Week #8

Week #8
Date: May 23- May 29

Topic: Interpersonal Communication

Speaker: Matt Rawlins

Throughout this week I was not in class all that much, and to be completely honest if I was in class physically, chances are I wasn't in class mentally because I was just so drained and sick. I am going to explain my week in pictures and then I am going to share what I learned from the Lord this week. Sorry that this week isn't the most creative journal but I am lacking creativity currently.

This is a Tick...One of these little suckers bit me on Sunday, I tried pulling him out on Monday but only pulled his body out, I left his head in me, I didn't get him all the way out until Wednesday, my fault I guess.

I guess in this area of Switzerland, some of these little ticks carry lyme disease (not limes)...Well suprise, suprise thats what I got!!! I cant even tell you how many times I have heard that joke this week! "Hey Kevin, you want some lemon to go along with your lyme" people are just so creative :/ ...hahah

With Lyme Disease, you have a lot of symptoms that sick people have (i.e. cold, fever, throwing up, tired, etc.). I have been constantly drained and tired this week and my antibiotics have been kicking my butt! So that is my new home for the week...my bed, I feel like I have lived there the entire week! :(

This picture defines how I have felt all week, especially in class. I have felt just so drained but looks wide awake...this might be caused to my lack of sleep this past week. I felt like I had insomnia this past week...I honestly think my body officially hates me...lol.

On the bright side I did make a new friend this week....his name is Mr. Toilet. A lot of times he has kinda a bad rep, but this week he made a good companion, I used him as a pillow, yelled at him, and vented my pains to him, he listened to it all, and he is still there with his smile on. What a good friend! :)

Now, to a bit of a more serious aspect, I want to try to process something on my heart that I would like to process on this blog post.I am not sure how this lines up with many Christians theology and that is part of the reason why I am still trying to process this. I come out of a completely humble and non-authoritative side of this, purely out of question and wonder. If you have any insites in this feel free to comment and let me know what you think. This is pure thought right now.

Now many of us love to use the verse Romans 8: 28 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." So we all know that God turns our bad into good.

We also all know that God does not cause suffering, but that is actually ourselves and the enemy that couses our sufferings. God simply allows us to go through this because He respects us enough to respect our free will and our own personal choice. I have heard many people speak and preach on James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds," Many people just look at the part where it says "consider it pure joy" but I dont know if I have ever heard of a preacher preaching a message about the part where it says "whenever you face trials of many kinds." Now the word "whenever" is not a maybe word, it is an absolute. It means you will face trials of many kinds.

Tied in with this, I have heard many preachers preach about how God wants to bring Heaven to earth and heal everyone of their sicknesses. Now, everyone that Jesus did pray for was healed, but, did Jesus pray for everyone? Just a thought.

This is where I start to get a little confused and this makes me pursue this thought more...now many people will say if they are not healed then the sick person does not have enough faith. Well I disagree with this, there is no real Bible verse to dispute this but that just doesn't sound like the God I know, I mean there are unchristians that are healed that dont believe in God, so how do they have more faith than Christians that have read and believed the healings in the Bible? On the other hand most of the times when Jesus has healed someone in the Bible He says "Your faith has made you well." Or "Your faith has healed you." Its a very interesting point....but not my main point I am trying to get at.

So we all see that there are diseases and health problems in the world, we live in a fallen world and that is what is expected. Now my question is this: We know that God does not cause sickness but do you think that God could use and allow our sicknesses of the world to help give us a physical consequence to our sins? This is purely just me just trying to work this out on paper, and I dont really know where I am going with this, I am not speaking out of authority on this, because frankly I have no authority on this matter I am just trying to figure out what I think about it. But, I am doing this project currently on Swaziland and one of the largest physical problems in Swaziland is HIV/AIDS, now this disease did not just appear one day, one person sinned and it continued to spread through people's sin. But I have heard many people preach about how we should just go to Africa and just heal everyone with HIV/AIDS. But with HIV/AIDS out of the factor there would be no physical consequence holding people back from promiscuous living which would probably cause a higher rate in sex before marriage in the world.

Picture this, a person overweight gets diabetes, now diabetes is not good or pleasent at all, but that is what may have happened out of our sin of not treating our body right and eating an abundance of foods that are not good for us. (I am not saying this about everyone with diabetes but I am just using this as an example). Now this one person may be very troubled and angry, but that is a physical consequence to their sin. Couldn't this situation help teach this person about discipline, because a person with diabetes needs to be caucious of the foods they eat as well as how much they eat, all to keep their blood sugar at a decent level.

I am not saying that God is only concerned about the physical world, our God is a God of the spiritual world. Our worldly/physical lives are so short that I believe God cares about our souls and our spirits just as much, if not more, than our physical bodies. For we will leave our broken physical bodies when we leave this earth anyway. I am just saying, humans tend to focus on the physical because that is what we can see and it tends to be a bit difficult for us to focus/understand a spiritual world when we cannot see it.

But it comes back to this question again: We know that God does not cause diseases, but it is us and the enemy, but, does God allow these diseases to help teach us and give us a physical consequence so we will stay away from these diseases? To be honest, I dont know the answer to this but it is a question that is kind of consuming my mind right now. I really dont know if I have even articulated what I meant on this blog, but I hope you can still understand. It may just be a question that God will answer for us in eternity.

Anyway sorry this is such a random blog post/journal, but this is really what is going on in my life. I am trying to start this new thing called transperency....it is quite interesting and freeing. :) Have a fantastic day!

Blessing,

Kevin McKinnon

My Last Weeks in the States, My First Week in Switzerland. (Journal Week #1, Monday, April 4- Sunday, April 10, 2011)

I have been in Switzerland for seven days now. It has been truly amazing being here! I absolutly love it! It is gorgeous, the weather is amazing, and I have a bunch of great friends in this school!

I left Boston just a little over a week ago. My time in Boston was great, I got to spend time with my mother, my aunts and other family members that mean so much to me! I also got pretty involved with running while I was there. I bought a new pair of shoes that are truly miracle workers! They are so comfortable and light and are really really good. They are New Balance 905. The other really cool thing about Boston is that New Balance is based out of Boston so it is very cheap there for the shoes. I got this pair of shoes for $40 off!

The other really cool thing about Boston is the Boston Marathon, which I completed in first place in my age group! WOO HOO! haha I am totally kidding, I did not do the Boston Marathon but I did do a 5k race for the hungry, which I did complete first in my age group! (I was probably the only one in my age group) haha. It was great anyway, and I am becoming a better runner day by day. One day though my goal it to be able to complete the Boston Marathon. I can only hope!

So I arrived in Switzerland on April 3rd, my first day here was very interesting, I packed WAY too much. It was such a pain walking throughout the airport with my 4 bags! I finally made it to Burtigny and within 2 hours I was already on an adventure to Lausanne with some of the staff from the base. We traveled the city, site saw, then passed out missionary books at a cathedral. I was very tired by the time I went to bed on the first night! But I did one other thing on my first day here...I ATE MY FIRST BITE OF SWISS CHOCOLATE!!! It is all down hill from here....it is just so good and cheap!!!

Earlier this week my class went to a class retreat in the beautiful country side, we were surrounded by mountains and a beautiful lake, it was amazing! It was also really great to see how the Lord is going to move through this class. I was in a really weird place at the retreat. I have not liked to share much about my life (not that I don't like my life, because I LOVE my life) but that I have never felt comfortable sharing my testimony. This week was also very interesting because we did not have a guest speaker, or a topic really. The topic of this week (if I need to create a title for it) it would be, "You and God". What I mean by that is that this week was all about focusing on what the Lord is doing in you and how He is speaking to you. It was uncomfortable and freeing at the same time. But I believe that God is like that alot. We must die to ourselves for the Lord to live in us, which is uncomfortable and freeing at the same time.

As I was looking at these three pictures the Lord just kept speaking to me about them and how it relates to me, in life, as well as this week. The other really cool thing about these pictures is they were all taken in Switzerland. In all three of these pictures the openess in them is part of the beauty! The other part of the beauty is the nature and the light in the picture. Now imagine these three pictures cluttered with buildings, cars, polution, boats, trash, and paved roads. It would change the picture completely! Even ruin the picture as a whole! I believe these pictures would be ruined because in one sense all of the things I listed that are not in the picture are all trapping! These pictures are freeing, and are FREE! That is what truly attracts me to these three pictures, it is open and free. Too often have we polluted our beautiful nature in our hearts, it can be with anything: distractions, regrets, grudges, burdens, past, or even future. That was the biggest thing I found out this week, it is so much easier to live in an open field than in a cluttered city! The only way we can free our hearts up again is by opening it up and letting God take all the trash out, piece by piece. It is a struggling process but so amazing afterwards! That is the biggest thing I learned this week is that I have to open my life up and my heart to others in the Lord and Jesus Himself, for He died for this very reason!

I really hope this made sense to you. I am so sorry if I was just rambeling but I was a truly profound journey the Lord brought me through this week. I am just so thankful for all that He is doing, and even going to do!

In His Love,

Kevin McKinnon

San Francisco With Love...

I went to San Francisco with a good friend of mine a week ago. We had a fantastic day in the city, walked a lot, ate lunch on the pier, walked some more, went to the Godiva chocolate factory, then went to the Golden Gate Bridge! It was seriously such an amazing day filled with lots of laughs and memories.

Below is a few photos of our photo shoot in San fran:

As we were leaving the city our hearts started to break. At first, we didn't understand why. I was confused, we had such an amazing day so why are we leaving crying? After a while I started to feel a difference between pain and brokeness. I started to feel such a deep sense of urgency for each person in this city. I thought about my day there and realized that out of the hundreds of people we saw all day we did not talk to one of them. I am not saying that everyone in the city of San Francisco is in need of Jesus, or hope. But people we run into everyday are missing something, something vital. Many people we run into daily are missing joy, hope, but most importantly, Jesus. The Lord was awakening my heart on that car ride home, much needed, but painful nonetheless. I just pray that I may be able to see people through the Lord's eyes even more than before now. That I may be able to see what the Lord is trying to do in every relationship I have.

I believe throughout our lives we let so many things get in the way of the Lord's heart for us. For instance: work, school, friends, stress, fears, entertainment, family, etc. I want to strive to live after the Lord first, and foremost! I know that sounds so typical Christian but it really is so vital, the second we lose the urgency to live for the Lord, is the second Satan has secretly won.

Someone who has recently TOTALLY inspired me and I have to give a shout-out to is Orgin Coffee Shop! This is one church and group of people who are living to truly bring complete glory to God! The baristas at this coffee shop work for no money at all! All the coffee is donated and the best part....ALL of the profits go to help free human trafficking victims! All the props in the world to the work they are doing! Especially in a culture like ours where it is so easy to get distracted.

Just to leave you with one last note I would like to quote the Word Of God. You cannot quote a better piece of literature ever! :)

“These things I have spoken to you,

so that in Me you may have peace.

In the world you have tribulation,

but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Blessings!

Kevin McKinnon

The Wonderful Nelson Family!

So my sister, brother-in-law, and nieces and nephew are all living with me. So I thought, "What a perfect time for some backyeard photographs" :) Enjoy! More pictures coming!

That is the beautiful Nelson Family. If you would like to follow them you may do so at www.randiloveslola.blogspot.com.

Thank you again and stay blessed,

Kevin

The White Rose

I am currently in Botswana right now. After two amazing weeks of ministry in Johannesburg, South Africa with the world cup we have now come to Botswana for some mercy ministries. To tell you the truth though, I am missing Johannesburg very very much!

My team and I did a lot of ministry with children. We led and organized a childs bible camp to keep the children off the streets during the world cup to prevent human trafficking. Those kids truly have changed my life! I miss them all so much!

Our last weekend in Johannesburg we were asked if we would like to go out for some prostitue ministry. I instantly jumped on board and was so excited to be a part of this! When we went out Friday night at 8:00pm I was so excited!! I knew what to expect because I have done other prostitute ministry before, but what happened that night I will never forget!

When we arrived where we were meeting the other teams partnering to do this I saw a few small bonfires on the sidewalk. I asked what these were and found out this is where we stayed the whole night. We partnered with teams from local churches, The Salvation Army, and IHOP (International House Of Prayer). The area that we were at looked like a normal neighboorhood, but soon enough we noticed that this wasn't any neighborhood, this was the pimp and prostitute centeral for Johanesburg. These houses around us were the homes of these pimps and where they held all of their prostitutes! It was insane to think that we were going so deep into the battlefront....yet it was so exhillerating!

As we started to pray and worship I found out that we had our bon fires in front of the biggest pimp-pad around. Across the street there were drug deals of all kinds going on and you could just feel the darkeness everywhere! Even though all of this was going on we pushed forward and kept worshiping the God above it all!

After a while I went out with some of the IHOPers to talk to some of the prostitutes. We all brought white roses to symbolize purity, beauty, innocence, and love; we handed these roses out to the prostitutes and pimps. After a few feet of walking we saw the street scattered with innocent girls that have been corrupted and stolen of their purity. They were everywhere!

I met one girl, her name was Precious. After I introduced myself and gave her the rose we just started to talk. We talked about many things: "How is business tonight?" "What got you into this?" "Did you have a choice when you were taken from your family?" "Why dont you get out?". After each topic it was like a knife going through my heart. Tears started to form behind my eyes and started to flow down my cheeks and hit the floor like bricks. Precious was so...numb. Numb to this world, numb to life, numb to love. She was on drugs at the moment but that didn't ease the pain. Precious was telling me the only way she can get through the night is if she gets high before each shift so that she can't feel anything. Each monotone word she spoke broke my heart.

After a while I gave her the 24hour Salvation Army Help Line for her to call if she ever wanted to get off the streets, they would pick her up at that moment and be put in a safe house. She wanted to call so bad, I could see it in her eyes! But, there was a stronghold, something holding her back, fear! Fear was living in her. As I was counseling her, I shared a part of my life when I felt like I wasn't clean, how I was impure and didn't deserve a second chance, but I still got one because of love. When I shared that to her I saw the tears starting to well up in her eyes (the first emotion I have seen from her all through our conversation). At that moment a car drove by (on of her pimps) and stared at her. She had so walk away from me or she would get in trouble. I prayed for her, and before I left I gave her a hug, when I hugged her I whispered in her ear "You are still innocent, pure, and loved. God still loves you no matter what you have done, you are His daughter and even if you run away from Him, it doesn't change His love for you. I love you, but more importantly He loves you." By this time she was weeping and with each tear that hit my shirt that night I felt freedom starting to shine in Precious' life.

Although Precious didn't get rescued that night, 2 other prostitutes were rescued that night and 3 pimps accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Precious is a jewel in my heart and I know that very soon she will be dancing with Abba Father, sitting in God's arms, as a precious, innocent, beautiful little girl as it was intended. When I make it to Heaven I know I will see Precious there and I cannot wait until that day. That is a night that will stay in my heart until the end of my days.

Thank you for your prayers for me, Precious, and others here in Africa.

In His Love,
Kevin

House Number 2

The Hope House is one of my main ministries. I truly love it so much, and I see so much loss, and pain in this community called Hope. That is my goal to bring Hope back to the Hope House. However draining this ministry is, I love it so much!

My first week at the Hope House, in early December, I walked into House 2, of the many houses in the Hope House. It was a lady, Make (pronounced Ma-gay) Dlamini. Make Dlamini had a stroke and now only the right side of her body works. She is literally deteriorating every day. Two of her daughters take care of her.

At first I just thought that an unfortunate thing happened to this lady, and that I may be able to pray for her healing. But, the more time I have spent with her, and the family, I have realized that this is something so much more than "just a sickness".

Make Dlamini is married to a man who practices polygamy. Many men in Swaziland find it perfectly acceptable to be married up to even 5 women at one time! Make Dlamini's husband has both of his wives staying on the same homestead, which can create many problems because most of the time these wives despise each other.

The other wife has been going to a witch doctor and has been casting spells on Make Dlamini, keeping her sick, and causing many things that normally does not happen if you just had a stroke. It may be difficult to believe. You may say "that stuff only happens in movies", I am sad to say that if you think that way you are very very wrong.

However beautiful this culture and these people are here, Satan is running rampart in this country. There are many witch doctors, witches, warlocks, potions, and spells here in Swaziland. Gladly, I know that God is much bigger than everything in this country! I proclaim life in this country, and it would mean so much if you could partner with me as I go to the front line and fight against this!

House number 2 where Make Dlamini stays may be in trouble right now, but I KNOW that if we pray with boldness and a pure heart, that our Lord, God Almighty can and WILL heal this woman. Impossible situations don't exist in God. So I plead for you to right now pray for Make Dlamini and Hope House number 2 right now. Thank you so much and I will make sure to update you when something happens! Thank you so much. Be Blessed!

In His Love,

Kevin McKinnon

Random Update

Sorry I have not updated this in a while. Things have been going great here! I am still loving every second here! I just wanted to let everyone know that everything is fine and great! If you feel led to pray for my trip over here, these are a few things that I need prayer for. Finances are a HUGE thing I need prayer for, while being here I have not been getting my monthly support that I raised in the states. In the states I raised about 300usd per month, while I have been here I have only been recieving about 170usd per month and it has been definetly difficult! There have been many things that I cannot do now, and to be frank I am really struggling without all the 300usd coming in. Anyway, other than that, things have been amazing! I would also love prayer for my ministries and for just for God to move. Alright thank you all and I love you all so much!
In His Love,
Kevin McKinnon