Alex’s missionary journeys

02/28/2024

I have safely arrived home! After many hours of travel I’ve made it home! Thank you guys for the prayers! I’ll give a final wrap up video soon! Please message me personally if you have any questions or how we can connect or how you can support in the future.

02/27/2024

From West Virginia to Laos! Thank you New Wineskins Missionary Networkfor making the connection happen!

02/27/2024

Sorry everyone for the lack of updates the last few days! My internet has slowed to a crawl! There’s limited places with WiFi as well. Today is my last day in Laos! As I will begin traveling home tonight Lao time. This has been such an interesting eye opening trip for me. I have a lot to pray and think about for what God has for my future in Laos. I have built life long friendships and connecting here. There is a great need for so many things that I can do in country here.

02/25/2024

Take the cup
Can you drink the cup?
Drink, not survey or analyze,
ponder or scrutinize –
from a distance.
But drink – imbibe, ingest,
take into you so that it becomes a piece of your inmost self.
And not with cautious sips
that barely moisten your lips,
but with audacious drafts
that spill down your chin and onto your chest.
(Forget decorum – reserve would give offense.)

Can you drink the cup?
The cup of rejection and opposition,
betrayal and regret.
Like vinegar and gall,
pungent and tart,
making you wince and recoil.
But not only that – for the cup is deceptively deep –
there are hopes and joys in there, too,
like thrilling champagne with bubbles
that tickle your nose on New Year’s Eve,
and fleeting moments of almost – almost – sheer ecstasy
that last as long as an eye-blink, or a champagne bubble,
but mysteriously satisfy and sustain.

Can you drink the cup?
Yes, you — with your insecurities,
visible and invisible.
You with the doubts that nibble around the edges
and the ones that devour in one great big gulp.
You, with your impetuous starts and youth-like bursts of love and devotion.
You with your giving up too soon – or too late – and being tyrannically hard on yourself.
You with your Yes, but’s and I’m sorry’s – again.
Yes, you – but with my grace.

Can you drink the cup?

Can I drink the cup?

Yes.

Scott Surrency, O.F.M. Cap. (2015)

02/24/2024

COLLECT OF THE DAY
Ember Day (Spring Saturday)

Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, in your divine providence you have appointed various orders in your Church: Give your grace, we humbly pray, to all who are [now] called to any office and ministry for your people; and so fill them with the truth of your doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before you, to the glory of your great Name and for the benefit of your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

02/22/2024

Spent the day chasing waterfalls! It was beautiful up here!

02/21/2024

02/21/2024

Ending the day with an evening cruise on the Mekong

02/19/2024

Spending some time with the Transformation center! The Berrys from Miami Florida have been in Lao for 30 years!

02/19/2024

02/18/2024

Doing what I know best! Large group at the Sunday Evening Fellowship! It’s a group of a lot of the missionaries and ministers that’s work in Lao. Encouraging service

02/18/2024

02/17/2024

Meat markets at 6 am🙃

02/17/2024

02/15/2024

A COLLECT FOR ENDURANCE
Friday

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the Cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
Amen.

02/15/2024

02/13/2024

KYRIE PANTOKRATOR
A Song of penitence

O Lord and Ruler of the hosts of heaven, *
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of all their righteous offspring:
Thou hast made the heavens and the earth, *
with all their vast array.
All things quake with fear at thy presence; *
they tremble because of thy power.
But thy merciful promise is beyond all measure; *
it surpasseth all that our minds can fathom.
O Lord, thou art full of compassion, *
long-suffering, and abounding in mercy.
Thou holdest back thy hand; *
thou dost not punish as we deserve.
In thy great goodness, Lord, thou hast promised forgiveness to sinners, *
that they may repent of their sin and be saved.
And now, O Lord, I bend the knee of my heart, *
and make my appeal, sure of thy gracious goodness.
I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, *
and I know my wickedness only too well.
Therefore I make this prayer unto thee: *
Forgive me, Lord, forgive me.
Do not let me perish in my sin, *
nor condemn me to the depths of the earth.
For thou, O Lord, art the God of those who repent, *
and in me thou wilt show forth thy goodness.
Unworthy as I am, thou wilt save me, in accordance with thy great mercy, *
and I will praise thee without ceasing all the days of my life.
For all the powers of heaven sing thy praises, *
and thine is the glory to ages of ages. Amen.
PRAYER OF MANASSEH, 1-2, 4, 6-7, 11-15

02/12/2024

Checking out the city! And the beautiful Mekong river.

02/12/2024

02/11/2024

A PRAYER FOR MISSION
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the Cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name.
Amen.

02/11/2024

02/11/2024

Sunday service at Arda language center. This is the Church of the Holy Spirit. Great time of worship and great food afterwards! Tonight they do a service as well and that has more of the locals that come out to that.

02/10/2024

We all have gifts that God blessed us with. A lot of times it’s hard for us (at least it is for me) to be really self reflective. I was reminded in a sermon recently by my pastor that when we put ourselves down so much and say that God can’t use us, that it’s spiritual narcissism. There’s always a balance to that. Humility is being honest with ourselves. God gave gifts to his people to use to bless his people. One of my greatest gifts is encouragement. Some of friends have called me Barnabas. The son of Encouragement. I’ve prayed my whole life for God to use me as he sees fit. It’s always came back to that. I want to encourage to use the gifts God’s given you to build his kingdom! I learned quickly that my trip in Lao will be about me being a vessel of encouragement here. God is working mightily here. That’s so easy to see! God is using silly ole goofy me to bring HIS encouragement to my friends here. So please be in prayer because we know spiritual warfare will try and bring the absolute opposite of that here.
Pax Christi

02/10/2024

I’ve had my first nights rest! I slept for an amazing four hours and then I’ve been up since 2am Lao time! But things are great here. There is a large Chinese population here in Vientiane, so today is Chinese New Year. They had some great fireworks over night.

02/10/2024

A PRAYER FOR MISSION
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

02/09/2024

I have arrived in Laos! I’m currently at the ARDA language center where I’ll spend a lot of my time. I will update with a video soon! I’m 12 hours ahead.

02/08/2024

A PRAYER FOR MISSION
Almighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

02/08/2024

Update from Qatar