Motion Tour 2008

I have now had time to get home and process most of what happened during our time in China. I have been on mission trips before, but none like this. I truly believe that Amy and I will draw strength from this trip for the rest of our lives.

Being a leader is not defined by money, fame, or success. It is simply defined by influence. Which raises the question... How do you influence? The answer is love. LOVE INFLUENCES! During the two week camp, our team from Highlands got a chance to put our leadership into motion by loving and serving our Chinese friends. We built so many relationships that allowed us to strategically share Christ during small group discussions, teaming up and playing basketball or soccer (a.k.a. football), and just enjoying free time together. What a dynamic experience it was to see decisions for Christ being made each day. Thank you, Lord, for empowering me to fulfill your Great Commission.

- BRANDON


Thoughts of China race through my head constantly. I am still blown away by the whole experience, and I am having trouble processing it all. I went there to teach, but instead I learned sooo much. Being put in a position where you can truly live with a missions mentality for two weeks was incredible; it made me realize how short I fall every day. I felt so clean--no cell phone, no internet, no TV or Hollywood, no rush hour traffic, no daily grind or in my case no planner... I didn't care how I looked, or how tired I was, or how hungry... Our focus was God and the mission at hand, and that was it. And it was so refreshing! Here at home it is so easy to get caught up in daily life and not listen, but there it felt like God had a giant megaphone. And that made me realize how much I limit Him and so often put Him in a neat little box along with everything else in my life. But He doesn't belong there--He is so much bigger than any box my mind can conceive! I was very apprehensive in the beginning, and since I have zero risk-taking tendencies, for the first time in a long time I was way out of my comfort zone. But my desire was to be stretched and to be able to share God's love that I have so generously been given. And boy, did I get stretched! There were many things presented that I thought to myself "I just can't do that," but time and time again God showed me His enabling power. It was so humbling to be used by my Lord despite my shortcomings. Our team used this verse as a reminder of our purpose:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness the prisoners...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:1-3


As much as I miss my new friends, I know I can't leave my heart in China. God has a lot of work for us to do here! And although I know I will continue to fall short, I will do my best to make my life a reflection of who He is and what He has done in my life. God really is so good!

~AMY

Happy 5 Years!

We had a very memorable anniversary this year, because we got to celebrate it in China! That morning when I walked into the lecture hall, Brandon surprised me with roses and a kiss on the cheek. All the kids went crazy, and I'm sure my face turned as red as the roses! It was so sweet, especially since B's Chinese friends had taken him to a market to buy the flowers and to translate for him. Then our sweet Highlands team surprised us with a night at a fabulous nearby hotel. So while they slept in their hot mosquito-infested dorm rooms with no warm water for showers, they sent us away. Such selflessness. We are so blessed by the friends in our lives, and we would not be where we are today without each of you! So with God in the center, Brandon and I have learned A LOT during the past five years--through the good times and bad--and we can't wait to see what He has in store for us next!

July 26, 2003

Five years later

Back in Bama

Brandon and I are home! Our plane landed Wednesday morning around 10:30, which was a big relief since we were scheduled to be home the night before (overnight flight cancellation...ugh!). The past two weeks have been truly amazing. It is so hard to put God's glory into words! Our mission was so strategic, and God was so evident in it all. He is even more real and more magnificent to me than ever before. We fell totally in love with the people and the culture of China. The Chinese students were so loving and welcoming, and this opened up many opportunities for us to share with them. During the short time we were there, there were 100+ salvations and even more seeds planted! They are starving for freedom (freedom that we take for granted), and so many of them now realize that the only true freedom is through Jesus Christ. But as we learned, it will take these students years (3 to 7 years, that is!) to really understand Christianity, so this time is crucial. Please continue to pray for our new friends and all of China as the Lord continues to move there. And He IS moving! Unfortunately, I need to limit information and photos for their protection, so if there is anything you want to know just ask!

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. John 8:12

China Bound!!!

Well, this will be my last post before we leave for China. Brandon and I have been feverishly checking off our (my) mile-long "to do list" today...poor B. Most importantly, as part of my preparation I have been enjoying all of the American food I can get my hands on, including Milo's...twice. We are still in awe over the opportunity we have been given. It is so humbling and exciting to be used by God--to be able to leave our little world and minister to THE world. We will fly into Hong Kong and then travel up to Weihai, which is located on the piece of land that looks like it is pointing to South Korea. This is where we will be working a camp for hundreds of Chinese high school and college students. Please pray for these precious people we will be serving and that the Lord will touch their lives like only He can!

For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. Isaiah 61:11

I Need a Miracle

Well the countdown is really on! We leave for China in one week from tomorrow...and I have to get 16 days worth of stuff in this one backpack!

Who will not reverence you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you. Revelation 15:4

China Training Update (Part 2)

We completed the second half of our China training last weekend at Challenge Country in Mississippi (www.challengecountry.com). This ropes course is so much fun! First, we met at the church where we met our six team members who are fantastic! We got to ride together as a team for the three hour drive, which was a great way to get to know each other. When we arrived, it was 1:00 am (yes, I was actually awake :), so it was hard to see what was around us. But we finally arrived at a field where our first team-building task was pitching our tents. This was a first for me, as was sleeping in one! So after making smores over the camp fire and begging Brandon to drive all of us girls to the one and only bath house, we were off to bed. The next morning, our team got to start off on the high ropes, which I have always wanted to do. My favorites were definitely the zip line; the tight rope over a pond; and the scariest of all, in which you had to climb a telephone pole, stand on top of it, and then jump off and catch a trapeze bar. WOW! After an hour of the high ropes, we spent the rest of the day doing low ropes team-building tasks, which did just that. At the end of the day, our final task was to get the whole group (all 100+ of us) up and over a 15 foot wall in 10 minutes. The entire day was challenging and exciting!

FYI- Following the earthquake in China our assignment has been moved from Chengdu (which is extremely close to the epicenter) to a different location on the east coast of the country, called Weihai. Please continue to pray for all of the earthquake victims and workers, as well as our team who is in China now.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

China Training Update (Part 1)

This weekend was one of the craziest--but most rewarding--weekends I've ever experienced. Brandon and I took part in the Highlands mission training Friday night through Saturday night. First, we met at the church to complete paperwork, apply for our visas, etc. Then the ~60 of us were divided into teams. Our team consisted of six awesome high school students; B and I were the team leaders. We were then taken by bus to a secret location, which turned out the be this very creepy, filthy abandoned building in downtown Birmingham. There is a picture below, but it really doesn't do it justice!

It was late at night, and the building has no power (or running water, by the way) so it was very dark. As soon as we arrived, they began putting us in different scenarios to teach us how to have a missions mentality: (1)Have a Great Commission attitude, (2)Be aware, (3)Be flexible, (4)Put others before yourself, (5)Don't ask questions, (6)Don't be culture critical, and (7)Eat all the food you are served! For example, we visited an underground church, were awaken at 3:00 am by locals who wanted us to worship with them, ate strange (gross!) food with a smile on our faces, ran and hid from authorities, climbed 20 flights of stairs to the roof of the building, were asked questions about our faith, did work projects, and the list goes on. On a lighter note, we learned how to walk in formation (this is for our safety and also in order to remain as unobtrusive as possible to locals), did team-building tasks, and learned funny dramas that we will perform on the streets. We even learned some basic Chinese. At the end of the weekend, we were exhausted and dirty, and we had been challenged physically, spiritually, mentally, and in every other way possible. I learned so much about myself, particularly how to put myself aside. It was amazing, and I am so thankful for the opportunity. We look forward to continuing our training in a couple of weeks. Again, thank you for supporting us with your prayers and donations. This wouldn't be possible without you!

The Great Commission:
When they saw Jesus they worshiped Him; but some doubted. Then He said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:17-20