http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org Molly Garner - The World Race 2007 en-us Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:17:18 GMT 30 http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=840049E48AEC427F95323B29137F23 http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=840049E48AEC427F95323B29137F23 Thank you for all your love and support...   Sun, 3 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=picture-walk-through-ministry-time-in-nicaragua http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=picture-walk-through-ministry-time-in-nicaragua As our ministry times comes to a close, I want to take you on a short journey of pictures to recollect a few memories made in Nicaragua... Ministry comes in all shapes and sizes...   Walking to church at LaQuinta, an orphanage/vocational center/church/etc...   DRIME'ing during Church service... afterwards I shared a bit about Paul's letter to the Colossians.   We spent time painting the center...   and hanging out with the kids!   Then is was time Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-day-in-the-dump http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-day-in-the-dump   Walking up a mound of garbage isnt the typical day in my life but for some people it is. After making it to Jinotepe, Nicaragua about a week and a half ago (working alongside Glenn and Lynne Schweitzer, two missionaries from the New England area who moved here seven years ago), we took a day trip to the dumps in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. I walked around a bend on an old dirt road, where dozens of dump trucks passed us by some filled with branches, some filled wit Tue, 8 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-language-of-love-has-no-barrier http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-language-of-love-has-no-barrier For the past few days, I have been living with a family in Santa Tecla, a town near San Salvador.  I have to say that there is something special about living in a home of a local new perspectives arise. From day one, my family has taken me in like their own child.  Jennifer, the daughter of 30  years, gave up her bedroom, so I can spend the week with them.  The first morning I woke up, I accidentally knocked my glass of water off the bed stand with my hand shattering th Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-gift-of-today-in-panama http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-gift-of-today-in-panama Everyday is differentEveryday is a gift from GodIn Panama, all my days have been different Even if they didn't seem different, they would still be gifts from God!The first few days in Panama were spent living at a hostel in the city.  I reflect back on this time and see the goodness of God shine through.  As we've stayed in hostels in Beijing and then in Central America, I meet people on a journey - trying to "figure" out life knowing a little more is out there than meets the eye.&nbsp Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=loving-your-lord-with-all-your-heart http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=loving-your-lord-with-all-your-heart Loving your Lord with ALL your HEARTJesus answered:  " Love the Lord your God will allyour heart and with all your soul and with all your strengthand with all your mind'; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.'"After we love our Lord with ALL your HEART, with ALL your SOUL, with ALL your STRENGTH, with ALL your MIND, what is left?I believe everyone on this planet would agree we are made up of three parts: Body, Mind, and Soul.  Agree?Around Deuteronomy 6:5, Moses teaches Israel what God Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=every-teacher-should http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=every-teacher-should Every teacher should learn something new"Buenos Dias""? Como estas?""Bien, gracias. ? y, usted?""Bien"These are just a few of the statements I'm learning in Spanish. I took two years of Spanish in high school, yet I have learned more these past two weeks than I ever remember There could be many reasons for this: 1. I'm surrounded by native speakers and immersed in the culture. 2. I desire to learn the language. 3. Maybe I really do have previous knowledge I didn't know about. 4. Probabl Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=birthday-blog http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=birthday-blog Birthday BlogI love birthdays!! Every morning growing up, I would stumble down stairs to find a cinnamon roll and a candle at my favorite breakfast seat! This is the one thing that remained consistent for EVERY birthday!! It's something I look forward to on my birthday and all my siblings birthdays!!I didn't know if the tradition would follow me and being away from my family I figured it wouldn't follow me but (was I wrong!)I woke up to crate paper and balloons all over my bed.I went over to th Sun, 18 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=i-dont-think-i-will http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=i-dont-think-i-will So, I know it's been sometime since I posted. I haven't felt like writing. Honestly, I've been looking forward to the comforts of home and what lies ahead. It's not fair to me - it's not fair to you - and certainly not fair to God that my mind is focused on the future. God calls us to be in the present and not to worry about what lies ahead - " do NOT worry about YOUR life " (Matthew 6:25)As a little homesickness has set in on these last 2 1/2 months, I think "Why am I out here?" "Why am I Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=african-slideshow http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=african-slideshow Ignite Africa Slideshow from Traci on Vimeo. Fri, 2 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=arrived-safely-in-costa-rica http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=arrived-safely-in-costa-rica After days of traveling, I finally landed in Costa Rica.  As our teams prayed through ministry locations, we came to the conclusion that God is showing us and telling us to stay together as a squad.  How can we truly turn what we've been learning into a lifestyle, if we are not given the freedom to seek as individuals where God wants to use our giftings?  If we're honest with ourselves, we won't be around these teams the rest of our lives.  But what a better way to live out f Fri, 2 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-day-of-impact-by-jeanette-wheeler http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-day-of-impact-by-jeanette-wheeler This is a blog written by one of my team members (Jeanette Wheeler).  I wanted to ask you to participate and express our love for the men of all ages and generationsA couple of weeks ago I was fasting and the Lord clearly asked me to pray and fast again.                      "Pray and fast for the men of all ages and generations" Within those few brief moments God revealed to me a real burd Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=unexpected-delivery http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=unexpected-delivery Don hires three men to cut his 13 hectares with a machete day in and day out. They arrive at 6:30 in the morning to leave before lunch. They swing the machete all day chopping the overgrown grass around the property. The second day I was there, I met one of the men named Mario. His wife was going to deliver his fifth child within the month. I mentioned how great it would be to be a real delivery in Africa If God ever put in a place to deliver a child, I know I could do it - if only, a c-se Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-joyful-day-for-a-joyful-man http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-joyful-day-for-a-joyful-man Lazarus receives his sewing machine!!!Lazarus says "OBREGADO" - THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!Thank you for all who made this happen... PRAISE GOD!! Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=grace-goes-beyond-forgiveness http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=grace-goes-beyond-forgiveness Grace goes beyond forgivenessWe worked alongside a missionary named Don in Boane, Mozambique. God asked him to sell everything - including his real estate business in Las Vegas and move to Mozambique. He joined Iris ministries and has taken over a ministry pioneered by a couple who recently left due to illness. Don manages the Benjamin Project, a ministry where boys who grew up in an orphanage of 100 to 300 children come to be "deinstutionalized." Because of the mass of children who need a h Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=god-cares-about-details http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=god-cares-about-details God's timing is PERFECTAs soon as I posted the previous blog, I received a message from Betty Griffin, a lady in my mother's UMW who shares a heart for missions the message read, "The UMW of Goldthwaite would like to replace Lazarus's sewing machine." In the same evening, I went to a dinner party to thank families of missionaries who helped one our teams rebuild an orphanage that was flattened by the recent floods in Mozambique. Since the missionaries live in South Africa and work frequently Fri, 4 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=lazarus-a-man-filled-with-joy http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=lazarus-a-man-filled-with-joy A man filled with joy unlike anyone I have ever metWritten by Matthew Kacal (Fall 2007)During most mornings I like to walk down to the Chicuque Library. The library is about a 15-minute walk and is nothing more than a small building with several hundred books and four older computers in it. It's a good change of scenery and it serves as my Mozambique "Starbucks" where I can go to study Portuguese. The only "downfall" of studying Portuguese at the library is everyone, and I mean everyone, wants t Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=peace-is-truly-resting-in-peace http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=peace-is-truly-resting-in-peace Two days ago, I woke up to a phone call at five in the morning.  The voice on the other end said, "Mcolisi stopped breathing."  At first, I couldn't believe it.  This is the little child who God holds, who God placed in our hands to take care of, who we've prophesized over, who many people in the world is praying for; I couldn't believe it. In Swaziland, the funeral for young children happens within 24 hours of the death.  So, our team worked together to arrange people to te Thu, 6 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=baby-peace-update http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=baby-peace-update Baby "Peace" updateMcolisi, which we've officially named "Moses," is still with living with us.  He has gained almost one pound in the ten days we have taken care of him, which brings him to 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds)!!!Philile, his mother, was put in the hospital last Tuesday and diagnosed with tuberculosis.  So, we received permission to take Mcolisi to Manzini to care for him and have him tested for tuberculosis as well.  He has been on five different medications (3 nutrients, Sun, 2 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=just-the-other-day http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=just-the-other-day Just the other dayJust the other day I was thinking "What if we took on the world as our own responsibility?  What if we took ownership that the orphans and widows were ours to take care of - truly ours?  What if truly wanted everyone to succeed and wanted the best for everyone we come into contact with?  What if we took care of each other's needs together?  What if we served each other how Christ taught us to serve - out of the true, genuine love that comes from only Him?"Wh Sun, 2 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=baby-peace http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=baby-peace After spending time in Belembu, an old mining town (where Lee Ann has her ministry), I came back to Nisela, a wildlife preserve (where we live in tents next to the lions - yes, we hear them roar all night long!), Aaron shared this story with me Pastor Gift, the main pastor we are working hand-in-hand with, and Aaron went to visit houses around the main care point. They went to one house where a mother lay lifeless on a bed with her child on her chest. Due to being sick for some time, she i Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=seeing-visions-come-to-pass http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=seeing-visions-come-to-pass Seeing Visions come to pass The longer I am here, the more visions that were began continue onRemembering back over 2 1/2 years ago, I was sitting around a table inside a pool at the Royal Swazi talking about visions and dreams with one my First Year Missionary Leaders LeeAnn. She was sharing about how she would love to take children into her home, as well as build a preschool, where children could come and truly learn. She wanted to have centers, where children could build, paint, dress-up Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=continuing-to-learn-the-depths-of-childhood-lessons http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=continuing-to-learn-the-depths-of-childhood-lessons     I knew as a toddler that my DAD would always teach me because of how much he loved me.  I just never realized how much he would teach me and how many lessons I would look back on and learn even more.   My dad taught me that I was his girl and a princess   When I was three, my dad had a doctor's convention to attend in Dallas, Texas. Since my brothers were in school and my sister was a baby, my dad invited me on a weekend with only him.  Being the third chi Mon, 4 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=dream-of-memories http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=dream-of-memories Dream of Memories   The moment I arrived in Swaziland all I wanted to do was see my kids.    When I arrived in September 2004, my leaders met a lady named Madame Hlope, who started a care center where children are given two meals a day and taught by mages (mothers) and gogos (grandmothers) in Swaziland.  Every Tuesday and Thursday in the fall the children would await my team's arrival after hiking miles to the care point.  We learned the children at the center eithe Mon, 4 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=returning-to-swaziland http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=returning-to-swaziland Never thinking I would return to Swaziland  I stepped out of the van onto Swazi territory for the first in time in a little over 2 1/2 years.  JOY filled my heart, HOPE for this land was restored in my heart, God's LOVE for this nation was rekindled inside of me.  Crossing the border, I met a lady named Lindwe.  I reached out to touch her son on his head, and he reached up to grab my hand to hold it.  As the five-year-old boy gently rubbed my hand, a pea Sun, 27 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=freedom-in-being-a-christian-tourist http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=freedom-in-being-a-christian-tourist Freedom in being a "Christian Tourist"As we were briefed about China, we were told the "things" you hear about China are ALL true - SOMEWHERE.  The Chinese assume many of the Americans that enter in are Christian - so there's not much to hide.  When people asked what we were doing, we would tell them "we are touring your country."  At first, I found thoughts flowing through my head - what do I say, what if I say the wrong thing, what if I get removed from the country  But the Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=meeting-josie http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=meeting-josie Meeting JosieOur teams split - six of us stayed in our "home" town, six of us went on to a "new" town, and the boys were relocated to two different towns.  I was with the "home" group, where people in the area remind me of the Native Americans, walking through the streets with colorful clothes and cute rosy cheeks.  The six of us woke up in the morning to pray - asking God to send us friends' who are ready to hear about the hope and love of Christ.  We split in to two groups of th Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=going-forth http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=going-forth As we step foot in a closed, southeast Asia country, thoughts flood my mind, but I am confident prayer and intercession will be the two keys into turning what could be a frustration into a time that breaks spiritual strongholds and opens up God's Kingdom so long-term teams can move further.God is amazing!!As we were deciding which teams will team up with certain ministry contacts, we had our squad pray individually.  We asked they laid there wants and desires down and asked that God tells t Thu, 3 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=reunited-with http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=reunited-with Reunited with One of our first pastors we met was a man by the name of Pastor Caballero.  We met many pastors through our stay in Bacolod; many of them I begin crying when I remember their heart for Christ.Pastor Caballero is a man who lives day-by-day traveling from house to house to lead Bible studies and pray with the people in his congregation.  He isn't a pastor his church sees only on Sundays; he is a pastor who has chosen to walk side-by-side his flock.  We had the opportun Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=welcomed-as-stars http://mollygarner.theworldrace.org/?filename=welcomed-as-stars Welcomed as StarsEverywhere we travel, we ride in what looks like an old army jeep with vinyl windows that roll up to provide breeze when it is hot and covering when it rains and two benches along the sides in the back. Everyday I feel like a member of the ARMY, ready for battle - in a sense I guess we are. When we arrive at our ministry location, the door swings opens, and our team files out the back hunched over and trying not trip over bags, water, etc. It's a great scene to watch: seven Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT