Posted in General Posts by Wesley Vickers on 5/24/2012
Love
God’s love is unconditional and steadfast. It is perfect and eternal. It is personal. It is not based upon good works or performance. There is nothing we can do to make God love us more or less. He loves us even though we are unworthy. God's love is for everybody. He simply wants us to believe in His love!
I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
Jeremiah 31:3
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38,39
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:10,11
What does it mean to love God?
We must completely abandon ourselves to Him and desire God’s will above our own happiness. We have to set aside our thoughts, desires, and emotions so that God’s love can fill our hearts. We simply must obey his commands. We are called to love God with all of our passion, with all of our soul, with all of our thoughts and reason, with all of our abundance, with all of our life! When we do this, the Holy Spirit will guide us in a Godly lifestyle.
In every situation we can choose to love. The Greatest Commandment is:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Matthew 22:37
And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself
Matthew 22:39
Our ministry in Luhansk, Ukraine has really taught me how to love like God calls us to love. Here is what it has looked like:
This month we are working with Bruce MacDonald. Bruce puts on eye clinics at different churches throughout the area. It happens at a nearby Protestant Church and patients receive a free eye exam and free eye glasses. The reason behind this is to reach the older generation. While they wait for their exam we play music, have someone preach or share a testimony, pray for people and just talk! We prayed for one babushka (grandmother) that had cataracts and her eyes were healed! Read about this awesome testimony here. This ministry is amazing because it brings the older generation into the church. Remember that almost all of these people grew up in a communist nation and believe anything of the Protestant church was a cult.
We also got the chance to teach grade-school kids English and the value of it. Some of these kids have never seen Americans besides Bruce and his family who visit from time to time.
We got a chance to go to the orphanage and spend time with the kids. It is one of the largest in the area and has over 250 invalid children. It's hard to describe the emotion that occurs when you see them. Some of these kids have serious disabilities. The one in the last picture with Jill never leaves the bed. Even though it breaks my heart, I look at them through God's eyes. They are beautiful and are in need of love, someone to touch them or talk to them. It's life changing!
We have eight days left and none will be wasted. We still have more eye clinics, church, and an English camp all up until the last day. God has more in store and I'm choosing love in everything I do!
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13
FINANCIAL UPDATE: I leave for Tanzania in eight days and I will be there for a month. I doubt I will have much internet connection at all but I need $3,000 by July 1st to be FULLY FUNDED! I still have more than half way to go on the race and I'm trusting God to provide this money as He has multiple times before! You guys are incredible and I'm praying for you all! Make this happen so I can continue!
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Posted in General Posts by Wesley Vickers on 5/20/2012
On one of our days off the Romanians took us to a cave in their village. This is a video I made, shot with my iPhone. The crazy and fun things World Racers do!
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Posted in General Posts by Wesley Vickers on 5/17/2012
It is the start of month five on The World Race. This past week in Bucharest we wished our three amazing squad leaders goodbye. They spent four awesome months guiding us, supporting us, speaking life into us, and loving us. We already miss them but know God is going to bless them on their new journeys. I put together this slideshow (and video at the end of Mac's dance skills) of them at debrief. If you would like to read about their race check out their blogs. Mac Mitchell Hope Mendola Caitlin Parker
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Posted in General Posts by Wesley Vickers on 4/25/2012
What does the title have to do with the blog? Well I was on a dairy farm with the best milk I've ever had and that's about it so check out what I've been up to this past month.
Well to start it off we had a crazy travel weekend where we traveled from Honduras to Miami then to New York. In New York we had a 24 plus hour layover and I got to explore New York City. From there we flew to Istanbul then to Bucharest. Stayed one night at a hostel then took a twelve hour train ride to Oradea the next day. My team has been living here for the past month along with two other teams! First month with a bed and it's so good!
Our ministry... construction! We have been drilling, hammering, sawing, sanding, plastering, and installing insulation; working with awesome people here at Caminul Felix. This is such a beautiful place and God is blessing this ministry tremendously.
The house
Doing what I do best... looking good for photos, I mean working hard!
Working with Benjamin... He had legit skills and spoke some good english
"Praise God"
Caminal Felix is a Christian Organization that places rejected and abandoned children with a mother and father and a family. This is a part that I have taken from their website... "The suffering among the rejected children is our calling. We believe that their only hope for full life is to be given a new, real family, with a mother and a father, and with the security and caring love a family can provide. The environment they can be given at the Felix Family Village is this. And it can transform their lives." Living there for a month and meeting and getting to know these kids has shown me that this place is doing just that, transforming lives. These kids are joyful and love Jesus! There are two villages in Oradea, each has 16 families caring to over 200 children. These kids are given tremendous opportunities and it all started with hope!
We lived on a dairy farm and oh boy it was nice... I was the milk man and all it took was a short walk to the milk machine! Boy was it a nice walk!
The Milk Machine
The best thing about this month was being apart of Salem Church and the awesome people there. We went a number of times and got the privelage of attending a youth conference and we also got to perform a skit in front of over 500 youth! That was completely by surprise but I know God used it to touch lives. The Lord has brought me many new friends through this church. We went on an awesome cave adventure and had a multiple cookouts! I love these crazy Romanians!
Worship
Guest speaker, Lance Batiste out of Atlanta, Georgia! Yeah, Lance brought the heat and many people accepted Christ through his God-spoken word!
a few of the guys from the church
Kabobs on the grill
Some of the group with Benjamin and his family
My favorite Romanian Maria and I
My month was one that I never will forget. It was my first time in Europe and even though I spent many days sick with the flu it was still incredible! God keeps revealing things to me and I'm living life day by day trying to love the people around me but first loving God! My new team is just amazing and I'm excited for what God has up ahead!
Financial Update: I'm in need of $3500 before the next and final deadline July 1st. I can't believe that I have already raised $12000 and I will be FULLY FUNDED once I reach this deadline. Sounds so sweet! Don't do it for me, do it because God is changing lives and you are a part of it! Thank you more than you know it to those who have donated and are praying for me and my team. Love you guys and you don't even understand how much I miss everyone!
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Posted in General Posts by Wesley Vickers on 3/28/2012
A day of Ministry in Tegucigalpa, Honduras might just go like this…
The van shows up
We pile in and hit the road
Our destination is undetermined
“Are we going to a school?”
We show up at an Alcohol Anonymous meeting
The Pastor asks us to lead worship
During the first song Casey’s guitar string breaks
12 Americans sing Spanish songs a cappella
We finish and take a seat as the men applaud
“Can you all perform a drama?”
“We don’t have one prepared”
“Will someone share his or her testimony?”
I quickly volunteer as the Lord was speaking to me
I go to the front along with our best Spanish speaker Alys
“Me llamo Wes, tengo 21 anos, Soy de Atlanta, Georgia en los Estados Unidos”
Stressing about the translation, Alys and I begin
Immediately I hear a voice behind me following my words in Spanish
God PROVIDES a translator
I share my testimony and how alcohol has tore apart my family
How I was a man in disguise at one point in my life
Living for the things of this world
But claiming to be walking by faith
One day God told me no more
The next day my best friend says what are you doing?
I say it’s ok I know, I know… no more
GOD has RESTORED my family and my life
He has done away with the old
and given me a new life
God can save you too
I end with some words of encouragement
Pastor also shares his testimony
A very successful man but
Alcohol took away his wife, his kids, and almost his life
“God if you truly exist help me!”
And HE DID
Now a pastor and a lawyer, spending his time sharing God’s word
Pastor Armando has a new life
He ends with a prayer
If you want a new life in Christ repeat after me
With my head bowed I hear voices fill the room
More than twenty grown men stand up and surrender their lives to Christ
This is what it’s about
This is what I live my life for
I lay my problems aside and ask God to use me
and HE DOES
We hop in and go having no idea where
Sharing my testimony with the group
Some of the guys waving bye and thanking us for coming
Still in need of about $700 to meet my April 1st deadline. Love everyone and thanks for staying in touch! We fly to New York Friday the 6th, have a day layover, then leave for Romania. Keep my squad in your prayers for safe travel.
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Posted in General Posts by Wesley Vickers on 2/25/2012
This is where we are staying for the month. Month two of sleeping pads and tents!
The whip piece right here! Sunday we packed 30 people plus a drum set, keyboard, and two large speakers... Was it safe? Probably not. Were people saved because of it? Yes! Salvadorians get down!
Ministry has been non-stop! God is changing lives and love is being spread! Everyday we do some sort of evangelism in some of the poorest areas. We do dramas, share testimonies, worship, preach, give out food, and play with the kids!
This is one of the areas we went to this past week. It’s tough knowing people can live like this. As we were walking and handing out food we heard news that there was a sick man at the next house we were going to. As we walked in there was a man lying dead on the bed. He had just died maybe one or two hours before because he had gone 15 days without food. I believe he had an alcohol problem and it consumed his life. His mother was so badly hurt and she had gone days without food as well. Some prayed for the dead man and some comforted and prayed for his mother. There was so much confusion and pain in the room. As we were clearing out a few of the girls stayed behind and continued to pray for the woman. She called out to God and thanked Him for her son and starting singing praises and a peace came over her. It was a new situation for me but I thank God for putting me there because I know He used our group to comfort the mother and family!
Valentino renewed his life in Christ as we prayed for him!
These are people’s houses… made of sheets of metal, concrete, or wood. They have absolutely nothing. A few years ago there was a bad storm and it wiped out a lot of the houses. A group of Canadians comes down each year and build houses and spread love!
The people of El Salvador!
Some of the places we have visited on our free days
La Playa El Tunco
The top of a Volcano overlooking San Salvador
Juayua Waterfalls
This is our contact Victor Reyes. He has an incredible love for God and for his people. He is doing great things at such a young age. Everything he does is for the glory of God! I have such a great respect for Victor!
Thank you for the continued support. I miss everyone a ton! If you want to catch up or have any questions send me an email or leave a comment! Also I’m still in need of $2,800 by April 1st. Please, please, please consider giving something! Anything and everything helps.
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Posted in General Posts by Wesley Vickers on 2/18/2012
Month one was an awesome start! I grew closer to God, closer to my team, and fell in love with the kids at the orphanage! I was going to add some pictures but my wifi connection hasn’t been strong enough.
This month we are working in San Vicente, San Salvador. We are staying in a very nice and safe neighborhood and the people here are very friendly! Our ministry consists of evangelism and outreach to the local community and schools. We are practicing dramas and dances to perform in the streets and at the schools. We have church services Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday where we will be preaching, worshiping, and sharing testimonies. I am completely out of my comfort zone doing most of these things but I know God will use them. Usually during the day we go out and pray for the community and people and play with the kids. These prayer walks have been extremely powerful. It’s only been a few days and I’ve already experienced physical and spiritual healing and people giving their lives to Christ. I’m growing more confident in the power of our God. Today we went to a very poor community and prayed and played football with the kids. The kids are covered in dirt and most of them don’t even have shoes but they have such a joy! I really don’t understand at times but I can just sense God has His hand over them. I enjoy every second I get to spend them because it is changing me and giving me a peace! I would have never imagined the beauty of this country! As soon as I get better connection I will be able to upload pics and videos!
Financial Update: I’m just over $8,000 and in need of $3,000 more by April 1st. Thanks to all of my supporters! I’ve came this far with the help of you! Please help me get the remainder of this money so I can continue to share the love with unreached people all over! God is doing some incredible work already and I can’t wait for what He has planned ahead!
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Posted in General Posts by Wesley Vickers on 2/1/2012
Daniel was born to a prostitute in El Salvador. His mother left him in care of a woman six years ago and never came back. Daniel moved from place to place and was badly treated until he arrived at Los Gozosos four years ago. Nobody is quite sure what his age is but the courts estimate he is now 14. Daniel was known as a kid who had never been loved...
I have been at Los Gozosos for about three weeks now and I have spent much time with Daniel. I have been able to share moments with him at each meal, during school, church, worship, and just around the house! During my time here I have been blown away by this young man! Daniel is loved!!!
At each meal Daniel helps sets the table, and then prays for our food. We try our best to repeat after him in Spanish! I think we finally got it down… During our meal Daniel often talks, jokes and sings with us. His English is incredible! His favorite songs are “Jesus Loves Me” and “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.”
In school Daniel always gives his best effort! When he finishes his work he gets a check and a smiley face and we clap! His face lights up with the biggest smile! His talent and work ethic amaze me!
Church and worship are Daniel’s favorite times! He can sing every song in the hymnbook! It’s insane!!! At times when he sings in church you can hear his voice over everyone else’s! During the message you can always expect to get a few “Amens” out of him as well! He has a crazy passion for God! Daniel loves music. He is always asking one of the girls to play their guitar or ukulele and his sense of humor always keeps you laughing!
I thank God for all that I have learned from Daniel! The greatest thing about him is his faith in Christ. He has a sincere relationship with Jesus and shows it in everything he does. He is always friendly and helps everyone out. He is a brother to me and will always have a place in my heart!
Daniel from Wesley Vickers on Vimeo.
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