chai and country music

There is nothing quite like riding on a packed bus in the Arab Gulf in 110 degree weather, country music blasting in the AirPods, drinking burn-your-tongue chai, while being the only white person in sight. You're already so hot from all the body heat and unobstructed sun, you might as well make all your insides hot too with a nice kadak chai.

Man I miss it.

It was often on these daily bus rides I was confronted with my task-oriented-ness in the mission field, and where this was replaced with the compassion of Jesus. It didn't take long for me to realize that coming from a success-driven West is in opposition to how the Lord deals with hearts.

He is tender, slow, a gardener of hearts. Planting seeds, watering, and waiting, waiting, watching as it grows. And being a missionary is sitting by Jesus in the harvest field- planting the seeds where He directs, digging when He hands us a shovel, and waiting, waiting, watching with Him.

Missions is a matter of hearts. It is small, slow, low, long. But this is the Fathers way. He is so kind, so unlike us.

Talking about Isaiah 53 and Jesus as the Man of Sorrows who bore our griefs to a young Indian woman who had lost both of her parents, and was now facing the world alone in a new nation. Being a familiar face and friend to a Sikh woman who had moved away from her family to work at a young age, and just needed someone to listen. Bringing a lonely woman into the house of prayer who had had no community before. Daily praying and worshipping Jesus in the same place the Islamic call to prayer is blasted on the speakers five times a day.

I got to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a place His name is not known, to pour out my worship in a place false gods are exalted.

And this is what I want to continue to do.

Since coming back to the states I have been in conversation with the Lord about doing missions long term, and this has become the trajectory of my life as the Lord has continued to give me His heart for the lost, to raise up worship across the earth that will finally beckon His long awaited return.

I desire that with a lovesick heart I would carry His gospel to the nations and pour out my life at His feet like Mary of Bethany, just because I love Him and I desire His return.

Through many tearful prayers about this came this chorus:

those who walked in darkness have seen a great light

One of those hot bus rides I remember listening to a song Poor Bishop Hooper wrote from Isaiah 9. The Father was revealing His heart to me, and I sat tearfully interceding as I looked around at the muslim women wearing burkas only revealing their eyes.

Let these who walk in darkness see Your great light

Increase their joy as with joy at the harvest

Break the yoke of their burdens, the rod of their oppressors

Come establish Your government and peace that will have no end

In Darkness a Light Poor Bishop Hooper PREVIEW   ​

Until our King returns,

—Maddie

​maddiecandler.com​