To Albania or Bust

After 30 hours of travel, we arrived in Tirana, Albania.

While it was eventful - weather delays on the runway at JFK that incentivized us to race through the airport to make our connecting flight to Rome. Only to sit on the tarmac for hours waiting for 30 other flights to take off in front of us.

We made it Rome enthusiastic, then wrangled our way onto the plane for Tirana.

Our team of six will be up early to get to work helping make need repairs and improvements on the Bible School here, before heading to the city of Shkodër for the Convoy outreach event with Adopt-a-community.

Personally, I feel humbled to be here, half way around the world, to share the love of Jesus and show His compassion to a people that I have never met, and know so little about.

What do we have to offer? What difference can we really make?

My conclusion today - the love of Jesus and His gospel are universal messages of compassion and are relevant in every language, tribe, and nation. We are not here because we're Americans or because we have something better to offer them. We are here as representatives Christ, and our only mission is to make Him known. We'll keep you updated. As of now, we'll be back up and ready to work in 5 hrs, so to bed we go.

Take a Short-term Mission Trip- SIGN UP NOW!

Do you love to travel? To see new places?  To experience new cultures?

But more than anything, do you love to make a DIFFERENCE in someone else's life?  They may not speak your language, or have their own bed, or even have enough food, but they are in need of JESUS!

Lifehouse Church East is taking 7 Missions Trips in 2011, and I seriously think you should consider going on one of them (whoever you are out there in the virtual world).

There's something for everyone, whether you're a homebody or an world-traveler:

• Dresden, Germany: June 20-27
• Quito, Ecuador: July 1-8
• Dominican Republic: July 16-23

SIGN UP THIS SUNDAY! Worry about the details later!

Every destination has a city full of hurting people who need the hope that you have. So before you say "no" because of time, money, or other concerns...promise me this: you'll pray about it.  Deal?

Deal.  (I can see all of your virtual heads are nodding yes right now.)  So while you're praying about it, pick up a MISSIONS PASSPORT at the Info Center THIS Sunday, or email brian@lifehousechurcheast.org for more info on upcoming trips.  You can also watch a video of my good friend Lisa talking about her experience on one of the recent LHCE Missions trips HERE.

Travel.  See the World.  Make a Difference. SHARE JESUS!

Travel the World- Make a Difference

I love travel.  I love seeing new places,  experiencing new cultures, and I even love plane food! (shocker, right?)

But more than all of that...I love it when I can make a difference in someone else's life.  Someone who may not speak the same language as me.  Someone who may not have their own bed (much less their own car, iPod or fridge full of junk food.)  Someone who is a sinner just like me.  Someone who didn't know Jesus yesterday, but is covered by grace today.  All because I chose to save a few bucks and go on a Missions Trip.

Lifehouse Church East is taking 7 Missions Trips in 2011, and I seriously think you should consider going on one of them (whoever you are out there in the virtual world).

There's something for everyone, whether you're a homebody or an world-traveler:

• Dresden, Germany: June 20-27
• Quito, Ecuador: July 1-8
• Dominican Republic: July 16-23
• Church Plant, Hedgesville, WV: September 1-11
• Convoy of Hope, Hagerstown, MD: September 23-24
• Dominican Republic: October 8-15
• Dream Center, Los Angeles: October 15-23

Every destination has a city full of hurting people who need the hope that you have. So before you say "no" because of time, money, or other concerns...promise me this: you'll pray about it.  Deal?

Deal.  (I can see all of your virtual heads are nodding yes right now.)  So while you're praying about it, pick up a MISSIONS PASSPORT at the Info Center this Sunday, or email brian@lifehousechurcheast.org for more info on upcoming trips.  You can also watch a video of my good friend Lisa talking about her experience on one of the recent LHE Missions trips HERE.

Travel.  See the World.  Make a Difference. (And I'll eat any leftover plane food you don't want.)

Help hold up the arms of those on the front lines

The prayer focus for today (day 19) is for our missionaries and those ministries on the "front lines" of spreading the gospel to the furthest reaches of our world. Here's a brief list, pray for:

• safety, generous provision to the missionaries and humanitarian workers in Haiti.
• our missionaries serving everywhere from US university campuses to Belgium, Central Asia, Japan, and beyond.
• other missionaries that come to mind and those that you are familiar with.
• the work of these missionaries, for fruitful ministry, protection, and great impact in make disciples of all nations,
• financial provision for missionaries, especially since the economy is rough and many people are pulling back in their support,
• renewed strength since ministry can be very tiring and spiritually exhausting, and that they would not "grow weary in doing well".

A great passage to read and use as a guide when praying for our missionaries and church leaders on the front lines of the Kingdom: Exodus 18:8-15 especially,

"When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword."