Posted in 7-9-USA Healing by Liz Olson on 8/25/2010
There are so many treasures hidden within my bible. Though they may just appear to be nothing, each piece is priceless and carries a story.
 
The first is from the Philippines. It was given to me from a girl named Angel (pictured on the right). She painted me pictures of flowers and told me never to forget her and to keep loving other kids all around the world, just like I loved her.
  The next is from Angel's sisters, Sunshine & Sangi (pictured bottom right). They both love to worship God through singing. After they were singing to me for about 30 minutes, our squad was going to worship and hear a message from David. I took them with me, let them color and hear the worship. I would write
 
the lyrics, and they would sing it so loud and with confidence. During a prayer, they gave me these post-its. The first reads "God save the all the people to all sins"-pictured with 3 crosses, the next "God I pray to you she feet to make beter that you Lord"-pictured with feet., and the final one reads "Dear Liz I Love you tita (means aunt). Liz thing you for the Happy day and God Loves". I love these girls so much and miss them dearly. They are so beautiful, full of joy-no matter the situation they are put in.
 The next is my bible itself. While in Thailand, we visited some of the temples and found ourselves in the middle of a monsoon! I happened to be carrying my bible that day, and now it has become a " Tie Dye Bible" or " Thai Die Bible"
 The next was a gift from our contacts in Thailand. SHE Ministries left us with a rose, that says "Thank you from SHE". This rose stays next to Isaiah 35, which was proclaimed over that ministry and what will come. Bangla Road will become a "Highway of Holiness"
!This rose means so much to me for so many reasons. I fell in love with the ministry, vision and with the Thai women. I look forward to serving with them more in the future.
 The next treasure is on the back of a bank receipt. It was given to me while I was with our contacts in Malaysia. On this receipt are the lyrics to the song "This is the Day" but in Malay (Hari Ini). I spend so much time trying to learn this song. I was able to learn "This is the Day" in a total of 4 
languages on the race. Pictured are our contacts who were so patient in teaching me Malay and the song "Hari Ini"
 This next one was created in Busia, Kenya. It was the first church service I attended and there was a little girl (8 yrs old), who found it a little difficult to sit still for the 5 hour church service. So, we colored. I would draw something, she would take it to her chair and color it in. This went on for hours. It was such a fun way for me to connect with this girl. Also, there pictured is the pastor and his wife. Pastor Gideon was and is such an encouragement to our team!
 Another image is one of the cards I was given when admitted into Kijabe Hospital. I was extremely blessed with the care here. Though I was sick, I met so many great people (doctors, nurses, food cart ladies and so much more!) People in the community even heard about my illness and that I was a missionary, and drove to come and see me and bless me. Some even prepared special meals that were easier for me to digest!
i have so many great memories from the trip and they are all over my bible. I have encouragement notes from teammates, a letter from my first squad leaders right before we switched teams, etc... This book radiates with love and is filled with wonderful stories and memories. I look forward to the many more stories that are to come!
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Posted in 7-9-USA Healing by Liz Olson on 7/21/2010
 There was a moment a few days ago where I completely had a melt down. I had been alone in the same house with no where to go, weak,& tired not being able to do anything for myself, hearing stories from my teammates and squadmates back on the field and how they were so deeply struggling , close friends back home that were more than struggling, I was beginning to feel the 'shock' of being back in the States and so much.
So I prayed. One of the most valuable lessons I have learned from Thailand, was that prayer is not 'the only thing we can do' or 'the last thing we can do' but the best thing we can do. I cried out the my Lord for specifics as to why I was here. I know I am here to heal, but I knew there just had to me more.
He revealed to me exactly why I was here, what I am to be doing and who I was here for. It was as if he was painting a beautiful masterpiece right before me. I was mesmerized by what was being revealed. He put people in my path specifically for me to love and encourage. One was a friend of mine that called me. They brought so much relief and joy to me in that specific moment when I was 'melting' and then it was my role to encourage.
Then I saw that a fellow squadmate was online and was just robbed at gunpoint. My time was spent encouraging and loving her right where she was at. Though she and her team were thousands of miles from me, I was sent here to encourage and rally others around me to do the same.
Then I went to a college church service. I just needed to get out of the house and worship the one who is in complete control. As I got there a little early, I get out of my car to find another person who was shy, insecure and was also their for the first time. It became clear that I was not only here for me, but this young man. This man is a geek (so am I-engineering and math) and was terrified to be at this worship service. Quickly noticing all of this, we spent the evening together. We walked in together, talked in the lobby, and sat next to each other during the service.
It felt like I was translating and helping mesh two different 'cultures' that I was familiar with.
That night of worship was beyond beautiful. There was one instant where we sang:
"Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah Praise the Lord"
It was exactly what I needed.
I needed to get back to the heart of God-worship, especially when times are so messy and hard.
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Posted in WR Friend's Blogs by Liz Olson on 7/17/2010
The truth is, you've heard it all before
Warning: If I had to rate this blog it may be rated PG-13. I wanted to avoid a few details of this story, however they are very important.
This week I watched Hotel Rwanda with a few of my team mates. It wasn't my first choice, however I had watched all the movies I was interested in such as P.S. I love you and Nick and Norah's infinite playlist. As we watched, my heart felt so much sympathy for the people that endured the genocide in 1994. Especially since I am currently in Africa, it felt so much more REAL. Then we went on and had dinner, and laughed together about Jenaes weave.
This week I also met Anna (I changed the name for privacy reasons). Anna is learning English and figuring out her purpose in life. Anna had a story to share with us, and through broken English and Swahili translation this is what she shared:
Anna grew up in Rwanda for most of her life. When she was a child there was tribal tension between the Hutus and the Tutsis. She was a Tutsi. She had lived a pretty comfortable life when one night her mother called her into the house. Her mother told her that they had to leave...NOW! They went to a church seeking refuge. Many Tutsis were hiding within the church, praying to God to protect them. She hid under a table crouched down, shaking throughout the night. Her mother laid in front of the table, protecting the rest of her siblings. A few hours later the Hutus came in. They showed no mercy to the Tutsis. They began to slaughter the Tutsis...adults and children. Blood splattered the walls while the Tutsis were killed with unsharpened machetes. Then one of the Hutus grabbed Annas mother. They raped her while laughing. They raped her violently in front of all her children. Then they grabbed her daughters and raped them as well. (Anna took a deep breath while sharing this part of the story, and then started sobbing). After they were done with the raping, they killed her brothers and sisters. She hid underneath a curtain in all of the chaos, keeping her eyes on her mother. They then grabbed her mother and cut open her stomach. Her mother was 7 months pregnant. They grabbed the unborn child out of the uterus and threw it against the wall. The mother laid there shaking, and bled to death. Eventually the Hutus left. Some people came several days later and helped Anna. They brought her to Tanzania. There she lived with other refuges and found one of her brothers. She now lives in Kitale, Kenya and serves God.
When you ask her how come she is able to serve God after suffering so immensely, her response is "What the Hutus did...that's what happens when you don't serve God."
I'm reading a book by Donald Miller and he talks about his friend Kathy who visits a memorial of the Rwanda genocide. I read this part of the book, in the midst of writing this blog. When Kathy was in the memorial in Ntarama she felt so much anger mixed with sorrow. The museum laid out the bones of the dead bodies as a memorial. The genocide site is a church where Tutsis had hidden. (This very well could have been the church Anna watched her family die in.) As Kathy prayed God said to her "This is what happens when people walk away from me, Kathy. I have brought you to this place to show you something important. This is what happens when my compassion and love leave a place."
It is when people don't allow God to show up through them, she realized, that the world collapses in on itself.
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Posted in 5-Thailand by Liz Olson on 7/13/2010
Since being in Kenya (and now in the States), I have had a lot of time to process and think. It first occured when I sat at home with a severe case of lice. Then I was hit with Malaria. And better yet, I had even more time to process when in the many hospital beds, 31 hours of plane rides and now in my bed at home. I have been sick for weeks now. What has consumed most of my days in Kenya (and now the States) has been rest, prayer and sitting in His presence.
As I was laying in bed during an afternoon when I had Malaria, I began to process the month prior to this one-Thailand. I witnessed so much in such a short amount of time. I saw layers upon layers of sin down Bangla Road. My eyes and heart were awakened to so much.
It is simple- I fell in love. I fell in love with the girls, the ministry, the culture, the people, the children, and the victories that were won during my short time in Thailand.
There is one victory in particular that brings me the most joy of all. Do you remember Jeab, the woman that I danced with in the bar (from the blog Dancing with Prostitutes)? Well every night I went out to minstry, I went to go and see her. There were a few nights that she was there working and we would sit and talk, but often times we heard " O, she with customer." For 10 straight days I heard this. My heart was so crushed. This was no longer just a woman working at the bars, but my dear friend and sister. To see her with a customer and taken night after night, I was hurting for her. Her family is so far away. She lives 12 hours away from her children, siblings and parents. And yet, she is stuck working at a place where she is seen as a possession and not as a human.
Finally, the last week of ministry I would return night after night in hopes of seeing my sister just one more time. I woud hear that 'she is with customer' so many times. Daily I would cry out to the Lord for freedom on behalf of my sister.
Freedom came. On one of my last nights out doing ministry, I did not hear that she was with customer but that she was no longer working in the bars. She is now a hair stylist and will soon return to her family when enough money is saved. Praise God!
Though there are many girls still stuck in human trafficking, an end is coming and victories are being won-one by one.
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Posted in 7-9-USA Healing by Liz Olson on 7/11/2010
So it is weird and different, being home in the States.
The first thing that I noticed besides the sign that had a delicious hamburger on it, was the language. I was for the first time in months able to understand small side conversations. I understood everything! I no longer found myself listening to the new language trying to understand the structure, pronunciation and words I knew in the language. And I miss it. I miss being engulfed into a language I am unfamiliar with.
The second thing I noticed was paved roads. Now this may be a small thing, but in Africa where you are lucky to get a paved road at all, and even with that there are potholes the size of bath tubs!
Then I found myself in a grocery store to get some simple simple foods for me to be able to digest easily. I nearly fainted. I could choose any fruit that I could imagine (except the amazing ones from Asia). There was not only everything that I could ever dream of wanting, but there were multiple brands of each of them. And what topped it all off was the freezer section! Hold your horses everyone! Wow.
I finally find myself at home. I was blessed with new sheets and a new pillow for my bed (which I have spent the most time in so far). Even with old sheets, the simple treasure of a bed is amazing. I slept 17 hours the first night being home and napped all day long. I have been eating more and having more regular bowel movements.
I am on the road of recovery and it feels good. There are still some discomforts and pain when digesting, but it is improving. I am still only able to eat fruit juices, chicken broth, and some fruit.
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Posted in Support Updates by Liz Olson on 7/6/2010
I am writing this blog for 2 very important reasons.
The first is to update you on my health. My time here in Kenya has been rough. I have been sick for 4 weeks now, 2 of which were spent in the hospital. I started out with Malaria. Then I was told I had aparasite, amoeba, ulcer, hole in my stomach, UTI, yeast infection, back up of my ''stool" and E-coli. These could have been true or all been a false positive, we are unsure.
Now I currently have a gastrial infection that is most likely caused by a tropical disease that the doctors cannot identify. I have lost my appetite and when I do manage to eat, it is extremely painful to digest.
We do not know what the next step will be. I have stayed behind in Kenya, for it has better medical care than Tanzania. There have been discussions about the possibility of returning to the States, but that has yet to be determined yet.
The second update I have is in regard to my financial support. In order to continue on this journey, I need to have $5,000 in my account by the end of this month (which would make me fully funded).
I am asking that you pray for both of these issues. If the Lord is putting it on your heart to give financially, you can do so electronically by clicking here or by mail to the address below. *Note that all donations are tax deductible*
Adventures In Missions
P.O. Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
(with Liz Olson-WR in the Memo)
Thank you for all of your prayers and support!!
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Posted in 6-Kenya by Liz Olson on 7/4/2010
"Many give their lives for their country, but Jesus gave His life for the world."
There was a devotion I read a while back, about a custom the citizens of the United States did during World War II. If a family had a son serving in the military, they would place a star in the front window in their home. A gold star would be placed if their son had died fighting for their country.
The devotion went on talking about a man walking down the street in New York with his 5 year old son. The little boy was intregueed with the stars in the windows and wanted to know why some houses had the stars. The dad explained that those familes had a son fighting in the war. Then the child would clap his hands for each house he saw a star in the window. He would cry out for the gold stars, "Look, daddy, there's another family who gave a son for his country."
Finally they came to a gap in the houses. Through the gap a star was beeming in the night sky. The little boy caught his breath, "O, Daddy," he cried, "Look at the star in the window of heaven!
God must have given His Son too."
Yes, there is a gold star in God's window. Out of His great love for us, He gave us His Son. Ephesians 2:1-10
Happy Fourth of July
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Posted in 6-Kenya by Liz Olson on 6/19/2010
Last Sunday I went to church and was amazed. It was like nothing I have ever experienced before. We went to a small village about 30 miniutes away from where we are staying to preach at a small church. The second we arrived, we were greeted with hugs, kisses, smiles and really sincere hugs.
The service began with a 'warning' that it would be typical African worship. I could not even contain my excitement and joy.
There were no instruments (or electricity for that matter), only chairs and people. They used what they had-their hands. They used their hands in such a beautiful and amazing way. They were able to create rhythms that I have never heard before. There were deep, loud, soft, fast and powerful beats. It was nearly impossible to try and stop yourself from coming alive and dancing. The Spirit of the Lord was their and no one in that small space (8 ft x 20 ft) could deny it.
While we were worshiping in Swahili, I became alive. I was so at peace and satisified in that moment. There were points in the song, that I knew exactly what I was singing. I told Caitlin who was there with me what was being sung and we just smiled. I cannot tell you how I knew, but I can tell you why-Jesus. I later asked the pastor if what I knew was what was being sung and he said yes it was.
Then Caitlin and I both preached. She proposed the question, "What is the difference between a missionary and a Christian?" She goes on to say that there is no difference and that we are all called to be missionaries and go out and share the great love and hope that we have to others (Matt 28:19-20). I then go up and talk about how we can go out and be effective with the gifts God has given us. We spent most of the time in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12.
"A spiritual gift is given to each of us SO we can HELP EACH OTHER." 1 Corinthians 12:7
When we were stuying Romans 12, we looked at the gifts that were given and the verb that followed the gift. In this passage of scripture, there are gifts that are given for specific purposes. I challenge you to read Romans 12 and notice the verb after each gift that is listed. Also, spend some time asking the Lord what your gifts may be. Are you using them to 'help each other'?
What purpose has your gifts been given? Is it to loving hold the orphan in Africa? Is it to encourage a co-worker at your office? Is it to help a classmate on their homework? Is it to pray and support missionaries? Or is it to disciple and raise up the next generation?
Your gift is your gift with a purpose for you to fulfill. Will you choose to fulfill this purpose, or let your gift go to waste?
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Posted in 6-Kenya by Liz Olson on 6/12/2010
So far my ministry here in Busia, Kenya has been very simple-sit. Due to the fact that I had a severe case of lice, I have literally sat for 7-8 hours every day this week having someone go through strand by strand through my hair (which is A LOT) removing thousands of dead lice eggs. Normally this would have been the 'end of the world' for me. I hate having to stay behind and being 'left out' of a ministry, but I have not had those feelings this time.
Besides the constant neck and back cramp and soreness, it has been a true blessing. I have been able to sit in the presence of the Lord. I have been able to read the entire New Testament, The Voice of the Martyrs, Devotional & Red Letters, worship to great music, learning Swahili, and enjoy the fellowship with the people removing the lice from my hair.
Knowing me and my personality, I need to do-do-do and be-be-be. Sitting was once the hardest thing for me to do. Yet, I do believe that the Lord has calmed me down to simply sit with Him.
Have you been able to really sit with the Lord today? This week? This month? I have found the simple treasure in sitting with the Lord with no distractions. I hope you do too.
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This is my heart's desire and calling in life. I have only experienced a taste of the 
