God Stories
This is a podcast produced by Anchored International Relief. Anchored International Relief is a non-profit relief organization that focuses on bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to unreached people groups around the world and train and raise up chaplains to respond to any incident within the US or abroad. This podcast will showcase what God is doing through our ministry and highlight some of the people that are involved in our ministry sharing how God is using them through Anchored.
God Stories
The Heartbeat of God: Life in the Mission Field
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Join Daniel Mamora and Gary Kusunoki as they explore the profound realities of life in the mission field, sharing personal stories, challenges, and the spiritual calling to reach the world for Christ. This conversation inspires believers to consider their role in global missions and the power of faith in transforming lives.
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Welcome to God's Toys, the broadcast ministry of international relief, where our mission is to share the love of Christ with others around the world. We disciple and race up leaders to preach the gospel to unreached people, minister to the inner city and poverty-stricken areas in the U.S. and abroad. Provide support to local police and relief organizations in response to natural disasters. We work to train up chaplains in the police and civilian industry. And we assist churches in training teams for mission and disaster response. We hope you're blessed by what you hear in this next half hour or so about what God is doing through this ministry.
SPEAKER_02And it's not just a place on the map, but it's the heartbeat of God. You know, from Genesis to Revelation, we see a God who is pursuing people from every tribe, tongue, nation, and language. And the mission field may be across the ocean, across the border, across the street, or even across the room. And wherever there are people who have not yet encountered the hope of Jesus Christ, there is a mission field. And uh I personally haven't been in a long uh um a long-distant mission uh trip. Um actually keyword is yet, because uh I am praying, still praying about going in October to Uganda. And so, but uh uh but Pastor Gary, who's been experienced in all these years uh in the mission field, and um you know, whether you're considering yourselves uh missions yourself or somebody who wants to better understand the people serving on the front lines of ministry around the world, you know, we pray that uh this conversation will encourage and challenge you to ask a simple powerful question. What role does God want me to play in reaching the world for Christ? And so I'm gonna hand this to Pastor Gary as he shares you know what that's all about.
SPEAKER_03Well, as you know, I've been involved in missions for a lot more years than I I really want to admit, but um for for me, the the call to missions, I I think it, you know, uh it it it was kind of a collage of a lot of different things, but it was hearing the need that that came from people that had gone out from the field and God using this to to do you know what he what he said in in Isaiah 6. You know, I heard who will go for me and whom shall I send? And I was so compelled, I had to say, you know, here am I, send me. I'm I'm I'm ready to go, I want to go. And and then it's Lord, what do you want me to do? And um, you know, one of our very first mission trips was was to Rwanda at the end of the the genocide there. And um we worked in in Rwanda for just about two years. We had uh an orphanage there that we helped to sponsor. And um, these were were kids that had uh seen their parents murdered in front of their eyes that were, you know, they came in lost and and hopeless. And I mean, just when you looked at their eyes, it was like empty. There's there's that that vacant, you know, uh thousand-yard stare that that someone who's gone through a traumatic experience has has encountered. And to see that go from um, you know, a vacant stare to life and joy and even a smile on their face, sometimes in in the first day that they're there as they're loved, as they're fed, as they're cared for, and then as we share the gospel with them and they accept Jesus into their heart, there there is nothing like that. But you know, at times it's hard. Um I remember in Rwanda um walking through a field, a killing field, where they had 8,000 bodies, 8,000 that were just stacked up one on top of the other. And you know, I w as as I was there and walking around, just you know, I I know that I had that thousand-yard stare, and and it was like I I there's no way that my mind could humanly process what I was seeing. And and you know, the faces of some of these people that that seemed like they were were frozen mid-screen. And it it was just it was overwhelming. And um, you know, I I I remember as I'm walking around, I I tripped over something, and then I looked down and and it was a shoulder blade, and it's just sticking out of the ground. And and I'm like it, you know, I I didn't know what to do. So literally I ran. I got out of there. And I just said, I can't take this. And and I I got the next plane home. And I I said, I you know, I I can't do this. I can't now remember I was a police officer, and so you know, I had seen death, I had seen evil, I've stared evil literally in the face, and and yet the this amount of horror is was was too much to bear. And so I said, I'm not going back. And and so, you know, I was praying, I was on the way home, and I I I was on the the plane as watching this this dumb movie, and and you know, wasn't even like a tear jerk or anything, but I just started to sob and weep, and I just started crying out to the Lord, and I'm like, God, why did I have to see this? Why do I have to see this? And and God's actually told me this on a few different occasions, but but this is what he spoke to me, and it was so real. He said, Because sin is real and people are really dying because of it. And they need to know my word, they need to hear the good news, and they need to become believers. Because if those killers were really believers, they wouldn't have done that. And and so um, you know, I I I I did go back. And matter of fact, I kept going back for two years, and and uh, but with a new resolve of of all right, Lord, uh, you know, the UN has uh all these reconciliation programs and things like that. But we know the only thing that's gonna truly bring peace and change a person is if it's done from the inside out. And it's only um if it's done by the Spirit of God. And so, so it really renewed my passion to go and to share the gospel. And, you know, what what the Lord has has called us to do is um you know what what's called compassionate evangelism. Um, in other words, we're going and doing practical things for people, sharing um, you know, food, medicine, you know, caring for them physically, and and at the same time sharing the gospel with them. Why do we do that? One, we care for them because we love them, because Jesus loves them. That love is real. And when they see that love and then they hear the message of the gospel, um, then uh it it changes them, it opens them up to know, okay, somebody really does love me. There is hope in this hopelessness and and in the darkness. And, you know, as as we've gone through the years, haven't had anything of that magnitude. We've been to disaster zones, went to Nepal right after the earthquake when 9,000 people died. I mean, we've been to the tsunami and in uh Sri Lanka and seen whole villages that were just wiped off the face of the earth. And and I'll tell you, Daniel, you you never get used to it. You never get to the point, well, okay, yeah, I've seen this. Um and and so from the point of view of the one that's out there, it it it's really hard. And I know that that other missionaries will will tell you the exact same thing. It's really hard. And and and yet it's worth it. And and I'm willing to go because you know Jesus is the answer. We have the answer to the hopelessness in this world. And so I I feel that sense of responsibility. Um and and we have to go willing to have our hearts broken. And you know, whenever we train teams to go to Uganda, we're training them and then telling them that um wait.
SPEAKER_04Is that me or you? That's you.
SPEAKER_02Oh yeah. Anyway. I apologize folks. That's uh you can c you can edit that, right?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, we can edit that, yeah. Yeah. Anyways, uh I I I go because because I have the answer, and the answer's Jesus.
SPEAKER_06Yes.
SPEAKER_03And I have hope, and the hope is in Christ, and I and I have power, and the power is in the Holy Spirit to change lives and and you know, and to see them uh come to salvation in Christ Jesus, and to know that we're giving them something beyond this life. I I you know, I remember one time we were in in South Sudan and we were bringing um uh food in during uh a famine. And we came into this village, and literally as we're walking into the village, they are carrying bodies out, just a a line of bodies, one after the other. And I remember a woman coming to me and and she had a little like looked like a sack, and you know, wrapped around her neck, and she opened it up and and it was her little baby, and you know, the baby was still alive, but but it looked like a skeleton. And I mean, I was just horrified. And then as we went in, literally every hut that we visited, someone was dying or had died. And and I remember that um talking to um a man that that was dying. And you know, they the doctors that we came with looked at him and said, you know, we're too late, there's no hope for him as far as physical physical recovery. The food we brought, actually, if we gave it to him, it would kill him quicker, um, because his organs have already shut down. And so they said, you need to share the gospel with him. And so, you know, we always talk about the starving in Africa, and so here was the starving in Africa. And and I went to him and I said, I I just kneeled down and and he was laying on the ground, and I just said, You're very sick. And he said, I know that. He said, but now that you're here and there's food, I'll live.
SPEAKER_04And I said, um, I don't think that we're gonna be able to help you.
SPEAKER_03And and I said, I I believe you're gonna die. And I said, but I want you to know that Jesus loves you. And and I'll never forget this. Um you know, laying on the ground, dying, I mean, so close to death, he he managed to struggled up onto his elbows and he looked me in the face and he said, If Jesus loves me, why am I like this? And it was like I mean, I was I'd he answer that. I was speechless. You know? I mean, it's different when somebody says, Well, God's a god of love, why are people in Africa starving? You know, well, here's someone starving in Africa saying, if God's a God of love, then why am I starving? And and I said, you know, I I don't know. I I don't know, and I'm so sorry that you're you're going through this, but I know that this life is not all there is, and that that if you accept Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior, that that you know, and ask him to forgive your sins and accept his sacrifice on the cross for you. I'm just kind of summarizing what I said, um, then then where you're going in heaven is so great and so glorious that that it's nothing to be compared to anything that you've experienced here on earth. And and God wants that for you. He sent us from all the way across the world, all the way across the world, just to tell you that he loves you and that he wants you with him in heaven. And you know, the man kind of looked down and then he looked up at me and and he thought about it and and he said then I'm ready to accept Jesus. And so he prayed right there. He prayed and asked Jesus into his heart, and and you know, as as we you know, we left some food with his family and then moved on, we came back about an hour later and he had passed away. But he's in heaven, you know. I'm gonna I'm gonna meet him again. And and so I mean, as hard as those things are, you know, the glory, the joy of seeing someone brought to salvation, to be given eternal life and freed from bondage to sin and death. Man, there there is nothing like that, you know. But you never get used to it. You never get used to to hearing the the cry of a mother over, you know, the death of her child. I mean, two weeks ago. Um, we lost a little Nakato. She was an eight-month-old baby girl that had just come into our our facility. And matter of fact, when she came into our facility, she was so malnourished that they immediately uh transported her to uh a special nutritional hospital. And she was there for about two weeks and and didn't wasn't didn't recover. And and so, you know, I mean, those things that that we're we're faced with almost on a daily basis, um, from a point of view of of being there on the field. And and and because I'm, you know, I go back and forth. I spend about half the year in Uganda and half the year back here, you know, working with with Anchored International Relief. I get both sides of it, but being there and you know looking in the faces of those that are hungry and are starving and are begging you for food, and and there are times when I just feel so helpless, and I'm like, Lord, I can't do this.
SPEAKER_04I mean, I I want to help them.
SPEAKER_03And you know, and but it's like Peter, you know, and and uh to the paralytic, he said, you know, gold and silver have I none, but what I have I give to you in the name of Jesus Christ. Rise up and walk, and and you know, and um you know, we've seen God heal people, we've seen God work um even without our intervention. But um, you know, what I have are the words of God, and and there's power in that. And and I believe that. But you know, sometimes honestly, Daniel, it's it's hard. And day after day of of just seeing, you know, people that are hungry. Right now in our own village, we're going through uh what they call the hunger gap, which is a time between um the last the planting of the crops and harvest. Uh so you know the food has run out from the last harvest, and um now the the people are hungry until they can harvest again. And you know, people come to us all the time and say, I slept hungry last night, which means I didn't eat last night, and and or I slept hungry for two nights or three nights, you know. Um we don't even understand that from a Western perspective, you know. Um and I don't know, I mean, I kind of think we're talking before the show, Daniel. You I mean you you see those some of those inf late night infomercials and and you see the you know the the people with the the starving kids. I mean, yeah how does that make you feel?
SPEAKER_02I mean that's only like you know, like a one or two minute well on commercials, but then there's 30-minute infomercials, and then you're just kind of like, oh wow, that is and then they play the sad music in the background, but um but you're just like you don't even realize that this is what's really happening, and there's not much attention that gets into in the media. And and of course, um, you know, there are legitimate ministries or organizations out there. Um, maybe something you see in infomercials, and of course there's some you're kind of like, uh, you know, is it really for you know, or is it really for yourself? You know, because then that's where people get skeptic when it comes to things like that. It's like, is it really going towards missions work? Is it really goes going towards these uh starving children? And um, but you know what? Like, regardless, it's like there needs there's work that needs to be done. There's work that needs to be done. And um, and I was just like going through like when you mentioned Rwanda, and um for those of you who some of you might remember, but some of you might not, um that was back in '94, and um almost a million people uh were um were murdered, including the president. And um, you know, his plane was shot down, and this whole genocide happening. And um I kind of want to ask Pastor Gary, like, you know, even with all these numbers, you know, being up there, and then you don't even know about your safety, you don't even know about, okay, hey, um, because one of the questions, especially from those that haven't been in a missions trip, I'm kind of worried about my safety. I'm kind of worried about my, you know, am I gonna get home? And uh after all of this. And even with all this happening, you still decide to go out there. And what's the encouragement? What what what causes you? You know, because I mean you probably have mentioned it earlier, but but why go back off you know, so many times after what you've witnessed?
SPEAKER_03Well, uh two things. One one is um believe it's 2 Corinthians 5, where Paul told the Corinthians, the love of Christ compels me. And and I am compelled by the love of Christ. But I also think of Acts 20, and you know, um Paul's there with in the Isle of Miletus, he's meeting with the the church leaders from Ephesus, and they're they're worried about him going to Jerusalem. And and you know, they don't want to. To go because it's dangerous. And in verse 22 of Acts 20, he said, And see now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. And then here's the key in verse 24. But none of these things move me, nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy. And the ministry which I receive from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And and with an with a calling from an extraordinary God. And so it's like, you know, when when I go, it's because uh the spirit's moving and compelling me to to go. And and you know, when when we think about what we're called to do, James 1.27 says, pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God is this, that to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. You know, this is we we talk about what's pure religion, and and you know, there there's a lot of things out there, there's cults out there, there's you know, false teaching everywhere, and it, you know, what's pure religion? Well, pure religion is defined not so much in doctrine and theology, but in action. It's it's when the word of God penetrates our heart and then results in an action of us being compelled to go and do what God says and and being willing to say, Here am I, send me.
SPEAKER_06Send me.
SPEAKER_03Here am I, send me. You know when Isaiah said that? God didn't tell him where he was going, he didn't tell him how much it was going to cost, he didn't tell him, you know, whether it was gonna be dangerous or not. You know, it didn't matter to Isaiah. Isaiah met with God, he was in fellowship with God, he was in the presence of God, and so when the call came out, who will go for us? Isaiah had to answer, I'll go, I'll go. And so it's in the presence of God. It's you know, us willing to follow the commandments of God to, you know, Psalm 82 3, defend the fatherless and do justice to justice to the afflicted and needy. And and, you know, it's who God is. He's a he's a father of the fatherless, right? You know, it's Psalm 68, 5. And and so, you know, it it's um I I can't say, okay, well, we'll do this, or or this is what you need to do, or or guilt somebody into going. You don't want to do that. Matter of fact, when we do our trainings, we'll we tell them everything. This is the worst that can happen to you. And and and if I could scare them away from going, it means they're not called to go. You know, and I'm not you know making it worse than is, I'm just telling the truth. You know, and and so it's like I I have to go because I need to follow the Lord. I need to know that that this is uh what God is calling me to do, and and that I'm gonna be obedient to his calling. And you know, there's something else too I was gonna say, um, you know, when we talk about giving, because there is a lot of that. There's a lot of skepticism out there, and and people say, you know, well, what's your administrative percentage? And, you know, at Anchored Relief, we're really blessed because we have one donor that that donates to take care of all our administrative needs, and you know, that salaries and everything else we need to keep the organization running. And the reason that he does that is because he wants what wants people's donations to go directly to the field. So when people give, that's not going to administration. Because we have this one one donor that that donates every year that takes care of administration, our administrative costs are are essentially zero. Um and and so um praise God. You know, it it's I I'm pleading, you know, on on behalf of those that are in the uttermost parts of the world, right? The the Jesus told the disciples in Acts 1.8 to tarry in Jerusalem and the Holy Spirit was gonna come upon them, and that he would give them power to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the world. The power doesn't come from us, it's not because I'm such a you know courageous guy or or anything like that. You know, it's it's because of the Holy Spirit that is moving and working in me. And whatever we're able to accomplish is accomplished by the power of his Holy Spirit through the word of God. And and it's all about seeing people brought from this life into eternal life. And, you know, we can feed them for a day, or we could feed them for a month, and that's great, but to give them eternal life, there's there is no value that we can put on that. You know, the Bible says that when one sinner comes to repentance, all of heaven rejoices. And and so, you know, that that's the that's a story, that's a situation that that we have. All of heaven is watching and waiting, and when someone comes to Christ, that they rejoice. Yeah. And so to be a part of that in in one way or the other is is just great. And then, you know, again, you know, we talked about this that that when people ask, how can I help? And we always say, you know, three ways, pray, give, or go. And you could do one of them or you could do all of them. But our the greatest thing, and and I'm not being trite about this, is prayer. Because, you know, sometimes out there it it could be pretty um, it could be pretty lonely, you know, and you feel like you're all alone and nobody cares, and and you know, I I I would love it if people would leave comments for for our missionaries out there, for our people that are working in in Nepal, Uganda, and Mexico, just telling them that you're praying for them. And and because there is nothing that encourages them more than than knowing that there are people in America or people somewhere in the world that that's praying for them. And so please would you drop a comment um and or send us an email or leave us a message or or whatever and uh send us a text and let us know that you're praying, that you're praying for the people there, um, giving. Um people say, well, you know, I I don't have a lot of money. What what can I do? Do you know, Daniel, that for for seven dollars, seven US dollars, we could feed one person in our village for a month. Seven dollars. Wow. Um, I mean, what I don't drink coffee, so what's the cop cup costs of a latte at you know at the at Starbucks at a coffee shop? You know, it's it's like that or more, right? So we're talking for the price of one cup of coffee, you could feed one person for a month. Yeah, and you know, the average size family in in our village, we have about 17,000 people in our village in the surrounding areas. They're you know, their average family size is six. So, you know, we're talking forty-two dollars to feed a family for a month. $42. I mean, um I got a family of six, I spend more of that at McDonald's, you know. And yeah. Um and and so it it's just like all of us in America compared to those in third world countries, we have a lot. And Jesus said, you know, he it's not he doesn't want us to feel guilty, he wants us to feel responsible. And he said, to whom much is given, much is required. And so, you know, can we afford seven dollars? Can we afford, you know, uh forty-two dollars? Um, I mean, it it's it's not that much. You don't have to be a millionaire, you know, it it's just um you know, sometimes I I see the, you know, my I just read today that Elon Musk was was uh uh you know now a trillionaire, and and it's like man, um one tenth of one percent, you know, that that would satisfy our budget, you know. And and and we could feed all these people. And and so um, you know, and and for our staff that's there in the field, you know, they're the ones that are there full time. You know, right now I'm back in the US and trying to get back over there. Um, but for a number of situations that we've talked about in in the last two episodes, we we haven't been able to, but but they're there every day and they're living this 24-7. And they're the ones having the the people bringing their starving children to them and the elderly that that and the widows that are saying, I I have nothing to eat. And and they're coming to us and saying, how how do what do we do? How do we feed them? And and I feel for them because I've been there and I know what it's like. And and so um we have we have the ability, we have the resources, uh, you know, and and God does too. I'm I'm I am I do not want people to feel guilty. I don't want them to give out of guilt. I want them to give as God purposed in their heart and and to give joyfully, hilariously, right? Yes, you know, God said it's the Bible says that he loves a cheerful giver, right? And so, you know, what can we do? And and so um, you know, we have a a a little lady in our ministry that that that gives ten dollars a month and and you know, and it's apologizing because it's not much, but I'll tell you for her, it's like that widow's might. Yeah, you know, it she's giving out of her need, uh not out of her abundance. And so, you know, in America, we have such a skewed view view of what a need is. And and I do too, right? You know, birthday time. What do you what do you want, Dad? And you know, oh, I need this, and like, you really need that? You know, this is this is the 20th flashlight we bought you, you know. And yeah, and so it's like we can do more.
SPEAKER_06Absolutely.
SPEAKER_03And and and so with with with what we seem think is little, um, there's so much that that we could do to minister to the widows, the orphans in the need, the elderly, the the disabled, and and you know, that's who we're really trying to help, those that are are most vulnerable. And sorry, I kind of got up on my soapbox and and but but I am passionate about these people. I'm passionate about the leper colony and in Nepal. I'm passionate about the kids in Mexico, these kids that are 10 years old that are being, you know, courted by the the gangs and the cartels and and you know, given guns and money and alcohol and drugs and and you know, they need hope. They need our help. And and we as Christians have the answer. We have the answer. And it's Jesus. And and that's what we're called to do. And and for me, it it breaks my heart. And sometimes honestly, I'm like, Lord, I don't know if I could keep doing this. It's just too hard. And then, you know, God sends me encouragement, or or you know, someone will write me and say, I'm praying for you. And and it sometimes we're in Uganda and I'll get uh a verse from from my friend Rudy, and he'll just say, I'm praying for you. And that means so much, you know, or or someone will give a gift and and say, This is for the hungry in in Uganda, and that means so much. And so, you know, thank you to those of you that have faithfully partnered with us by praying, by giving. I'll tell you the teams that have gone have all been such a blessing. And and you know, as we wrap up, I want to talk a little bit about going because we have a uh trip coming up to Uganda, Lord willing, October 3rd to the 18th of this year. And um, but you know, some people say, well, well, why take a team? They spend thousands of dollars to go there, and and you know, you could buy a lot of food with with just the cost of one person, but but the fact that people from America, you know, people from the Western world are willing to go makes such an impact on that community and immediately gives them credibility and a voice. And they're like, Because the people are like, you you left what we consider to be heaven to come to here, to visit us in the midst of our suffering. Why? And we're able to say, because Jesus loves you. And and the word, you know, spreads about our team. Did you know that there were American Christians here? And this is what they said. And so people we never even saw are hearing the message. And, you know, people are flocking to the church uh in the village just to see the the mission team that's come. And and so there, and and I uh I also, you know, one last story. Um I we have during a famine we had delivered food to um a village, and and I think we were able to bring in there about 25 tons. And um, you know, I was talking to one of the leaders there, and what he said to me is that that um, you know, what you brought is good. And and he said, please don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying that that it it you know we don't appreciate what you brought, but he said, we have a saying in in our culture that that the person who visits you in your time of distress is truly your brother. And and he said, It's not what you brought, it's that you came yourself. And so we're we're basically the the the as Christ in us is shown to them, you know, we're the only picture of Christ they've ever seen. You know, and and so you know it I mean what God can do with with you know, not a lot. I mean, we're we're hoping, you know, maybe we could bring 10 tons in into the village and 10 metric tons, uh, so that's 20,000 pounds of of food um into the village. And um it's it's gonna cost about uh eighty five hundred dollars total for for t you know uh for that twenty thousand pounds of food. And and so again, I mean just the scale of of that and then taking it down to seven bucks to feed one person for a month, you know, it's nothing. It's nothing. And and so on on behalf of of the people that are suffering, that are lost, that are that are hopeless, that need the gospel, that on behalf of the hungry and the hurting and the sick, you know, I'm I'm calling out. And um please, it's so encouraging if you would just tell us if you're listening, you know, just just send us a word of encouragement. Just tell us you're praying, please. And so that we can let the people know, hey, there's people in other parts of the world that are praying for you. Amen.
SPEAKER_02Amen. Yeah, if you want to give um our website, anchorrelief.org, on the give tab, that's where you can give. Um subscribe to our text. Um, our number is 949-3849282. Text the word air. You can subscribe to that. You want to give us a call directly, our air code 949-432-6777. Again, 949-4326-777. Also our blog, anchorrelief.blog, and um our Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, um, and pull various platforms that I didn't even know that were on YouTube. I think like Amazon, Echo, I think we're on there too. Um, but there's um various you just type our um our name Anchored International Relief, and then you'll be able to find us. Um, but yeah, and I think too, we're going back to you know why we go there too, and like why um why we um you know, like you mentioned earlier, Gary, about you know, hey, this much money can help with um so much um basically um with uh with the food, but then it costs thousands of dollars for a missionary to go down there, but that's where the Lord, you know, moves in people's hearts and be like, okay, hey, you know what? I want to support that missionary because it's the work of the Lord. And you know, and there's so many ways in how we worship the Lord, you know, through our giving, through our service, through our time. There's various ways. And you know, when you're out there too on the mission field, you know, it it produces endurance because it tests your faith, you know, as James 1 says, you know, the and it counted all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience, it produces endurance, and it gives you a whole different perspective of I'm so blessed. I'm so blessed here. You know, it gives us countless opportunities to live out that truth, and every challenge becomes an invitation to trust God more deeply, every obstacle becomes an opportunity to watch and provide, and every child becomes another mind. The God the gospel advances, not by human effort, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. Yeah, so good. Yeah, and please, yeah, and and and please, I encourage you guys there. If you're struggling to give and you just you know you're not a cheerful giver, like don't even bother. It's okay. You know, that's not what we live for. You know, so like it would if if it's out of like you feel like obligation rather than the abundance of the heart, you know, don't give. Don't give. But if it's out of the abundance of the heart, and you know, because God blesses a cheerful giver and you love to, it's like that's where you come and step in, you know, because that's because we want you to be blessed, you know, because the Lord has moved in your heart. And that's so because you know, it's like we mentioned, you know, six dollars, you know, can feed a f um a family for a month. One month, like that is insane because think of it as like th three average of three meals per day. here in America is comparable to about five or six months for a whole family.
SPEAKER_03Well no the six dollars is per person.
SPEAKER_02Gotcha. Thank you. Sorry about that. But but look at that comparison.
SPEAKER_03I mean you could tell or seven dollars, sorry. Seven dollars a person.
SPEAKER_02Yeah even just even just a little bit blesses so much. You know it goes a long way. It might not look at it like from an uh an American point of view but I'll tell you what it it changes the world. Even a little bit any little bit helps. So anyway. God bless you guys. Thank you all. And uh please like as as Gary said leave us a comment share with us a story you know share sh share on our on our YouTube page or just email us uh on our website or even uh message us on our Instagram and uh we would love to hear from you and uh um and if you ever need any resources like a Bible or anything like that please let us know we would love to um equip you because that's the most powerful thing you could ever possess or ever have the sword of the spirit which is the word of God.
SPEAKER_03So God bless you gonna pray us out Daniel?
SPEAKER_02Oh yes I totally forgot about that oh Lord thank you so much for um just uh incredible conversation and just giving us an opportunity to um share your love and um what your Holy Spirit does and um your mercies are new every morning and you just provide in so many ways and you just use all of us in so many different ways Lord and I just pray that um um that uh that those missionaries out in the field Lord would just be protected be blessed financially they'll be provided and especially the people in those countries Lord the residents of those countries uh they would just um just experience your love not because of the the generous giving or anything like that but it's because of the power of your Holy Spirit and so I pray for every single uh servant out there Lord they would just be filled by the Holy Spirit be baptized by the Holy Spirit and uh they would just be equipped be touched and um Lord I just pray for all of us here that are uh wanting to go or or in the fence of going Lord I just pray that you just speak to us that you just speak and you just give clear direction on what you want us to do and that we just rely on every step of the way in your ways and in your path Lord and not of us but to your name be the glory.
SPEAKER_01So we thank you Lord for your grace your love and your mercy and your healing hand and your provision Lord we love you we praise you we thank you in Jesus' name amen amen God bless you God bless you guys see you soon we like to thank every single one of you for listening to God's stories to connect with us go to anchoredrelief.org and follow us on Instagram or follow us at our blog at anchorrelief.blog you could also subscribe to our YouTube channel as well as our Apple Podcasts and Spotify to subscribe to our text thread text the word air AIR to the number 949-3849282 again that's 9493849282 or you can call us directly on our office line at area code 94946777 that's 949 432 6777 The Proceeding was a production and broadcast ministry of anchored international relief