The God Who Hears

Thailand

Our next stop was the city of Chiang Mai where we stayed with another close friend and longtime missionary, Cynthia Friesen and her adopted Thai son, Maceo. In addition to spending hours over heart to heart talks, praying, playing games, and sharing good meals together, we had the beautiful opportunity of joining her in her world of ministry in a girls’ juvenile detention center, visiting the homes of several brand new believers from their newly-launched house church, leading worship and prayer ministry for the members of her Life Group, and praying individually with several of the women at Naomi House (a refuge for at-risk women to learn a trade and find financial, spiritual and emotional stability). The 10 days with Cynthia went so quickly and it was hard to say goodbye to this friend who feels so much like family.

Our last destination was the city of Mae Sot, a city on the border of Burma (Myanmar), where we ministered to several small groups of men and women who had literally fled for their lives from the Civil War happening in their country. In each setting, we spoke to them about a God Who hears the very cries of their hearts and is leaning in close to meet them right in their places of deep pain, trauma, loss, and fear.

In one of the meetings, the man sitting next to Geoff asked how he could be freed from fear and healed from the PTSD he was experiencing. He had watched his best friend get shot and killed right in front of him as they were fleeing the country. Geoff looked into his eyes, and took a moment to really see this dear young man in front of him. Looking in his eyes and loving him. Then he prayed, asking God for healing and the power to forgive such horrific offenses. God was present. Jesus was in the room. And the Holy Spirit knit their hearts together as this young man, and many others around the room, began the process of releasing their lives into the hands of God. It was a powerful, beautiful, and life changing moment.

“Geoff and Jill came with the joy of Christ that was so desperately needed among the Myanmar people who have taken refuge in Thailand. In our neighborhood alone, there are over 200 refugees, many of whom are widowed or single women. Jill was able to share her testimony with a small group of them one Saturday evening and the gospel was received by several women. On another occasion, the Holy Spirit came powerfully at a women’s ministry night at the church and many of us were met in a special way. My own family of four was blessed as they mentored us with their presence and gentle wisdom through our final week in Thailand...I’m so glad God sent the Ludlows to Mae Sot for such a time as this.”

(Ryan & Logan, Short-term missionaries in MaeSot, Thailand)

HAVE A CONNECTION WITH A LOCATION OVERSEAS THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN HOSTING A FULL SAIL TEAM?

If you would like to connect us with a missionary or full-time Christian worker somewhere outside of the US, please email us at info@fullsail.org or call our office line at 559-627-8202. Even now, we are praying about possible International Outreaches for 2024. So let’s chat!

Newfoundland

It had been over 8 years since we were last together in Newfoundland – the Rock as it is endearingly called by those who hail from there. Geoff was born and raised in this beautiful place full of wind and waves and rocky cliffs, and we had been longing to get there, not only to grab some precious time with Geoff’s family, but also sensing a nudge from God that He had some ministry moments planned for us there. And indeed, that is what unfolded. First, Jill was invited to share at a women’s Bible study at Bethesda Pentecostal, the church Geoff had grown up in. We began by leading in worship and then Jill spoke about how our desert/wilderness times can actually become tender meeting places with God and not just something to get through. It was such a sweet and personal time, ending with a prayer of encounter, accepting Jesus’ invitation to meet us where we really live, and choosing to trust Him and His timing. We felt deeply honored and delighted to meet with these ladies.

On another occasion, Jill was invited to spend the evening with Cheryl Cann’s ladies’ small group - 8 women who have been “doing life” together weekly in a beautiful circle of trusted friendship in her living room for the past 5 years. Jill was quickly and warmly invited into that loving circle. Drawing from John 11 and the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, she shared about the tender heart of Jesus and how He met each of them personally in the reality of their lives. He really does long to sit with us in the honesty of our sad, lonely, broken, confused, scared, stuck moments of life and make it a meeting place. A place where we’re given new grounds for believing His heart for us. What an honor to end the evening by praying over each of these precious women. The next morning, one of them messaged us this reflection: “I spent part of my morning trying to form the right words to put in my journal about my feelings from last night. I can truly say Jesus has shown me how to open some doors for Him to enter and help me clean up some of the cobwebs and to be like Mary and just sit at His feet and absorb everything He wants to say to me. Lots of tears and a wonderful letting go. Thank you for being a vessel helping with that.”

Our final opportunity came in the form of sharing stories from this past season of ministry with Ralph and Cheryl Cann’s couples small group. Each person was so engaged, listening intently, asking great questions, and rejoicing with us in the wonder of seeing God so beautifully at work in the lives of people around the world. Ralph closed the evening by saying, “Geoff and Jill shared their hearts and warmed ours in doing so” and later, he wondered about the possibility of a return trip to host a retreat for the small group leaders from Bethesda. We were excited about this possible opportunity and felt reminded once again by God: “Take the first step I show you and I will unfold the rest.” We are learning to follow His lead, even when at first it isn’t clear. He knows where we’re going!

Our most recent Oasis took place in a friend’s event barn in Visalia, California – the first one we’d done in town in 5 years - and what a refreshing time it was. People came hungering and thirsting for time with God and He did not disappoint us. In fact, one friend reflected afterwards, “I came longing to hear something from God and I was astounded that the moment I stepped into the room, He began pouring His thoughts into my heart.” Another first-time attendee who didn’t even know what the retreat was about but simply came because her aunt invited her, said that the moment she pulled into the driveway of the barn, she began to weep, feeling God’s Presence so powerfully all around her. It was like God was eagerly waiting to meet with each person who came. What a privilege to facilitate such private moments for people to connect intimately with God.

“It felt so inviting and easy to connect with God. As my feet were being washed at the foot washing station, I got a strong sense of what God was speaking to me, and it continued when I did the Communion station. I felt so clearly that He was present to me and specifically drawing me in closer, affirming my desire to be fully present with Him.”

(Oasis Attendee)

“When I arrived, I instantly felt God’s presence and felt His invitation. It was such a space of being able to let down. The foot washing prayer times we had felt so significant! God had something so unique for each person and it felt weighty and personal and like it really connected. Also, as the person praying, I felt pressure-free, easy, relaxed (which it not always the case!!!). Thank you for creating a space and setting the table for others. What a gift, what extravagant hospitality.”

(Full Sail Team Member)

COME WITH ME BY YOURSELVES TO A QUIET PLACE AND GET SOME REST.

MARK 6:31

WANT TO HOST AN OASIS RETREAT IN YOUR AREA?

If you would like to find out more information about hosting an Oasis in your area, email us at info@fullsail.org or call our office line at 559-627-8202. We will be traveling throughout North America in 2024. Maybe we will be near you! So let’s chat!

New Oxford dictionary defines oasis as “a fertile spot in a desert, where water is found; a pleasant or peaceful area or period in the midst of a difficult, troubles, or hectic place or situation”. Oasis invites people to their own personal retreat with God. Through devotional thoughts, prayer, and interactive Reflective Stations, Oasis provides un-rushed time and space to come away from the hectic, troubled, and daily grind of life to focus their thoughts and attention on Him, and to receive the healing and refreshment He longs to give.

“I loved the Reflective Stations at Oasis. The first one I went to was Bowl of Tears. It was such a restorative moment for me as I poured out what I long for most – an even closer connection with God. The second was the Hands Station. That was redemptive. The moment I felt God taking my stress and burdens from my hands, I felt such a weight fall off me. I have an amazing life, but sometimes the stresses of so much responsibility can have a draining affect. The third station was New Name. It completely wrecked me. The new name He gave me is ‘My Darling’…Thank you so much for all the effort and energy that goes into Oasis. You are loved much.”

(Oasis Attendee)

“As a very busy person, getting solitude in my week is a challenge. I’ve given up on daily solitude, but I do manage it at least two times a week. This retreat helped me value solitude even more than I already do. I totally get that Jesus met God in solitude and that is how He knew how to follow His Father’s will…This event cemented that value and I am thankful we could attend. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!” (Oasis Attendee)

Reflective Stations

“a stopping place for deep thought”