quotes from desmond

"To be neutral in a situation of injustice is to have chosen sides already. It is to support the status quo."

I'm sitting in Borders (a bookstore) and I picked up this book of Desmond Tutu quotes. There were some great thoughts and wisdom so I thought I'd share a few quotes with you.

But first, here's some info about Desmond Tutu: He became famous during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid and was the first black South African Archbishop of Cape Town. Desmond Tutu denounced the South African system of apartheid and called for equal rights for all South Africans. After apartheid, he was appointed as the chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, investigating the human rights violations during apartheid. Archbishop Tutu counseled forgiveness and cooperation, rather than revenge for past injustice. He has been active in the defense of human rights and uses his high profile as a champion for the oppressed.

Here are some quotes about justice and injustice:

"When we look squarely at injustice and get involved, we actually feel less pain, not more, because we overcome the gnawing guilt and despair that festers our numbness. We clean the wound - our own and others' - and it can finally heal."

"In a situation where human life seems dirt cheap, with people being killed as easily as one swats a fly, we must proclaim that people matter and matter enormously."

I'm excited to get involved, to be a part of what God is already doing in Thailand. I don't want to shy away from hard issues - I want to be engaged in the fight against injustice. I want to speak out about the value of each life. I want to feel God's love for every person that He has created in His image.

I also loved this other quote:

"When you have a hand and you have only the separate fingers, it is easy for people to break the fingers. But when you put the fingers together it is difficult to break them. Let us come together and be one, let us be people of peace, let us be people of harmony."

This speaks to me about the importance of unity, of working as a team, of the body of Christ. On my own, I would have very little impact and not very much would change. But I'm part of a team! A team of 9 women who are going to be serving in Thailand. A team of all the people who are supporting and praying for me - as a person reading this blog, you are a part of that team!

One last quote:

"Nothing is too much trouble for love."

Thank you for being a part of the team of people that are supporting me financially and in prayer! Please continue to pray for me and contact me if you feel that God is calling you to support me as I go to Thailand. Thank you!

Land of the Free?

So yesterday afternoon I started to do some research about Thailand. I mean, if I’m planning on going there then it would probably be good to know a little bit about it, right?

Well, the first thing I learned was that Thailand means “Land of the Free”. This really struck me and got lots of thoughts going in my head. The Operation World prayer guide explained a bit more about the meaning behind this:

“Thailand means Land of the Free because it successfully retained its freedom when surrounding countries were colonized by Western powers. It is believed that a special guardian angel, Phra Sayam Devadhiraj, protected the land, and a golden image of this spirit being was made. It has been worshipped ever since. The land is in bondage to a complex web of culture, spirit appeasement, occult practices and Buddhism, with a social cohesiveness out of which few have dared to come. For many Thai, their nationality and religion are inextricably linked. Pray for the spiritual breakthrough so that in the Lord Jesus the Thai may be free indeed.” (http://www.operationworld.org/country/thai/owtext.html#1-2).

So, with the meaning of Thailand being ‘land of the free’, how is the kingdom of Thailand actually doing in terms of freedom?

First of all, over 90% of Thai people are Buddhist, and less than 2% are followers of Jesus. There is widespread spiritual bondage in this country. It breaks my heart that so many Thai people don’t know Jesus. As they bring their offerings to Buddhist shrines, many have no idea about the love and grace that God longs to pour over them. God loves Thai people and desires to be in relationship with them! He wants MORE for them than continual offerings and rituals that will never appease the idols that they are presented to. He wants MORE for them than the works that they do in efforts to gain merit.

And the irony behind the meaning of Thailand – land of the free – is even greater when I think of the focus of our outreach. We are going to be working with women in the sex trade – a place of desperate bondage. Freedom is not a reality for the prostitutes on the streets of Bangkok.

Here are some stats to give you a glimpse into the extent of this bondage:

There are 2 to 3 million prostitutes in Thailand, a third of which are minors and children (one website called Thailand ‘Disneyland for pedophiles’).

4.6 million Thai men regularly, and 500,000 foreign men annually, use prostituted women and girls.

Many of the prostitutes that are working the streets of Thailand were sold into the sex trade at a young age because of poverty. They had no choice, they had no options, they had no opportunities. Their lives are shortened because of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, spiritual), sickness (HIV/AIDS, etc), and addictions (drugs, alcohol).

There is so much brokenness and bondage in Thailand. This is so different from what God wants for these beautiful children and women (and men too). This is not what God intended for Thailand.

But can Jesus redeem and restore this nation? Can He bring change and transformation to the poor family that is hungry because they can’t find employment and buy food? To the victim of sex trafficking who has been repeatedly violated and abused? To the drug addict that is now affected with HIV/AIDS? To the businessman who stops by and visits the brothel each day after work?

I believe that He can! I believe that God wants to transform Thailand so that it truly is the “land of the free”!

This past week, our speakers were talking a lot about the kingdom of God. So I started thinking; what would it look like for God’s kingdom to come in Thailand?

Isaiah 61:1 says:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.

Jesus brought freedom! There is spiritual freedom in Christ! Freedom from sin, guilt, and shame. Freedom from having to bring offerings to shrines and constantly striving to make merit. Freedom to be who we were created to be – His beloved sons and daughters. Freedom to know and love Jesus and be in relationship with Him!

And Jesus also proclaimed physical freedom! Freedom from sickness and disease (HIV/AIDS) and addictions. Freedom for the captives – for the many women and children who have been trafficked into the Thai sex trade.

In Isaiah 58:6-12, God says:

Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?

Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry a

nd bring the homeless poor into the house; w

hen you see the naked, to cover him; a

nd not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then your light will break out like the dawn, a

nd your recovery will speedily spring forth; a

nd your righteousness will go before you; t

he glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; y

ou will cry for help, and He will say: "Here am I."

If you do away with the yoke of oppression, w

ith the pointing finger and malicious talk,

And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry a

nd satisfy the needs of the oppressed, t

hen your light will rise in the darkness, 
a

nd your night will become like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins a

nd will raise up the age-old foundations; y

ou will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,

Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

God longs for Thailand to be a kingdom of freedom. Light. Healing. Peace. Righteousness. Justice, Salvation. Love. Grace. Mercy. Hope. Jesus reigns! And Jesus wants to reign in the hearts of the Thai people!

Pray with me that God’s kingdom will come in Thailand! Pray for freedom and healing! Pray against the lies and deception that the enemy has used to keep Thailand in bondage for so long. Praise God that the darkness has to leave when His light comes! Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!

I'm going to Thailand!

When I first arrived here in Hawaii for YWAM, I thought that I would be going to Cambodia. This country has been on my heart for the past few years. I had learned about the poverty and child trafficking that is so prevalent in Cambodia and was really hoping to one day go there.

But God had a different plan in mind for me (His plans are always better J)! A few days after I got here, we were having a time of worship with the whole YWAM base. As I was worshipping, God suddenly brought a picture of Thailand to my mind. I was confused and dismissed it at first. But over that week and the following week, each time that I was worshipping, God brought the same picture to mind. And I couldn’t get Thailand off of my mind! I had to go there!

I also found out that the outreach in this country is going to be focused on sex trafficking. This is exactly what God has placed on my heart – to work with women and children in the sex trade.

Today we found out our outreach locations and I am going to Thailand! I am on a team of eight girls – my teammates are Allysha, Marissa, Abbie, Ivy, Gulya, Marisa, and Catherine, and our leader is Jackie. These ladies are amazing and I feel so blessed to be on the same team as them! I know that we are going to grow so close together during our time in Thailand.

We don’t have all of the details together for our trip yet but we have a rough idea of what we will be doing. First, we will be going to northern Thailand to see where many of these women have come from so that we can understand their background and life situations. After that, we will mainly be serving in Bangkok. We will be working with women who have come out of the sex trade as well as women who are still working in the sex trade. We will be partnering with various organizations and churches - so don’t worry, we will be safe!

I know this is going to be an intense trip but I am so excited about what God is going to do! Today our speaker was talking about this verse:

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

We are the church and God has called us to bring light into dark places. The gates of hell cannot prevail against us! We are not called to live in a defensive posture – we are called to go to the places where evil is setting up its gates and to take them down. There are gates of hell in Thailand but I believe that these can be taken down by the love and power of Jesus Christ! God’s love for the nation of Thailand and for those who are enslaved in the sex trade is so incredible!

I will keep you updated as things come together! Also, I am still in need of money for my outreach so please contact me if you are interested in supporting me. Thank you!

Please also pray for me and my team as we formulate plans and come up with creative ideas for our outreach. Pray for unity and love as we grow closer together. And pray for Thailand!!!

Thank you – love you!

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

What can wash away my sin?


Nothing but the blood of Jesus;


What can make me whole again?


Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow


That makes me white as snow;


No other fount I know,


Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is one of my favourite songs and I was reminded of it again this past week. We’ve been reading a book called “Celebration of Discipline” by Richard Foster. The first chapter was on Meditation so I’ve been trying to put this into practice each morning. I’ve been meditating on the same passage for four days and allowing God to teach me through His word. The story that I’ve been looking at is that of the woman who wet Jesus’ feet with her hair, washed them with her tears, and anointed them with perfume (Luke 7:36-50). Each day God has been revealing His truth to me and highlighting different aspects of the story.

I’m not going to tell you everything that I’ve been learning from this story, but I will share a few things. I love how this woman is so passionate and unashamed in her worship. Her actions show single-minded, whole-hearted devotion. She is completely engaged in what she is doing as she washes the feet of Jesus. Her desire is to serve and honour Him.

She knows that she is unworthy, that she is a sinner. But Jesus tells this woman, “Your sins have been forgiven.” This statement is so powerful. Jesus forgives our sins. This is a big deal!

My sins are forgiven. There is nothing I can do but accept this incredible forgiveness and grace. But too often I find it difficult to accept it. Although I know in my head that I’m forgiven, at times I still dwell in the feelings of shame and guilt because of sin in my life.

I'm so proud and independent. It's difficult to believe that God's love and grace are unconditional, that we really don't have to do anything, that we can't do anything but believe. We are redeemed by Jesus, His blood cleanses us and washes away our sin. He makes us whole and complete. His grace is sufficient.

Jesus tells her to "Go in peace." What an amazing gift - peace! We are reconciled to God in Christ. He is our peace (Eph. 2:11-22). And as we rest in His grace and forgiveness, we experience this amazing peace.

This is a bit of what I've been learning. I also wanted to add some prayer requests:

- Pray that I will be open to whatever God wants to do in my life during DTS and that my focus will be completely on Him

- Pray for God's guidance in choosing an outreach location (options are Haiti, Togo, Cambodia, and Thailand)

- Pray that God will provide for the rest of the costs for my outreach - contact me if you are interested in supporting me.

- Pray for healing for my foot. I hurt it before I left and it's been feeling a bit better but is still sore.

As you pray, please email me if there is anything that God puts on your heart that you want to share with me. Thank you!

Seek My face

Before I left for YWAM, I felt that God was calling me to refocus and reprioritize my life. I’ve been so busy this summer and my focus has too often been on DOING things rather than on KNOWING Jesus and resting in His presence.

In the week before I left, I was reading the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10. I was convicted of living a life like Martha where I was so busy doing and serving that I was neglecting to simply stop and sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from Him. In this story, Jesus says to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42). I was reminded that my life should be about knowing Jesus and going deeper with Him rather than busying myself and neglecting relationship with Christ.

God has continued to speak to me about rest and refocusing. A few days ago, I was chilling out in Hawaii and reading my Bible and God brought a verse to mind. It was Psalm 27:8, which says:

When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You,

"Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.

I read through the rest of Psalm 27 and there were a few other verses that also stood out to me:

One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek;

That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the Lord

And to meditate in His temple. (v.4)

Wait for the Lord;

Be strong and let your heart take courage;

Yes, wait for the Lord. (v. 14)

God has been calling me to seek His face. Not just now. But for the rest of my life. He has been pressing this idea and longing into me. My desire is to live a life of fixing my eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:1-3). I want to sit at His feet and learn from Him and worship and adore Him. I want to seek Him singlemindedly, with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength (Luke 10:27).

There are so many more verses that I could quote or things that I could say, but I just wanted to share a little bit of what God has been laying on my heart and showing me.

* My favourite Bible story is in 2 Chronicles 20 and I think it’s a beautiful example of what can happen as we choose to focus on God and look to Him. I love King Jehoshaphat’s response to an impossible situation – recognizing his powerlessness, fixing his eyes on God, and directing others to also look to God (v.12-13). Take a look at this story if you are interested.

My address in Hawaii

Hey!

Just wanted to let you know my address in Hawaii:

Katie Born

Justice DTS, September 2010

University of the Nations

75-5851 Kuakini Hwy.

Kailua Kona, HI 96740-2136 USA

See ya!