Posted in Support by Corinna Gallagher on 1/3/2012
Listen to me, you islands;
hear this, you distant nations:
Before I was born the LORD called me;
from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.
He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow
and concealed me in his quiver.
He said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”
But I said, “I have labored in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand,
and my reward is with my God.”
And now the LORD says"
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him
and gather Israel to himself, for I am[a] honored in the eyes of the LORD
and my God has been my strength"
he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
This is what the LORD says"
the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel" to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation,
to the servant of rulers: “Kings will see you and stand up,
princes will see and bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
I have been feeling really discouraged lately. As mentioned in my previous blogs I will have to go home because of lack of funding.
I felt like a failure. "Did I not try hard enough?" I thought. Even though I exhausted all my efforts and resources. Don't people even care about what I'm doing? I even was mad that people back home weren't supporting me. Thoughts like "Why can they buy a new car or new clothes but can't support a missionary, who gave up everything including her entire wardrobe for a year." Selfishness and self pity flooding my mind. I tried to push those thoughts out but they kept come back.
The other day I struggling to understand a sermon in church because of the language barrier so I flipped open my bible and read the passage above from Isaiah 49. These words reminded me of my purpose. That I was not a failure and that God is my strength and my reward. I'm here because the Lord put me here. I have been so caught up in my desire to stay on the Race and live a great adventure. I have forgotten who put me here in the first place. God!
God put me here for the last six months and I have grown and served under Him. Now I realize that he may be calling me home. If he wanted me to stay He would have provided a way for me too. Since that has not happened, I'm coming to accept that he wants me to go back to Canada where He will use me there for His good and pleasing will. I know that it is not everyone's calling to give and I shouldn't think that they should. I was starting to feeling like people owed me and I'm sorry. That is obviously not true. I kept hearing stories of my teammates getting blessed and was told to keep my faith because "God can work miracles and He will bless you too" but they never happened, at least not the way I expected. I'm happy that others have seen the way God can provide but I didn't understand why it didn't happen for me.
God works in mysterious ways. He is trying to teach me something. I know! But it was still hard. Now that the deadline has come and gone. I can stop hoping for the miracles that I expected and start thanking God for the things He has already done. I still can't believe that I have made it this far and I have been to seven different countries in six months. I don't know why I was so angry. God has blessed me so much. The devil has always has ways of getting in. Doesn't he? But I will not give him the victory, I have definitely learn form this frustration and I pray God will continue to give me a right attitude. I'm sorry of I have offended anyone with my nagging or negative comments. I love you all and thank all my sponsors for your support, encouragement and love.
I pray that God bless you all and that you trust in HIM to provide all your needs. Amen
I going to spend a month in Uganda by myself to work at a children s home and visit my sponsor child before going back to Canada. I can already see God blessing me here and that it was His purpose for me to come here by myself and continue serving. Please Keep praying!
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Posted in Kenya by Corinna Gallagher on 12/27/2011
Last month we were in a town called kitalie in Western Kenya. We would travel in a van to our ministry site and on the way we would stop in town for something or another. The site of a white person would attract the street kids to our van.
They would try to open the windows to beg for money but sometimes they just wanted to talk to us. Money was never given because that just encourages more begging but we loved to talk to them. Many of the children, some of them looked as young a eight years old, carried glue bottles around with them and were high on the fumes while talking to us. We would take the bottles from them and say 'no glue' to them 'bad for you', but by the next day they would have a new one.
They never gave up on asking us for money though. One day a boy about twelve can up to me asking for money, I said 'no I don't have any' but he would n't leave me alone. I was eating M&Ms I had just bought and he gestured towards them so I gave him one and he smiled popped it in his mouth and left. 'Wow' I thought to myself that's all it took to make him happy. Then a hold bunch more kids came up to me, so I gave them all an M&M until they were gone. Now you see why we don't give out money. I was still surprised at how happy it made them to get a piece of candy, when they need so much more.
Most of these kids play and sleep on the streets. They beg for money to survive and put their hope in a bottle of glue. My heart sank every time I see them come up to the van eyes glazed over, strung out and high off the glue they held under their noses. I thought to my self why can't the government help these kids? It seemed like know one cared. The contact from another team in the same town told them not to talk to the street kids as to not encourage them.
Encourage them to what? Survive! What else are they to do? They are children. Most of them where abandoned when there parents died or left and some are run aways from alcoholic, abusive or mentally ill parents. They just hang out on the streets hoping that someone will take notice of them, at least long enough to give them some money or food.
One day we went to a cyber cafe and as I was settling in. The boy who I gave the M&M to the other day came in and sat at my table. I was annoyed at first, I had things to do, but I took the opportunity to talk to him and find out his story. He told me that his parents died of AID's when he was very young and that he had been living on the streets since then. He told me some other stories of what it was like to live on the streets. He said that he didn't use glue, which I believed because he didn't have the strong glue smell that the other kids have. He asked me for my camera and money. I said 'no' and he just sat there and stared at the floor. Even though I knew I couldn't give him money I still cared for him and wanted to show my love for him.
So we talked for a bit more. I asked him if he went to church and told him about Jesus. Then said "goodbye I have to go now" as we left. He said goodbye with a huge smile and left. I have seen him several times after that. Every time he would flash a smile and come over to say hi. He rarely asked for anything, so about a week before we left, he was following me around, so I took him into the store and bought a few things for him. He was so polite and only took what I offered and thanked me after I payed. It felt so good to show him I cared by buying a few things for him but it was defiantly not enough. He needs a home and people who love him, who can be there for him everyday.
All the street kids have touched my heart. It was so hard to leave them all there, on the streets, to defend on they own. I feel God calling me to help but I just don't know how to yet. I know that it breaks God's heart even more that this is happening and that God's people are just sitting back and letting it happen. I believe that we can all do something, if we come together with God's calling and the strength that he gives us. We can end this need less suffering of our dear children.
God please give us the will and show us the way to help your dear children. Amen.
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Posted in Rwanda by Corinna Gallagher on 12/21/2011
My World Race journey has been great. I have made friends form six different countries, I have shared my testimony more times than I can count, I have preached in front of churches and I have seen God work in my life in a way I never thought possible. But I'm afraid it is all going to come to an end. Yes I know I can do this stuff in America too but God has placed a passion for other worlds in my heart and I can not ingore that. People who have encouraged me and gave me strength to serve my God in ways I have never thought possible, have been not Americians (other than my team) but people who's first language is not even english. Sometime I don't even understand what they say but I see something in them that makes me want to find new ways to live my life for Jesus and fulfill His purpose for my life.
I have seen God provide in count less ways already but only because of people like you who also want to serve God and see His people thrive and grow in this difficult world. So that they can also bring others to Christ. Please don't let the enemy win. I have seen the hope that so many people we have met place in Jesus and sometimes that is all they have. When I travel around the world I 'm sharing that hope. It's not me who gives it but God who uses me to share it. We can't put our hope in anything else but God. Man will fail, I will fail but God will triumph. Be a part of that victory.
Maybe it is God's will that I go home. I won't deny that. I'm not perfect I don't always know his plan. I'm just the tool that he uses for that plan. I just ask that you pray about it and listen to what God says. Just as I am also praying. To see if God is calling you to support my mission and fulfill your part of His ultimate plan.
Please send me a message if you have any questions or comments.
If you choose to help your donation is tax deductible. You can give once or monthly at your discretion. Thank you for your support and Merry Christmas!!
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Posted in Rwanda by Corinna Gallagher on 12/19/2011
This month we are in Rwanda and I have decided to rely more on God and to abandon my comforts for this month.
How am I going to do this you ask? Well for the past five months I have taken comfort in spending my personal money on souvenirs and extra things like sweets, eating out and post cards. This month I have decided to deny myself of those things and save my bank account.
The race is about abandonment right? So I want to see what it is like to really abandon my American life style of buying things I don't need and relying more on God to provide comforts. Not Money!
If you know me you know how hard it is going to be for me to go a month without spending money, especially chocolate! But seriously with the help of God and your support I know I can do it. I'm asking for your support and to hold me be accountable .
I may still spend my personal money on team activities or things on basic needs but not anything else.
Also when my World Race account shows that I'm fully funded I 'm going to take a 32 hour fast to show my thanks and dedication to you and to God for what God has provided through you and for what I'm doing for him on The World Race.
Thank you for your dedication by reading my blogs and your words of encouragement. God is blessing me in many ways and teaching me how to be His disciple. I am praying that He will continue to show me more blessings and use me to bless others.
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Posted in Kenya by Corinna Gallagher on 12/19/2011
We went to the Kipsongu slums to evangelize a few days ago. I loved it! As soon as we got there a group of children started to gather around us. By now we are use to this so we happily greeted them and took pictures as they all tried to grab for the camera. Some of the younger children have never seen a white person, so they are scared of us when we approach and they run away screaming and crying. A group of about 15 kids followed us as we walked through the dozens of little houses made out of mud and sticks.
We stopped at several houses and shared our testimonies and the reason we were there with the occupants. Some invited us into their homes which was one or two very small rooms with a couch that filled the entire room. We sat on the couch as we told them how Jesus changed our lives and how He could change theirs. Some of the people we met were already Christians so we prayed for them and they told us their testimonies.
One of the houses we stopped at had a middle aged lady living there. She was very reluctant to let us in, she claimed that she was busy but eventually let us in. She stared at the wall as we talked about our testimonies. I got the feeling that she didn't want us there and she was just putting up with us. So I asked her how she was feeling and she said fine. I told her how much God loved her and wanted a relationship with her. I told her that God didn't care what she had done in the past, that he wants to forgive and heal her. Then she looked at me and then looked away with half of a smile. We asked if we could pray for her and she said yes so we did. Afterwards she said she was a Christian but I knew she was just saying that so we would leave. My heart was broken for her as we left and so I did all I could think of and just prayed for her again as we left.
It is so hard to tell people about Jesus when they have so much hurt in their lives that they can't see through it and realize that God still cares and loves us. He doesn't want us to live in the pain but wants to heal us from it.
My heart was lifted again when I saw the children sitting outside waiting for us. They continued to follow as we went around the corner and met an older women. She asked us to pray for the child she was carrying. "He is sick," our translator told us, "and his father is also sick and missing. She doesn't know where he is". So we prayed for her, the child and his father. A smile spread across her face when we were done. She posed for a picture and then wished us a good journey as we said goodbye.
All the people we met were so kind and welcoming. They have so little yet are always willing to share what they have. Many of the people, where we were, still practice black magic and witchcraft, so it was a little unsettling to be there but I felt the protection of Jesus around me. That Sunday we went to the church there and prayed for the community. I felt a power and energy that I never felt before while praying. I prayed that all the evil be cast out of and for God's holy spirit to be upon this place and He told me that he is working there and that those children are going to grow up serving Him.
I still hate to see God's people live in such poverty but they seemed happy and healthy. I think it is because of their faith and trust that God will provide their basic needs and their hope that even though they are poor in the world they are rich in heaven. No one can take that away from them. It doesn't have to be earned nor can it be stolen, it's free and theirs forever. All they have to do is take it.
Before going home we prayed over the children and of course they all followed us like little disciples to the spot where we were being picked up. We each had one or two on our knees as we waited. I wish I could take them all home with me. I will be praying for each one of them and hoping that they will become the light of this community and by the time they are adults there will be no poverty.
Only Christians helping Christians, living by faith and satisfied by the blood of Jesus.
Check this blog again in a few days for pictures to be added.
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Posted in Kenya by Corinna Gallagher on 12/14/2011
Merry Christmas And Thank You To My Family,
Friends And Supporters
I Love You All!
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Posted in Kenya by Corinna Gallagher on 12/6/2011
Here is a journal entry from my first week in Kenya, Africa.
I’m excited to use my artistic gifts again to paint the walls of the orphanage here in Kenya. At one of the homes for abandoned, orphaned and some run away children of Katile that Ben has established. Ben the pastor at one of the thirty seven churches and five orphanages he has planted. We are living with him and his family this month.
Today we painted the walls of the school/dinning room at the orphanage and tomorrow I will start drawing pictures that the team will help me paint. I have envisioned numbers, letters, rainbows, bees and bugs with a big golden sun. I’m hopeful it will turn out well and the children will love it.
After the painting we went out to play with the kids. I sat on a pile of wood and a bunch of girls came over and started to braid my hair. They don’t speack much English so I sat still as they talked among themselves while braiding. They were amazed at my hair, which is unlike their own dark thick curly hair. They were chattering excitedly, all I could understand was monzungu, which means white person in Swahili.
One of the youngest children, about two years old, sat on my lap during the church service on our first day there. I love her smile that spreads across her face every time she sees me. Another one of the girls, about seven or eight has attached her self to me. As soon as I get there in the morning she clings on and won’t let go, even long enough for me to go to the bathroom. She is a really sweet girl and I love her to pieces.
One day after some beans and chapatti for lunch one of my teammates, Staci, and I were talking to one of the teachers about our faith and he asked what we thought it meant to “be saved.” I told him my story about how I was saved. He told us he was a Christian but didn’t think he was saved. We explained more about it and I told him about my experiences and then he happy said “now I understand”. He told us that many of the churches around here say that you have to be baptized or go to there church to be “saved.” I explained that all he had to do to be saved was believe in Jesus Christ, confess that he is a sinner and that Jesus died for his sins, and accept Jesus into his heart so that he could have a personal relationship with Him. I don’t think he was ready to do that right then but I told him at he could do it anytime he was ready and that it was between him and God. Then our conversation was interrupted by lunch.
Only the first three days of in Ministry in Africa and already so much has happened. This is what I dreamed the mission field would be like; caring for the orphans and the poor, sharing the true gospel with people and living a abandoned life style. It wasn’t until Africa that I truly felt like I was experiencing these. I’m excited to see how else God is going to use us here this month. I feel like we are making a difference in the lives of the people here and they are making even a bigger difference in my life.
I love them all so much!
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Posted in Kenya by Corinna Gallagher on 12/5/2011
What do I want for Christmas?
Mmmmmm…
Let’s see…
I think I would like…
I know!
I would like to be fully funded.
That’s it!
That’s all I need.
That’s all I want for Christmas;
To feed the hungry,
to care for the orphaned,
to love the lonely,
to help the helpless
and to share the news of the one who we celebrate this month with the world.
Jesus!
How could I want anything else?
Jesus Christ came to earth for us.
For us!
Not for himself,
not for Christians,
not for perfect people,
not for Kings or Queens
not even only for the sick.
NO!
He came…
For ALL of us!
He came to love us,
he came to serve us,
he came to show us the truth,
to guide uss
to set us free,
to save us,
to protect us
to show the goodness of God,
to forgive,
to redeem,
to restore,
to give life…
I could go on and on about how much God gives us
And how much more He wants to give us.
So why don’t most people want to serve Him or even know him?
I don’t know.
All I know is that
I want to.
I have to.
He has called me to.
He has set out the path before me.
He has anointed me.
He knew me before I was born.
He has set me apart.
So I want to GO!
I want to do what Jesus did.
I want to serve Him.
I want to honor his memory.
I want to give him glory.
I want to love Him,
because He loved me first.
I’m only human.
I don’t have all the answers.
I don’t have all the knowledge.
I only have my bible
and what is in my heart.
God is leading me,
I don’t know where
but I will follow
I won’t fear
Because I know
He is there
And won’t let me go
For I am His
And He is mine
He gave me life
A life that is still His
I trust Him with all of my heart
What else can I say?
But just do.
What else can I ask?
But do you trust in Him too?
If you feel lead to join with me in my journey of serving the Lord in 11 counties around the world and help me continue in the path that God has already laid out before me then please click on the support tab on the left side of the screen and make a donation before January 1st.
Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.
2Corinthians 8:2-3, 5
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Posted in Nepal by Corinna Gallagher on 11/23/2011
A few days ago we hiked up to a monasterey. Like most monasteries it was on top of a mountain or hill as they call it in Nepal. We endured a two hour hike straight up the grassy hillside and rocky cliffs. Our contact Megh and a couple of other men, who were with us, kept us motivated as we strived for the top. It was a hard climb, I wanted to give up a few times but it was well worth it. I prayed to God for strength and He provided because I made it. On the way one of my teammates asked Megh "Are you sure there is a monastery?" She was joking but I was starting to wonder that myself. We are out of shape Americans and not use to this sort of thing. We were huffing and puffing but the Neplaese men were climbing like they did this everyday.
When we finally got to the top, it was an amazing view. We could see the whole town below us and the monastery looked like a smaller version of the white house. Huge white pillars at the top of the stairs hid the elaborate paintings and sculptures of the buddhist fairy tales over the ceilings and walls of the entrance way. The surrounding grounds were covered in golf course quality grass with manicured shrubs and flower beds. The garden was quite shocking because we have not seen anything landscaped since Europe.
Big red dooors, with big brass knockers in the shape of some of some sort of animal, towered over me as I went inside. I think my jaw dropped as I stood inside gazing at the huge buddist idols at the opposite side of the room. The walls and ceilings were covered in more paintings and the floor was carpeted in red with backless benches facing the center of the room. There were pictures of famous monks and people important to buddhism sitting on tables beside the idols. It is an amazing sight to see but it brought me sadness that they have gone to so much trouble to worship gods that don't exist.
We met one of the head monks and had tea with him. Our contact Megh later told us about the time he spent at a Monastery as a child before he was converted to Christianity. We also met an eccentric man who was living there while teaching English to the monk children. He told he believes both Christianity and Buddhism. We talked for awhile about our faith, explaining why we believe the truth written in the Bible. Then we said good-bye and headed down the hill. We stopped at a couple believers' houses on the way to pray for them and encourage them in their faith.
It was a very good day. No one was saved or converted. There were no miracles like I hoped, but God put us there for a reason and I believe that we helped prepare the soil for the seed. Now it's up to the next God sent workers to sow the seeds. Now we are in Kenya working in God's great garden here; sowing, planting, watering, fertilizing the Holy Spirit in the people of Africa.
And very importantly, ourselves too!
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Posted in India by Corinna Gallagher on 11/15/2011
My last day at Sarah's Children's home was a sad but glorious day. We brought cake and ice-cream for all the children to celebrate our last day there. It was a good time full of laughter and fun.'
But there was one child missing, named Jonathan. He was about two years old and has CP but the most beautiful thing about him was his smile. When he cried I would go over to try to comfort him and make him smile. I wish he could have been there for our party and maybe gotten a scoop of ice-cream. Jonathan is somewhere I hope to go, one day. He is in a better place, where there is no more pain or suffering. Jonathan was in the arms of his loving father, the maker of heaven and earth. And he still is. The Lord has called him home to sit, walk and run with Him for all of eternity.'
I know that I will see him again but until then I and all those who knew him will miss him. He brightened our lives in the short time he was here and helped us to realize, that we need to take the time to show love to those in need. It's worth it. It sometimes may be all you can do but it is what we, he, need the most.
Rest in peace our dear Jonathan.
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