Mission of Faith-- (part 3 of 3)

Now my next step of faith was cross[ng the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand where I would be able to communicate with more people who spoke English. It was a 17 hour flight from Peru to New Zealand. On the plane, I met a middle aged couple who lived in New Zealand who helped me fill out a immigration form and told me,"if I ever need help to call them" then the husband gave me his business card with his personal phone number on the back. When we arrived at the airport it was late in the evening and on a weekend. I didn't know where to go so I went across the street and stayed at the nearest hotel that cost $200 per night. During this time I tried calling him, because I needed help, but I got no answer. I felt that God had a reason for the man to give me his card. So by faith I checked out of the hotel after three days and waited at the airport for God to find me a place to stay. During this time I sat and talked to people who sat near me and shared my mission of faith with them, as they waited for friends or family to come and get them. At nine o'clock that evening I tried calling again and Rod answered his phone and I told him I needed his help. Half an hour later he picked me up and took me to his home, where I had a late dinner with his wife and their young daughter. Then spent the night on a blow-up mattress in the livingroom. The next day he helped me get a hotel for a week because we couldn't find a room to rent. He also helped me buy a phone, because I needed it to do an online immigration application before entering Australia, and to do some banking to replace my card that was declined and not returned when I was back in Argentina. I was in New Zealand for just 13 days. It was my shortest stay in any county so far. It was very expensive to live there. Rod also helped me set up my phone and book my flight and for a bed and breakfast place to stay when I got to Australia. Then the kind manager there found me a room to rent from a Chineses family, for the remainder of my 90 days for $300 a month. I was also able to get my new bank card, which was a big relief. While I was there I made friends with their neighbor who were from Vietnam and they were a big help with my computer and booking three flights for me. God kept opening doors for me, especially at my next stop in the country of Fiji, where again God used a taxi driver to pave the way. Where I spent the next six months helping a beautiful Hindu family, that very poor. They gave me their bedroom, because it had A/C. I bought them Bibles and had them put it on their phone. Again I  had a computer problem and God provided a Christian Korean man to help fix those things and we became very good friends too. Everywhere we went we took a taxi or van transite to do all our shopping, something I was still learning to get used to. From this time on my living condition changed, it was harder to find a room to rent. and so in the next country, Papua New Guinea I stayed in a hotel resort for 50 days. It was here that I came under more physical attacks. I became much weaker because of the heat and humidity, plus one day leaving to go to an ATM, my vision and strength was so bad that I needed help even to walk. Thank God, there was a young man that was on the staff at the hotel who was always there to help me when I needed it most. By the time I left there for my flight to Bali that attack ended. But, when I got to Bali a new attack started. I had diarrhea and I was bound to my hotel most of the time of my 30 day visa. Even going out to buy food with my new taxi driver friend, was a risk of having a bathroom accident that I prayed would not happen. I did get to go out for a few short walks while I was there, but what a way to have to spend my time in a beautiful and unique country with so much to see and do. My taxi driver friend helped me to give some money to the poor that we saw along the sidewalks. I also used my time in my hotel room to pray for the country and declare Bali for the Kingdom of God. From there on I started developing strange skin issues I have never experienced before. Now here I am in Borneo, Malaysia at the beautiful Klagan Regency hotel for the 90 days of my visa, waiting on God because I believe something is going to happen soon. I have had other symptoms of health problems that I choose to ignore, and not mention, because I am going to live by faith and not fear. There are a few reasons for my faith perseverance during these times of testing and attacks. I know God has me here for a reason and by faith I believe He has prepared me for "such a time as this". Also because of the promises and prophetic messages God has made in the past. The last time I heard was powerful prophitic word through Sheldon regarding my future was about six months ago, I knew then it was going to come with a price just as it has for many other faithful sons who put their lives on the line for the Kingdom of God. I know God is faithful and I trust Him with my life no matter what the cost may be. I am so grateful for all the wonderful people who I have met and who have helped me in this journey of faith. Now I am very grateful to be staying in hotels in the past three countries. I saw God help me through some strange and difficult living conditions that I would have never experienced before if I had not started this mission of faith. Jesus Christ is worth it all and I am thankful just to serve Him and His children the best I can wherever He leads me. I believe the next step on this mission of faith will be one full of miracles for me and for many of the people along the way.

Mission of Faith (Part 2 of 3)

You have to understand that when I left the USA, I was totally dependent on God for everything. I had no plans other than to start this mission of faith in the country of Chile and be led from there on for where I live, my transportation and food, and still deal with all my health issues. I had an income of about $700 per month from my social security and some silver coins that I planned to use to help the poor when I needed them cashed in to my bank account. They were kept for me by a friend in Washington... With that said, I arrived in Chile and rented a car at the airport to look for a cheap apartment. However, after a futile search in Santiago all day and a minor accident that I fixed with some duct tape I had with me to hold the rear bumper back in place. I headed to the Pacific coast and found a casino hotel at the seaport of San Antonio, for my first night in Chile. The next day God led me north to a wonderful couple about my age in another city, that spoke English, and they had a one room apartment with a mini fridge for $400 a month, and I could use their kitchen to cook my meals for the next six months. I even got to eat some meals with them and friends. One even I went out to see the sunset an my spirit spoke to me and said, "The best is yet to come," the sunset did get prettier but I felt the words ment more than just that night. However, later I also started experiencing physical attacks from the enemy, satan. One day, I went for a walk and all of a sudden my vision blurred and I became very weak to even walk. But I rebuke it and press on. Then a couple months later a back upper molar in my mouth that I had no problem with before, split in half, clear down to the root. Despite that attack, God kept me from having any pain from it, and I didn't go to any dentist, I just trusted God. The people I rented from provided my transportation for food, helping the poor, and seeing some of the surrounding country that I would pray for and bless the people I would meet. And they took me back to the airport an hour away. The next country for me to visit was Argentina. I stayed in a hotel near the airport and the next day I went back to rent a car. However, when I got out of the taxi I accidently forgot my black coat next to me in the cab and when I went inside the airport I realized what I had done, but the taxi was gone when I went back to get it. I was at a total loss as to what to do next as I stood inside the airport praying, then someone tapped me on my back and when I turned around it was the taxi driver holding my coat in his hand. What an incredible miracle, which only confirmed, God was watching over me. However, an hour later when I went to get money from an ATM machine, I entered the wrong amount twice, because it was not in English and it would not return my bank card. The next day I learned I needed a credit card to rent a car, not a debit card. So God provided another taxi driver whose name was Angel, and he helped me find a place to stay in that city and with friends in another city a week later. His name was Marco and had a beautiful family, who made me feel welcomed the the very first day, and I ate with them one meal every day, I also got to go to many birthday parties, which is a big deal for them, and feast on great food, drinking and fellowship, and bless them also. But once again I was attacked by the enemy, and for three days I lost my voice.The next three months I lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There was a young couple who Angel knew tand picked me up at the airport and took me to an apartment with a second bedroom that a widow who rented for $300 per month with A/C. It was located at the base of the tall Mount of Christ statue, which I could see from my window. That couple also took me out for meals and even brought me food and took me back to the airport after booking my flight for me. At this time, I was able to help many poor people who begged and lived on the streets of Rio with no place to sleep. I also had a problem with charging my laptop, and was able to get it fixed for very little money at a shop that was only a couple blocks away. Again God continues to provide just when I need it and the lost souls I can bless along the way. The next country was Paraguay and I lived in a man's business warehouse who was the brother of the family in Argentina. and it was next door to a supermarket and he said I could stay there for free, but I still gave him money. Plus, I gave money to a local orphanage in town. At this time I noticed my feet were swelling and I could no longer wear my shoes and had to wear my sandals or flip-flops. Also I used my last battery for my hearing aid, which I use sparingly, because many Spanish speaking people spoke loudly or I was by myself most of the time. So from there on I never used them again, which was a problem sometimes, but I managed somehow. When I got to the airport in La Paz, Bolivia, which was located at an elevation of 16,000 feet, it was cold and difficult for me to breathe and walk. The people there were wonderful and many natives wore traditional clothes. The view was awesome with snow covered mountains still much higher. God led me to another special taxi driver there, named Oscar at the airport, who ended up living next to the apartment I rented for $400. I stayed there for 2 months and I took many trips with him and Danel his nephew who could speak English, and he was from a Mormon family and I went to their meetings several times and prayed for them. Oscar wanted to show me more of Bolivia. and so we traveled hundreds of miles and over night one time. This portion of South America was what I saw in the vision God showed me when I was back in Mexico many years before. And there I was fulfilling that vision and interseeding for that country and its beautiful people. Finally the last country I got to visit in South America, was the city of Pima, Peru, with a population of 11 million. I got to stay with a friend of Daniel and rent a bedroom for $250 a month for the next three months. His name was Carlos and we became very good friends, but he was hardly there and I had his house all to myself most of the time. At this time I also noticed two swelling in the mid section of my body that I knew were the beginning of hernias. A small one next to my belly button and a much larger one growing on the left side of my groin. I knew this because I had a hernia operation 10 years before on the other side. But this time, I was just going to trust God. Later, with a friend of Carlos, who had a car, we went to see the Slums of Lima, where we got to help twelve poor families in a city made up of 400,000 poor residents with no running water, sewer, and most without electrical service. There water supplies was brought in and put in 500 gallon storage tanks around the outlying area where there was no trees and steep hillside that held the poor block homes, most without windows Carlos could not speak English and we used his phone to communicate and it worked fine there and for us to build a lasting relationship and we emails to continue to stay in touch, as I do with most of the friends I made in South America. I trust God to continue to work on their lives and the people in those six countries I visited by faith, and I believe all the others in South America to be set free to know the heart of the Father who is still reaching out to them. The next step of faith was to cross the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand where I would be able to communicate with more people who spoke English.

Mission of Faith, ( Part 1 of 3)

One night in a Friday prayer meeting, God spoke throught Sheldon my friend and said, I was called by God to go to the Nations, to help the lost and the poor. I was 62 years old and married that time. Then a few weeks later, I had a dream and I was of looking at a highway on a map of Mexico and than a few days later I had a vision of Mexico. I knew then that my future was going to change, and very soon. I told my wife that I would be leaving soon for Mexico, and living in my van and I didn't know for how long, maybe a year or longer I didn't know for sure. She was not happy about my decision. She would be living alone in our house in Cle Elum, Washington, but our daughter and three grandkids lived nearby to help her when needed. This would be a whole new adventure of faith for me. Before I left, I was varelly healthy for 63 and I trust God for my health and protection. I didn't take any vitamins or supplements. Plus, I drove my van in Mexico with no insurance after six months there. My vision was 40/60,my hearing was not perfect and I also had some ringing in my ears. I also had some other health issues that I had not confirmed by doctors and a minor skin disease with no cure that was worth the side effect or the cost, plus I had a back tooth problem, but I still left trusting in God for healing and His faithfulness. I ended up staying in Mexico for almost two and a half years. During that time, I saw God use me to help the poor with food, money, and heal some people and give to a small orphanage nearby. Jesus also provided for all my needs and protection, including a house to live in the last year and a half for only $200 a month with A/C which I badly need during the summer months. There were also some difficult moments too, including my van breaking down, having my wallet stolen one night, and two laptops stolen out of my van when I was out praying and helping people one week after I replace the first one. But God replaced all that was stollen through a pastor and a Morman friend who owned an art gallery where I often helped. I also made other wonderful friends there and I had no regrets about going down there. However, a month before leaving to go back to my wife in Washington, God gave me a vision of South America, but no time as to how or when that would happen. It was several years later when we realized that the mission God call me on would require me to divorce my wife, because she wanted to be close to her daughter and our teenage grandchildren. So we sold our house there, and she bought a smaller one in Ellensburg. Our divorce was finalized in January of 2020. And I was going to go drive back to Mexico again in my van. However, when I got to the border I had a problem with my drivers license and had to drive all the way back. Then Covid-19 hit the country, and I was not going anywhere and ended up living with and helping my ex-wife for the next two and half years until she sold her house to our grandson who worked as a highway patrolman in the same city and needed a place to live that he could afford. With that decision made it told me my time was up and to move on to my mission of faith, starting with Chile in South America, where my uncle had been a missionary 50 years before. By that time I was wearing a hearing aid, and now it was also confirmed by doctors that I had Parkinson's disease which both my dad and uncle had died from. I could still walk but not in a straight line and had leg spasms because of the disease, which made it difficult to sleep at night. Plus there was the shaking of the hands that made curtain things more difficult, like eating, buttoning my shirt or typing an email or blog post. I also had more teeth issues and had some pulled and others needed crowns and the cost would be over $10,000 and I declined, because I would rather use that money to help the poor. I also had a small sore in the center of my forehead with a dark scab that made it look like I had been shot that would not go away even after the scab came off, it would start all over again. It was rather embarrassing, but I never had it checked out because I will continue to trust God no matter what. For my mission living expences I had a small amount of money coming through my monthly social security to live on, and some money from the divorce settlement which I gave almost half of that money away, along with my van, most of my clothes and almost a hundred of my paintings I still had from being a professional artist. All I had now was my faith in God, three suitcases and a one way plane ticket to Chile. Most Christians that I knew would not want to leave the country with the health issues I had. Plus, I no longer depended on medicare, because I believe" by His stripes I am healed" period. There is one other prophecy that has also motivated me on this mission. One morning back in Washington, I was so depressed that when I looked into the bathroom mirror, I told God "I need a new body, soul and spirit." In the next Friday zoom meeting that I was watching at home at the end of that evening I heard Sheldon say, "Israel, God says to me " I am going to make you an all new man." Wow. I am still waiting and keep repeating that prophecy. knowing God is faithful to complete that promise for me.

Reaching out to Borneo

I have been in Borneo for a month and a half now, and things have not gone quite like I had hoped. But I believe things are going to change soon. I know God has His way and timing and so I try to make the most of it the best I can. For the time being, I enjoy having a nice hotel to stay in and a great breakfast buffet, even when the food is not always hot. During this time I try to do something, to stay busy doing things, but under the current circumstances  that gets to be more challenging. I have not felt God leading me to do anything special while I wait, so I take short walks, praying around the hallway on my 10th floor several times during  the day and also at night, plus go to the restaurant on the fifth floor for breakfast,every morning and then every ten days I go to the main lobby to pay for another ten day stay. I doubt that they have ever had a tourist stay for the 90 days, I expect to stay here. I also go next door on the ground level to a small bakery often, where I can get a small loaf of wheat bread with only six 3/4" slices per bag to make my cheese or tuna sandwiches or peanut and jam, because the large supermarket next door only carries white loaves of bread, which I find hard to believe.  They have white rolls and other pastries, but no wheat bread. This is the only country I have been in with that limited of a selection. Anyway, I went to get bread today at noon, but they were out of the only wheat bread I wanted. However, they said they would have more after 2pm. So then I got one at about 5pm that evening. Later, I thought I would  go back down to get an ice cream cone in one of the shops in the mall that I had  last week, before they closed, but their machines were not  working any more when I got there. I could see that several children had one, but they were not working anymore. and other costumes were told the same thing. So while I was there I felt I should still walk through the mall and see who I could  reach out to for God, even  though I know His presence is alway working around me, even if I don't realize or feel it. Some of the shops were starting to close at 9pm. So I walked down to the end and turned around and walked back up the other side to go out the way I entered the mall. And that was when I saw the back of a head sitting in a wheelchair. I knew why I was here now. There was a family also standing around a small handicap boy. A father, mother, and two other older children. I smiled at them, and then placed my right hand on the young boy's shoulder and he turned around and gave me a big deformed smile with missing teeth, and eyes that sparkled. I blessed him and declared him restored and gave a smile again to the rest of the family and placed the same hand blessing the father also. There are many muslims that shop here, because I noticed all the hijabs and beautiful head scarves the women and young girls wear and fill the shops in the mall. There are over 250 million Muslims living in Indonesia, which consist of over 17,000 islands. That's more than all the other Muslim countries combined. And there are also a lot in Malaysia as well that make up the Asian South Pacific region. And here I am in the heart of it all, reaching out for Christ to touch the hearts of His children here in Borneo and set them free. While at the same time on the other side of the globe "Operation Epic Fury" is fighting to set the Iranian people free and the whole Middle East, from the tyranny of evil political/religious clerics of Iran. The underground Christian church is the fastest growing group in the world and God has often revealed Himself to many in visions and dreams and spread through the social media on the internet. Plus there are many powerful testimonies and miracles reported as well in videos seen on youtube, which I watch every day and pray for them. These videos show the awesome love and power of God that is still reaching out in the darkest places in the world where even speaking the name of Jesus, worship openly, owning a Bible or even having a portion of Christian literature can cost you your life, be torchared or imprisonment for life, for something that too many Christian take for granted. We should also be reaching out to them in prayer for protection  to be set free to live and worship God as they please. .