. They were invited ringside and given a special introduction by the announcer. While sitting in the VIP area the government official showed up and sat next to them. Turns out his boss is the equivalent of a Senator and he was at the fight as well. The senator has requested an opportunity to speak with Andy more in detail about he rock climbing..... It is so interesting how wide open doors are at the moment! Luke 21:12-13 "but before these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony." (I made the text smaller because it is not what I am focusing on in the scripture... yet I did not want to omit so you could see the proper context.) God proclaims that if we are faithful with a little He will make us faithful over much! So we remain faithful to the opportunities He has given us on the race! Thank you for all of your prayers and support!

I love you all!

New Coats for god's Children

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At the moment I am filled with a fiery passion about the rest of this month. I am not fully certain what our ministry will look like but I feel a passion about me that I have not up to this point on the race. Tonight in our prayer time someone said they saw a stick of dynamite that had already been lit and the spark was traveling down the wick toward the stick of dynamite. That vision that God gave tonight is exactly how I feel. I am certain that we have an opportunity set before us that is unparalleled up to this point in time. I am confident that God is about to rock our worlds and prepare us for a greater anointing.

At training camp a illustration was shared with us that seems really relevant. Growing up as children we are given coats to keep us warm throughout the winter season. Unfortunately, for our parents... we grow and the coats don't fit for very long. Therefore, our loving parents, out of the kindness of their hearts chose to give us a new coat in the next season. This is a beautiful illustration that depicts how God treats His children. Those who are in Christ are always growing! It is not an option or a choice! Walking with Christ stretches you, challenges you, and allows you to become the person you were created to be! This growth causes that which once fit to become snug and uncomfortable to the point you have to take it off.

I think this is where we are as a squad of men at the moment. We are about to take of our coats for a newer one that looks nicer, fits better, and allows more room for movement. However, there is a fleeting part of the process that leaves us without a coat on at all. That moment is a necessary process for us to appreciate the coats that we are given. I am confident that we as men are about to walk into something that we have never had before! I believe that the anointing that sits on our lives is going to increase in an amazing way. I believe with all my heart that many of us will leave this month changed for the rest of our lives. I believe that doors will be opened and boys will become men! I am utterly thankful for a moment such as this where we are able to transition.

God said that we need to be ready in season and out of season. We need to be prepared for both the things we are prepared for and the things we are not prepared for! In the bible Jesus cursed a fig tree that was not producing fruit. According to common agricultural practice this tree should not have been bearing fruit. However, Jesus cursed the tree and it withered and died. One of two things happened in that moment. Either Jesus was an impatient man that lost his cool and used His God given power to destroy.... or He made a very conscious decision to make a very bold statement. (I will allow you to decide which of the two possibilities makes more sense to you.) So Jesus curses the tree because it did not have fruit on it. I believe that Jesus was teaching His disciples that it was imperative that they be prepared at all times. Jesus knew that they would face both things and times that would be overwhelming, but they must be ready for them. Realistically, there is no training protocol for the unknown. It is inconceivable to have a training process developed for situations that are undetermined. Yet Jesus commanded that we be prepared in season and out of season....

What does that mean?

How do I get there?

I personally believe that this preparation is made through intimacy with your creator. The whole deal is about doing the impossible, feeling the impossible, loving the impossible... We are not able to do this with our own strength or merit. Fruit is developed on the vine! Unless you abide in the vine you will not bear fruit! It is the fruit of the Spirit... OF THE SPIRIT!!

The Face of Community

Sat, 26 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This month has contained many memorable minutes that are hard to convey with out photos and video. Unfortunately, at the moment I have neither form of media to entertain you. Therefore, I will attempt to entertain you with my writing alone.

God is teaching me that life is not about what you do but who you do it with. I know that sounds super clich but truth is truth! God stated early in the Bible that it is not good for man to be alone! I think right now all the dudes are screaming yeah! Whoo! Gonna get me a wife and "not be alone"... If those are your thoughts you may want to stop reading this blog right now cause that is not where I am going here. Seriously, you dont have to stop reading... but prepare yourself for a different approach. So here is the point. On the World Race we live in very tight groups of community. At times the community is not everything you would desire it to be, but it is community. Every day I have a deeper revelation of what it means to live in community. The beauty of community is you have people there with you. That may not mean that by default they are there for you. But they are there with you. I used to say you could determine who is a good friend by who was there when you did not need them. I still stand by that statement. Good friends spend quantity time with you! They like to be with you not just there for you.

On the race I am learning one of the most valuable functions of a friend. Before I reveal my point I would like to tell you things friends need to tell each other on the world race.... Especially during manistry.

Dude you smell... Go take a shower
You have food in your teeth man....
Your beard is looking thick today
That shirt is nasty! Go change
Don't stand on the kitchen table
I have not seen you brush your teeth today have you?

If you are laughing.... you have no idea how smelly we can get when girls are not around to impress. On a more serious note there is one thing I have learned in this time with the men. A man is very strong but men are stronger. A man by himself has strengths but he also has weaknesses. When we choose to live in community we are forced to reveal our weaknesses. No one is capable of faking all the time and certainly no one is perfect. By default our weaknesses are made a public spectacle at times. This can be very embarrassing or it can be a pivotal moment in a mans life. If we could all be honest we would admit that we have blind spots. Areas of weakness that we are not able to see. I think often people boast so much in their strength that it puffs up. Sometimes we can not see the trees for sake of the forest. However, in real life giving community blind spots are revealed. I have heard it said that a man is only as strong as his weakness or the woman behind him. I think the two are one in the same. I can say this for Erika and I hope most wives. A good wife and a good friend both love you enough to let you know when you are out of bounds. Moreover, they guide you back onto the field when you have drifted off. This is the greatest level of community to me. It is not an insult to be notified you are lacking in an area. Rather, it is a sign that your friends believe in you. If you did not believe in someone you would leave them out to dry! However, when you know they have potential and are capable of more than what they are accomplishing you press them on. God said that an open rebuke is better than a secret love! He talks about how he chastens those who he loves. I am learning that I don't have to please everyone and walk on egg shells all the time! If someone sucks at something it is ok for me to say... hey man you are struggling in this area and this is one suggestion on how to suck less.

I am excited to be a part of this month in the wilderness with men! I know that we have this weird gene that causes us to act like morons when we get in large groups. But I am also with a group of amazing men that love God and are serving Him with every fiber of their being. I respect our differences and am learning that our differences are what make us so strong. I used to think that everyone should be just like me because I am so amazing and have the answer to everything. I have realized that everyone else is not as close to perfect as I am. (Disclaimer: There was a large amount of sarcasm in the last area of this blog. Brad was using a joke to make fun of himself. The viewpoints expressed do not reflect anyone on the World Race Staff) I think it is safe to say that we are all in a process that is taking us from somewhere to somewhere else. We can not do anything to affect where we started but we have total control over our next destination. The people we chose to surround ourselves with make or break us. Like your mom always said... choose your friends wisely.

Friends are like buttholes...

everyone should have at least one
some smell more than others
they serve an important purpose
they get the crap out

I say all of this to ask that you pray that our group of men enter deeper into authentic life giving community over the next two weeks!

Support Needs in Guatemala

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This blog is seeking support for a man in Guatemala. One of our teams worked with him two months ago and desires to be a blessing to him. I do not know him personally but believe he is a man of God from what I have heard. If you want to donate below is a blog written by a fellow racer.

Thanks!

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

God has power to restore in miraculous ways. He can redeem even the most lost people. Let us tell you about a man who defines God's grace. His name is Benjamin and he has a great need for his ministry in Panajachel, Guatemala. We are inviting you to be a part of this. He now pastors a church named Mi-Reto (Ministry of Total Restoration) and lives his life by complete faith. He serves the community to the extent that he sacrifices all he has to share Jesus with the people around him. He does this not only with words but with his actions. Ben has been building homes, putting in plumbing, wiring electricity, and been an overall handy man for Pana. He has been doing all his projects with broken borrowed tools and transporting everything with a borrowed motorcycle. He carts everything around in wheel barrows which triples the time of each project compared to how easy it would be in the states to do with a truck. Ben would be able to serve his community and reach multitudes of people if he had a truck.

Ben has not always lived a life of sacrifice. The testimony that comes from him is one that has a great impact on anyone who comes in contact with him. It was only 7 years ago that Ben went from a drug and alcohol addicted member of the occult to a radical lover of Jesus. Ben used to own a tattoo shop and a discotech. He was of the verge of suicide when a woman asked him to give God one more chance, and if God didn't come through he could kill himself. With his wife and kids rejecting him, and nowhere to go Ben decided to give God one last chance, but he wanted to prove God wrong. Instead Ben was proven wrong, and his life was radically changed. Ben was immediately freed of his dependency on drugs and alcohol and from that day forward has lived a completely transformed life. Little did he know that God was also doing a work in his wife's life as well. She also gave her life to Christ.
Together they started the ministry Mi-Reto. They give all that they have to serving. They don't even have a steady income. They live month by month, and God has provided for every month for 7 years and will continue to provide for them. All the money that goes into the church goes toward ministry or the church. They do not take any salary out of the church. This family is changing not only the community that they live in but the people that they come in contact with.
They have made a great impact on our lives over the month that we were there. They are family that we will never forget. While there we saw the need for the truck and what a blessing it would be to Ben's ministry. It takes Ben at least a year to pay for a power tool, imagine what a truck would be for him. Even though we can't be there we know God is changing lives through Ben. We hope that you consider being a part of this ministry and reaching out to the people that are making a difference.

A truck would bring:
-a way to transport materials
-a way to move families into new homes
- a way to transport missions teams

- a way to get to the city (Ben is trying to get his

residency and has to make trips to the city)

- a service that may not be provided otherwise
- a symbol of God's provision

- safety to him and the help beside him

To donate online, go to this site.

For the program drop down menu, choose Support a World Race Project.

In the box to fill in which project, enter "L Ministry Project."

If you wish to send a donation by mail, please make your check payable to Adventures In Missions and mail it to:
Adventures In Missions
P.O. Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
Please indicate "World Race L Ministry Project" in the memo section of the check.

The last day to donate to this project is January 11, 2010. Any donations received after this date will go toward the overall ministry of the World Race program.

I want to stress this so there is no confusion - donors should not give to this fund via your personal world race blog page. If they do, it goes into your support account, not into the ministry fund.

Healing the Land

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We are in the northern mountains of Thailand...

We have the chance to be a blessing to our contacts here! The pastor and his wife ars such amazing people! I have been so fortunate to spend time with them in the past two days! The pastor is about four feet tall and such an amazing man! He is fery affectionate and full of joy! Every morning he and his wife bring us breakfast! So far, every morning Pastor sings worship songs. His love for the Lord is so amazing and intense that he can not keep from singing! His wife is also amazing! She has a heart of gold and cooks like a champ! The take such amazing care of us!

Pastor and his wife have bought a plot of land recently and plan on building a refugee home for children. There is a major political issue in this area of the world! For security and safety we have been asked not to make mention of the countires. There ar bordering nations that are pretty jacked up and abuse children both in the sex trade and children soldiers. It is the goal of this refuge center to change some childrens lives. The plan is to start off small and really disciple children. The goal is quality not quantity! They want to raise children with parents and true discipleship! We are fortunate enough to be a part of this ministry and what God is doing.

The land is in rough shape. It used to be a farm owned by anamilists.... I may have misspelled that. The people that owned the land before practiced a religion that worship animals, other gods, and cast spells. So you can immagine there is a lot going on in the spiritual realm around us! We are cleaning the land both in the natural and spiritual! As we clean the debris we are praying God's spirit upon the land and asking Him to heal that which has been broken! The land here is amazing! There is so much fruit already! There are tons of palm trees, banana trees, papaya trees, pineapples, chili peppers, and other stuff I have never seen! We are so lucky to be here!!!! We are lucky to clean the land for the Pastor and his wife!

By all means we are having fun also! We got really dirty working yesterday so we needed to clean up.... Football in the river!!!

I have to leave now and will post the rest of the story later!!

Rebuilding Men

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I am presently in Chaing Mai, Thailand. All of the men from our squad are spending the month doing what we call "ministry." That is exactly what you would imagine it to be. We are leaving our teams and coming together as men to go camping and hiking through the northern tribes of Thailand. We will be in the wilderness for the next ten days just being real with ourselves and the others we come in contact with. I am really excited about this time because we will have a chance to really see each other as we are. I hope it is a time free of smoke and mirrors where we can be raw and vulnerable with one another.

I am confident that when this process is over some of us will be changed in a dramatic form. I think many of us will leave with a greater understanding of who we have been created to be! I think when this month is over we will know that we are just like the men this scripture describes.

1 Chronicles 12: They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains.

I am confident that one thing that the world needs is MEN, real MEN who know their identity and embrace the importance of being who they are created to be! I am confident that every man that was created was created by God with the intent of being strong, brave, bold, sensitive, caring and above all LOVING. I think our society emasculates men. This month we have the opportunity to go and retrieve our manhood. We are with a group of men who will affirm us and help us to view ourselves as God created us not as American culture has shaped us.

This endeavor will be challenging yet rewarding and I am excited at the opportunity to spend a month with these men!

Looking Through the Eyes of God...

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I would like to introduce you to my friend Jimmy. This is the Jimmy mentioned in my last blog... the one that told me we would be eating a goat for thanksgiving.

That is Jimmy.... Let me back up a little bit. One of my team members Will Jung has a friend who is on the World Race I-Squad. The I-Squad was here at Cicrin three or four months before we arrived. When Will found out we would be going to Cicrin he contacted his friend to let her know we would be visiting Cicrin. While she was at Cicrin, she developed a special bond with two of the children and wanted Will to pass something along to them. Will was excited to share the "gifts" with the boys that she had asked him to find. On the first night we were here, Will told the director that he had something to pass along to some of the children from a former racer. Helen inquired, "Which boys Will?" As probably already guessed Jimmy was one of those boys.

Helen informed us that Jimmy was special..... and he loves harassing Gringas (White Girls). From the first moment, Jimmy stood out from the rest of the kids here. Jimmy is his own man. He hears a drum beating, he walks to the beat he hears, and I can assure you no one else hears the beat he is walking to unless it is beaten on a table or your body. Jimmy is fourteen years old and has more energy than you could possible fathom. I am certain he receives most satisfaction when he has someone on the brink of insanity. Jimmy is a practical joker; he loves to taunt people with scorpions, bullfrogs and tarantulas. I suppose it is his primary objective to drive people out of their minds.

Sadly, I relate to Jimmy more than the other kids at Cicrin. The problem is I am just like Jimmy, I have way to much energy and if I do not have a release for that energy, I harness it all into harassing others. Jimmy would be ADHD if he lived in the states. However, here he is just a kid. I think Jimmy has caused some amount of frustration for everyone in our group. Yet I think people love him despite his obnoxious nature.

Jimmy is annoying at times, but he hangs out with us, even though there is a language barrier he chooses to allow us to be a part of his life. He is very outgoing and I have enjoyed the time we spend together. When we first arrived, Jimmy attempted to avoid everyone, and if you did speak to him, he would reply "NAH." I chose not to wait for him to warm up to me; rather I chose to force myself into his life by being more annoying than he was. For the first week, we were here Jimmy and I had epic battles after dinner. Yes, moms we fought in the Kitchen, in the house, and in front of other children. I beat the junk out of this poor kid and he loved it!!! He smiled through every single punch, kick, and elbow drop. I found that he breaks in the "figure-4." (Anyone that knows what that is just earned a little more respect.) It turned out that dinner battles were not enough. Jimmy also needed beating after breakfast and lunch. I taught Jimmy how to play hand slaps, finger breaks, and thumps. For some reason we as men like pain... it creates a bond in some freaky way. However, as time has progressed Jimmy stopped "picking on." Instead of a punch as a greeting, I get pats on the back. Rather than a fake punch to the face, I get high-fives. Where Jimmy used to say "NAH" he now says "hi."

Every night on the World Race, our team sits down and talks about the day's events. We vent, we complain, we share, and we encourage. This process really helps us develop a family and process through what God is teaching us. At Cicrin we have been having this time in our bedroom. For some reason our room becomes a sweatbox. In an attempt to keep the room cooler, we open the curtains to allow more airflow. Last night as we were having this time Jimmy walked by and we invited him to join us. Please realize he speaks minimal English, but he chose to sit with us for at least thirty minutes not understanding anything we said. I asked Erika, who speaks Spanish, to ask him how we could pray for him. He said, "Nothing specific."

Let me clarify something. Jimmy is surrounded by Christians and goes to church.... However, to measure his actions, they can be less than godly at times. I am not saying that he is not a Christian! I am saying his actions at times are not super godly.

Jimmy said we could pray for him! I pulled his chair into the center of the room and we laid our hands on him to pray. As we became silent, God started revealing His heart for Jimmy. We started praying/proclaiming truth over Jimmy. We claimed for him the promises that God revealed to us! Without saying to much, I can say that God is going to use Jimmy in MIGHTY ways.

Last night God confirmed a lesson He has been teaching me for almost a month. In the natural realm, Jimmy is a little bit annoying and initiates problems. However, in the spiritual realm Jimmy is called to greatness. Most people know the scripture:

1 Samuel 16:7 For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

God has challenged me to be conformed so I act more like Him in this area of my life. God is encouraging me to view people as He views them. If I did not take the time to ask God how He saw Jimmy, I could have missed the opportunity to proclaim God's vision over his life. God said, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." (Proverbs 18:21) With God, we have the power and authority to proclaim life over people!!! The problem is we are too quick to judge the person from our perspective and not view them as God views them. I have heard it said that the people who are hardest to love are the ones that need it most.... Did you get that? The ones that are hardest to love are the ones that need it most! Unfortunately, these are the people we will make snap judgments about rather than attempting to view them as God does. I think God sees all things and He knows just what every person needs. What if we were to chose to be the mouth piece of God and begin building people up with our words rather than tearing them down. I am taking it a step further, not just the words we say to them, but also the words we say about them!

Jimmy's Beat Down from Brad Baldwin on Vimeo.

The Feast of THE KING

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We all know that thanksgiving is tomorrow and we are all super excited to be with our families and share what we are thankful for. This year I am thankful for a million things far more than I could list for you now. However, I will share one thing that I am thankful for....

Here in Nicaragua they celebrate thanksgiving diferently. I was talking with my friend Jimmy a week ago while we were fishing in Lake Nicaragua. Through a lot of broken Spanglish I arrived at the conclusion that we were having thanksgiving on Thursday with all the kids. The meal was a little different though. We would have mashed potatoes and corn... the usual. Also, we would be eating Goat. I was a little shocked but excited at the opportunity to eat something a little different. I hared all this information with our teams and we were all pretty excited about the whole thing.

Yesterday I found out that things were not quite as they seem. I was speaking with a man named Robert. He speaks fluent Spanish and helped paint a clearer picture for me. He informed me that Thursday was actually a day of prayer and fasting for an upcoming conference in Nicaragua. At first everything in me was kicking and screaming... it lasted a solid ten seconds before I had a great realization. I have comitted myself to a year fo abandonment... letting go of expectation and my rights and entitlements. I don`t deserve or need a thanksgiving meal. Rather God has been gracious enough to allow me the oportunity to sacrafice food on the day that it is the hardest. I am certain that God has asked us to chose Him over this meal... not that eating thanksgiving dinner is a bad thing in any way.(it is not) Thanksgiving is amazing and represents such a wonderful time to be with family and meditate on the things that are good in our lives. I beieve that experience will be magnified all the more for us in Nicaragua! We will not have a meal that fills my stomach, but we will have fellowship with our new family. We are fortunate to have the oportunity to draw closer to God our creator and give Him thanks... not for the food but for everything that He provides for us. Which the stretch of his faithfulness and giving fills my heart with t hanks.

For what it is worth I believe that the Father gives with a thankful heart!!!

Biblical Support

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."Then his disciples said to each other, Could someone have brought him food?""My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!! I pray God blesses you more than you can stand!

Spirit of Adoption

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Have you ever found yourself dwelling with in a paradox? That is where I find myself at the moment. We are in Nicaragua at Cicrin Orphanage and as far as I can see there is not an orphan here. When I think of an orphanage, I think of the movie Annie... this place could not be any further from that if it had to be. The children here do not act as if they are orphans, however; they act as if they are part of a humongous family. I would expect the children to have major attitude problems, authority complexes, and issues with men, issues with love. However, that is not the case. There are not orphans here, yet there are children that understand what it means to have a spirit of adoption. These children are not here by accident they are here by divine design.

Eph 1:5-6 having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The children here have here have a certainty of the love that is freely given to them both by man and by God. It is astounding to see the children every day... they are so confident in themselves, full of love and kindness. I would attribute the success of these children to Helen the director of this orphanage. She has fought hard to ensure that the children here have self worth, value, and confidence in themselves. All of the children at Cicrin have chores that they must perform daily. Everyone here works together as a team, a cohesive unit... a family. I am learning so much by just observing the lifestyle that the people here have. It is entirely different than what we do in the states, but it is so effective.

I am confounded by the ability for the people here to get the big picture. They are fully aware that their lives count for much more than they can accomplish alone. Their lives stand for an orphanage, a community, an island, a Kingdom. The values here inspire me in a tremendous way. Back home I lived as an island to myself. I was guilty of living for myself, attempting to better myself without regard to how I could better others. I would hoard information so that I would have value and purpose. I have realized that my value and purpose exceeds past the reach of my hand and is determined by the reach of my heart. Life should not be about bettering ourselves for sake of us alone, rather; it should be about bettering yourself and freely offering yourself to others. Freely we have received so freely we should give. I think we all acknowledge that scripture, but I am not so sure we practice that in reality. I desire to get to a point where my views and mindset is so bent on community and a Kingdom that I would truly understand what it means to give yourself away.

Not so Simple

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This month we have the amazing opportunity to work with a ministry in Nicaragua. I can honestly say I had no clue what to expect which led me to limited expectations. We arrived at Cicrin Ministries on the island of Ometepe. The first order of business was to discover what our living conditions would be like. We realized our room had three beds a dresser and a mini fridge. We are also fortunate enough to have a bathroom inside our room! After I had seen the room I wanted to scout out the property to become acquainted with my new home. I took five steps out of the bedroom when I spotted this!

I knew instantly I would begin spending as much time as possible laying on a hammock at the "rancho". As you can see by the photos God did not spare any beauty in creating this place which we are allowed to call our home for the next month!!! I think this place may be a preview to worship in heaven. I am certain that the waves here are nothing more than Lake Nicaragua's excitement about God culminating as they crash against the shoreline in worship and adoration. The waves are joined by the song of birds singing about the heights and the depths of the love of God! I havenot figured out how just yet.... But I know the gnats are engaging in worship as well. God has an army of gnats here for us....

We have a lot of different ways we are serving here on the island. The three main things we are engaging in look like this.

1. Taking care of Dunyah and Juliette

2. Working in the garden and with the animals

3. Helping Pastor Miguel and his son Santiago (Community service/Construction)

This week I had the privilege of working with Santiago. Santiago is a twenty one year old Nicaraguan who loves making jokes and serving his community. On our first day we realized Santiago does not speak much English. On the first day he took us to a house by the church to build a "church for the pigs". Santiago proceeded to explain to us with MUCH SARCASM that the pigs were Christians and they prayed to God and that is how they grew to be big and strong. He also explained that the pigs were the churches and would be consumed at Easter and Christmas. We responded with equal amounts of sarcasm that he should not be eating his brothers and sisters in Christ.

As stated earlier Santiago's dad is the pastor. They are amazing people with huge hearts! They truly believe that God serves us and that it is His desire that we serve our communities to show them the love of Christ. One facet of that for them is a feeding ministry that they have. Presently they open their home every day for the children of the community to come and receive a free meal. As you can see their home is much different than what you would see in the US. However, every day they have between twenty and thirty children come to receive a free meal and the love of God. It is awesome!!!! The kids get free food and learn a little about the love of God.

This week we have been doing a lot of HARD labor. The church is in the process of building a school/kitchen for the feeding ministry. We are helping Santiago build the building... it is so rewarding to build something that is doing so much good! However, the approach to the construction here is vastly different than what I have grown accustom to in the states. Here we have three tools: shovel, machete, and wheelbarrow. This greatly affects the methodology and process of everything that we do here. All the concrete is mixed, poured, and smoothed by hand. At the very least, this is difficult work yet so rewarding.

I have to confess something that is a little embarrassing. I made a very false assumption about the people here. I speak very little Spanish, therefore; I understand very little Spanish. This mixed with the more simplistic lifestyle and living conditions led me to believe the people here are simple minded. I was very incorrect in this assumption. One day we were serving the children food at the feeding ministry. Most of the children had left and we were all sitting talking to Santiago. We had a very good translator that made this conversation possible. Santiago began to ask us our thoughts on issues. He asked us about our trip, our beliefs, and what our doctrine was. Honestly, I was floored that they know what doctrine is... shameful I know. He proceeded to explain to us that he believed that to many Christians were following the doctrine of man rather than the doctrine of God. He did not stop, but he continued to explain that Jesus knows our hearts and that is what matters. So rather than follow man we should follow Jesus and give Him our hearts. I was amazed that this "simple " man had reached the profound truth that so many people miss.

Santiago got me thinking that day. So I hope to inspire you to do some thinking for yourself. I ask that you take some time to evaluate a few questions for yourself. What doctrine do you follow? I am sure you are confident that you follow the doctrine of God. But I implore you to search a little deeper. Do you have scriptures that back up this doctrine or are you taking someone else's word for it? The doctrine that you follow... what fruit does it produce... is it Godly or does it lead to judgment and condemnation?

I want to encourage you also evaluate what is in your heart. God does not care about the facades we wear on Sundays. He does not care about the false image we portray at bible study on Wednesday. I am not trying to judge anyone or pretend to know your hearts. I do not know your heart as you read this, but God does. I would encourage you if you do have any secret sins in your heart that you should expose them before God does. What can be hidden from man cannot be hidden from God and He says that whatever is done in darkness will be brought in to the light. Live in the Light.....

Am I still a Child?????

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Earlier this week we journeyed into a village; and I do not recall the name of the village. We were there all day playing with the kids and installing water filters. I think this could possibly be my favorite day so far on the trip. The two houses we installed the filters in were in the same village. When we arrived at the first house the children were a little standoffish. We have been told that in some villages the children are told that white people will eat your hearts. So maybe that is why they were a little timid. However, within a short period of time trust was established and we were playing our brains out. It is sad, yet exciting that the best toy we had for the day were three liter bottles filled with small rocks. It is amazing that even though I hardly speak any Spanish that I can bring joy to a child. We must have played "swords" for at least an hour. The children were all smiles and their joy brought me tremendous joy!

While we were at the first house the mother was kind enough to prepare tamales for each one of us. You may think to yourself that this is no big deal, but there is a good chance that this was far exceeding of their food budget. This family was a DIRT poor Mayan family that had a tin structure as their home. I am certain there was no way they could afford to provide lunch for us in the manner they did. They were also kind enough to bring us a cold unopened three liter bottle of Pepsi. It really amazes me how much these people value friendship over material things. All I could think was this would never happen in America! In the US we stockpile money for ourselves! We take every opportunity to build our own castle and hopefully a kingdom to pass along to our children. I do not want to over imply this is a bad thing. It is good to pass along a blessing to children; it is nice to have comfort. I was simply amazed at the stark contrast in the two cultures.

Back to the story, I was sad when we had to leave for lunch because I was having a tremendous time with the kids. Luckily for me we were returning to the same village only one house down after lunch. After lunch we returned to the village and began installing the second filter. Within five minutes of us being there the same boys were running back toward me.

He had seen me and then he ran home to get the "game." Although he did not understand me... when I saw him I told him it was on like "Donkey Kong". We battled for at least another hour. At one point in time we were beating each other with the water bottles and he was just singing. I asked my friend Kelsey what he was singing and she told me. He was singing, "were fighting, were fighting" and it just made me laugh so hard. This little kid was having the time of his life having a bottle fight (honestly so was I). I realized that there is something in a man that just loves war, battle, playing, just being alive. It is so interesting to find myself still a child no matter where I go.

There are more photos here!
http://picasaweb.google.com/bbaldwin.g1

We are leaving for Nicaragua today and will not have as much internet access. We love you and miss you!

Times Change... What is in a Name?

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We have been on the race for almost a month now. In the first week here the staff asked us to reconsider out team name. Our team name is Hot Mess. So for the past month we have all considered the importance of a name and the value of changing our team name. We realized with our name we were projecting something about ourselves that was less than positive. The bible talks about how life and death are in the power of the tongue. There are also sever instances recorded where people's names were changed to reflect something greater upon their lives.

In the past week out team has undergone a great transformation leading us to a transition period. This week Team Hot mess was informed that our team leader felt that God was calling her to return home. This was very surprising to our team and the repercussions are still resonating for all of us. With her leaving to pursue what God is calling her to, the staff has asked me to step up into the leadership role. This is an amazing opportunity for me, and it is also very overwhelming. I am processing a lot of thoughts and feelings at the moment. I was quite content to just be on this race and enjoy a limited leadership role. However, in God's perfect timing He took me outside my comfort zone. Luckily I think this is where God does the most work in us. I believe that being uncomfortable is a tool, when we are uncomfortable we are unable to depend on our own strengths and have to learn to lean on God's.

With the transition of our leadership we felt it was imperative to change our team now rather than later. We sat through many long discussions, scripture readings, and prayers before we determined our team name. It was our desires to have a team name that honored God. We did not want to arbitrarily pick a name that was exciting, cool, or spiritual. It was our desire to have a team name that reflected how God sees us. I feel like with our new team name comes a new calling and anointing from God. My heart is at rest knowing that when God gives a calling He also provides a sufficient amount of grace to fulfill the calling. I do not have a full picture of our calling and how God is going to equip us... but it is my pleasure to introduce our team.

Introducing:

REV217

We are team REV217 because of the verse:

Revelation 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

When God gives us a new name we receive a lot more!!

Meet my amazing Family!!!

Erika Baldwin

In my eyes Erika brings our team:

Wisdom, Revelation, and Ferocious Love

Jessica Johnson

In my opinion Jessica brings our team:

Passion, Inspiration, and an Observant Persuit

Nicole Ricketts

In my opinion Nicole brings our team:

Joy, Spirit, and Sweet Love

Will Jung

In my opinion Will brings our team:

Comedy, Encouragment, and Humble Servants Heart

a day in the life...

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We have been on the race for almost a month now and I feel odd. Some days are exhausting and some days exhausting hardly begins to explain how tired I am from the day. We live in a very tight community where personal space and time are foreign concepts. Most of the people on the teams here are very outgoing people who thrive in a community setting. A typical day in Antigua Guatemala looks like this.

Wake up to the sound of Erika's watch beeping across the room

Wake Erika up so she will turn her alarm off

Snuggle for a solid minute

Erika goes to shower and makeup

Brad wakes up

I work out for thirty minutes

Shower

Read for a while

Eat a quick bite and coffee

Head to the ministry contact

Most days that means we head to Forest and Carrols house. They are the ministry that we are working most closely with here in Antigua. We spend around eight hours serving in many different capacities. Here is a list of items we have assisted with:

Water filters

Malnourished infant care

Youth and adolescent orphan care

Construction projects

Dental clinic

VBS

After a long day of ministry we hop into the bed of a truck and take a long windy ride through the mountains back toward Forest and Carol's house. Then we take a ten minute walk home and start making dinner. Dinner is usually pretty awesome! We are preparing our own dinners and eating like kings! After we eat we have a debrief and talk about the day. We talk about how we feel, what were thinking, how our day affected us, and we give constructive feedback to our team mates. This is typically the end of our evening. Erika and I return to the slumber chamber and talk for ten or fifteen minutes then we pray and go to sleep to begin the cycle again.

Here on the World Race you learn to fight for moments. If you want to be alone it is a battle, if you want to be with only one person you fight for it! We are in a very structured environment that can be exhausting! It is an odd feeling because the exhaustion is so very rewarding! This trip has been a very quick road to self discovery! By no means am I implying I have discovered myself, but I have discovered many facets to myself that I was not fully aware of back home. Being in a different environment and culture shifts our paradigm and reveals things that were easily concealed in our more comfortable environment. God is revealing a lot to be about whom I am and who I want to be. I am not fully aware how to get to the destination I seek... there is no red carpet laid before me and there is no magnificent light that illuminates the path. I have this very uneasy feeling that it will be in the crucible that I am revealed. I believe that the fire of live will soften me enough that I will allow myself to be forged into the man I desire to be.

Extra Ordinary In Guatemala

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This is a video that Erika and I worked on to show you at home what our lives in Guatemala have been like for the past month!!!

We hope you enjoy the beautiful people and the beautiful country.