Posted in WR....take TWO! by Julie Lortz on 11/12/2011
I had to share this blog by the AMAZING Beka Fritz.
This woman is full of wisdom, love, fire and creativity. She has been transformed this year. Here's a little insight to how we live on the race and life around the world.....
When people say 'This trip is preparing you to be a great wife someday', I laugh and respond...
'Yea... OR to be single the rest of my life.'
I've always considered myself a pretty low maintenance girl, but this year has put a whole new perspective on what it means to 'Rough it'. We live out of backpacks, sleep in public places sometimes, were the same clothes for days on end, rarely shower, and take anything free we can get. Our budget for the year looked like this:
$3.75/Day for food
$4/Day for Lodging
$1.50/Day for Local Transportation
... Promise, I never stole anything more than sugar packets, napkins, and extra complimentary bags from the airplanes! I may or may not have ate food left from people, and we have a whole list of 'You know you're on the World Race when...' That all being said, I compiled a list of the...
12 Most under appreciated things in America...
Beds.
I can't even count the number of times I've had to sleep on the floor this year. Thank goodness for sleeping pads! I have 'making my bed' down to a science.
Drinking Water
I drink ALOT of water, and most countries do not recommend drinking strait from the tap. For some reason I'd always be dying of thirst when security would make me dump my water in an airport, or the water tank would run out in Africa. Don't worry, I just took a series of de-worming meds.
.... Running Water
So if it's not enough that we had to filter and boil our water, most people in Africa have to walk miles and miles to get water from a well. We helped pump and carry water all one day... notice I didn't say two days. That's hard work!
Walls.
Alot of the schools in Asia are so poor that they have numerous classes in one room. It's extremely loud, but they make it work- Just face different directions. In Nepal, we lived for a month in a 'treehouse' room with paper thin floors and walls that didn't even reach the ceiling. If you stood up in the squatty potty bathroom all the way, you could see right into our bedroom.
Furniture.
I've lived almost en entire year with my pack serving as my 'closet'. I've managed just fine using bags for 'drawers'. Nightstand? Unheard of this past year... And possibly the piece of furniture I miss most.
Mugs.
Vendors in Asia have this thing with putting ur drinks in baggies. It makes sense I guess, but I burnt my hand numerous times with hott coffee bags. Nothing beats good mug handle.
Seats.
You name it... I've probably ridden on it this year. Pretty sure America is the only nation with transportation and occupancy laws. Seat belts & Personal space? What's that?
Ladders.
For some reason, I did alot of painting this year... and alot of chair stacking. Only fell once. =)
Garbage Cans.
Lots of Asian countries throw they're trash on the ground... especially India. I'd say it was hard for me to do, but it was actually fun. Done with your water? Throw it out the train window. Done with your candy bar? Throw the wrapper over ur shoulder.
Tools.
So we were given some big tasks this year, and no equipment. Where's a Home Depot when you need one? I was whacking down entire jungles of vines in Thailand, installing flooring with safety scissors in India, and swinging shovels to cut bushes for burning.
Hot showers. Any Shower.
True Story. I was d-i-r-t-y this year. dumping cold water on your head with a cup doesn't exactly count as a legit shower.
Air conditioning.
Definition of Uncomfortable: Northern India in May and Southern Nepal in June.
I honestly will never complain that I am hot again. I hope these two months we're 'character building' at least because they were absolutely miserable. I was never NOT sweating, and we would take hikes to the creeks just to be in water.
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DEEPERthan these lighthearted 'Western World' amenities that, to be honest, we can all live without, I've been exposed to a lack of 3 main things around the world that I will truely never take for granted again...
Parents.
Alot of the children in this world are orphans. I know because I met them, and left a piece of my heart every time I had to say goodbye.
A Home.
I realize there are homeless people in America as well. The thing with Asia is that sometimes their 'homes' are literally piles of trash.
Education.
Kids in America are required to go to school and more often than not, complain about it. Kids in other countries are excited for any opportunity they get to learn and appreciate anything from a new chalk stick to having a blonde foreign girl teach them English and Math
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Posted in WR....take TWO! by Julie Lortz on 11/6/2011
Why do I do what I do? Why did I choose to lead the race? Yes, it's fun to travel, but let me tell you that it's rarely as glamorous as it sounds. So why would I give up months of my life, a steady income and a potential "real" job, try to raise support (not my fav) and leave the comforts of this country?
Let me try to explain....
First, some very real and very significant answers:
Because there are 27 million slaves in the world today.
Because there are people that have never encountered God.
Because there are nations that are locked up in hopelessness.
Because there are sons and daughters that are enslaved to addictions.
Because there are children who have lost parents.
Because there are women and children who have been beaten, raped, thrown on the streets as trash.
Because there are children - CHILDREN! - that are forced to fight wars they have nothing to do with.
Because there are nations dying from disease.
I could go on. And on. And on. For every single one of these reasons, I see faces of people we have met.
    
These things are NOT OK with me.
This has become one of my trademark statements: "THAT'S NOT OK."
Dad dying of a heart attack...that's not ok.
Children digging for food in the dump.... that's not ok.
Women raped and beaten.... that's not ok.
People living in fear and hopelessness... that's not ok.
People dying from cancer.... that's not ok.
People forced to work 15 hour days for zero money... that's not ok.
What does that have to do with squad leading and the World Race? Let me share some all too common stories of people that come to the WR...some stories that are NOT OK...
> IT'S NOT OK that someone has been sexually abused. NOT OK that love and intimacy has been perverted.
> IT'S NOT OK that fathers or mothers abandon their children, leaving adults wrecked with feelings of unworthiness and rejection.
> IT'S NOT OK that women are tied to ex relationships and the messages that result from those - You are not beautiful. You have no value. You are an object.
> IT'S NOT OK that children have lived in such chaotic and unpredictable environments that the only way they have found to protect themselves is with systems of control - OCD, manipulation, eating disorders.
> IT'S NOT OK that people are living in depression, anger, insecurity, bitterness, rejection, hopelessness.
> IT'S NOT OK that people have been emotionally, physically and sexually abused, and are still suffering the effects.
> IT'S NOT OK that people are turning to drugs, alcohol, addictions to numb their pain.
> IT'S NOT OK that people do not love or value themselves. And do not know how to accept love from others, or from God.
> IT'S NOT OK that people have grown up being called stupid or ugly.
>IT'S NOT OK that experiences - death, pain, abuse...and relationships - parents, friends, teachers, boyfriends/girlfriends, have formed untrue mindsets or inaccurate definitions of God.
> IT'S NOT OK that the enemy is destroying lives.
Absolutely none of this is OK with me. I'm constantly stunned at the hurt and lies that have tried to destroy people. Or worse, when it's too much and someone chooses to numb it all, with busyness, false intimacy, addiction, anger....whatever works.
Busyness will deaden anything.
But you know what makes me the most angry...the thing that is the most NOT OK? When these past experiences rob people of knowing the deep, radical, always perfect, outside of any condition, love of God. I'm a relatively calm person, but when I see these things....when I hear stories, I want to take a punching bag to the basement and beat something for a few hours.
This is why. This is why I chose to squad lead. This is why I came home from 5 months of living out of my dreadful suitcase and went straight to training camp to sleep in the cold, take icy showers with spiders, stay up late and wake up early. This is why.
Because none of these things are OK with me. It's not ok with me and it's not ok with God.God absolutely treasures every single person on this planet.
Yes. Every person.
You mean the world to Him. He outrageously loves and cares for you.
Because there is nothing I love more than seeing a life transformed by God's radical love. And I believe that love changes everything.
U squad has been absolutely transformed this year. People who didn't know God's love or couldn't accept it, have encountered the deep affection of His heart. People tied up in the opinion of man or performace or rejection or self-hatred or fear or insecurity are now FREE. They have seen a true picture of God and they have fallen in love. They know His voice, they know His presence, they know Him.
Have you encountered His love in a deep way recently?
stop for a moment and be still.....
Let a tangible revelation of His love sink into the depths of your spirit.
thank you so much for being a part of this journey. thank you for being a part of God invading the lives of 41 people who have touched nations and left them changed forever. next week, i travel to their final debrief! i still need $300 to cover my ticket. if you can help, please click here.
I so appreciate you!!! Thank you. Bless you. Love you.
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Posted in WR....take TWO! by Julie Lortz on 10/11/2011
Genae is the kindest, most encouraging person you will meet. She overflows with love. Beautiful stories from Genae, during their month in Mozambique. this is life....
Every day we would go to the hospital in Dondo where we would walk around with our contact (his name was lovemore!) and go into the rooms and just ask if we could pray for people. After a week or so of going, the hospital started clearing out! God was healing! There were a few specific instances where we were praying for the person and would realize that witchcraft was a part of the reason they were sick. There was one woman who couldn't speak because of an evil spirit controlling her tongue. Another one said that he had a dream that an evil spirit came to him and told him to drink something, and he did. When he woke up he was sick and had to go to the hospital. In these instances we prayed for these people to be saved, but also a prayer against the attacks of the enemy. This sounds like crazy stuff you'd read in a book, but trust me it's as real here as it gets! Many times when we would pray for healing over someone they would be discharged before the next time we went! Praise God!
Another part of our ministry was a day when all the widows from the area came to be prayed for and to get bags of rice to take home. It was so much fun hanging out with all the older ladies and praying for them. One lady came up and she asked for us to pray for her hand. When we looked at it, her skin was calloused and infected, her bones were stiff and she held it in a fist that couldn't be moved. After a quick 5 minute prayer for her, God released His power and she stretched out her hand! She smiled and laughed and kept balling her fist up then stretching it as wide as her fingers would allow! As she picked up her 30lb. back of rice and placed in on top of her head (she was probably 65 or 70 years old!) and started walking away, we could still see her balling her fists and stretching them out, over and over again! She was smiling ear to ear as she left!! What a blessing it is to be used by God to bring spiritual AND physical healing to people.
One of the last days we were at the ministry site, we went out and did a prayer walk through the village. As we came across people or homes that we felt God pointed out to us, we would pray. One family was sitting outside and we asked if we could pray for them. So, Lovemore spoke for a while and we found out that this man was going to a witchdoctor for healing for his leg. After we all spoke about God for a few minutes this man wanted to take off the white yarn that was tied around his neck (a symbol of treatment from the witchdoctor) and to pray and receive Christ. So, Chelsea O. explained the Gospel and I was able to pray with him to receive Christ into his life!!!!
Rice and beans every day...yes. Nevertheless, this was a Great month of ministry!!! J
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Posted in WR....take TWO! by Julie Lortz on 10/6/2011
U SQUAD!
Who is U squad?
U squad is the group I co-led at the beginning of the year.
I have absolutely fallen in love with these 41 people.
Seriously, I think about them all the time.
We started this journey together last October....(at training camp).
The real adventure began in January.
We spent 4 incredible months together.
Every day since I left them in Malaysia, I have thought about them, prayed for them, and missed them dearly. I really wish you could know every one of them....the beauty of their hearts and the fire in their spirits. They are lovers and worshippers. They have taught me so much. And they are hilarious!
Next month, they return to the States. 11 months of beauty and love and chaos and transformation and depth and life-changes and now.....they are coming home.
But, you see, before they come home, they have a final debrief. And I really, really, really want to go see their faces!!! I don't think you understand. I really want to see them all together,one last time! To hug them and be with them and worship and laugh and be crazy and celebrate. I want to finish this journey with them....to finish well. To do that, I need your help. Their final debrief is in Romania and I need a plane ticket to get there. It is really important for me to be there for a number of reasons. It is important to finish this well. It is important for me to be with them in the end.
I am so thankful for you, for your love and for your blessing. And know that as you support me, you are investing in the lives of 41 absolutely beautiful people that are building the Kingdom of God everywhere they go. Stay tuned for some stories from their journeys....
love. love. love!!!!!!!
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Posted in WR....take TWO! by Julie Lortz on 6/6/2011
So we're walking home from our dumplings and a woman approaches. She is holding out her hand with a few coins in her palm. She looks like she has been wearing the same clothes for a week, and that she's owned them for years. She walks with a crutch. Her left leg is stiff and is about 8 inches shorter than her right leg. Two friends are following her. She doesn't speak English and we don't speak Mandarin, limiting all communication to nonverbal expressions (always fun!). I bend down, trying to find out what is wrong with her leg and pray for it, but communication is scarce and they are interested in money. For many reasons, I prefer not to give money to beggars, but we always offer to buy them food.
Sage and I motion toward a food stand and to our happy surprise, they are interested. (most people we encountered in Malaysia were only interested in cash.) They evaluated some nearby street vendors, but were not satisfied, so we suggested the convenience store down the street.
With that, the 3 poor, village looking women and the 2 white girls pile into the store. We told them they could get anything they wanted. With giddy smiles, they filed their arms with sausage and ramen and vacuum sealed chicken and I don't even know what else. There were like children in the candy store. The store clerk, on the other hand, disapprovingly, shook her head at us. I admit, I felt slight embarrassment as they dumped their selections on the counter, holding up the line of impatient people that had formed behind us. But the three were happy, so I tried to disregard the obvious frustrations of the others in the store.
Completing the 3 transactions, we walked back out to the street. But I wasn't done with this lady. Feeding the poor absolutely is the Kingdom. Jesus talks about that a lot, but there's more to the Kingdom. And I'm always after "the more." We addressed the need she asked for (food/money), positioning us to address the need she didn't know she could ask for (God encounter).
I walked down the road with her and found a bench where she could sit. Again, I asked about her leg. I supposed she may have a prosthesis, but she pulled her pant leg up, revealing a big scar at her knee area. Now, it was obvious why she couldn't bend her leg. It was as if her entire knee had been surgically removed.
I had her sit back, holding her legs straight out in front of her at a 90 degree angle. Her left leg was considerably shorter - probably 8 inches shorter than the right. I have seen people with a leg 1 or 2 inches shorter than the other, but this, I had never seen. But if God can grow a leg 1 inch, He can certainly grow it 8 inches. With that, I held her feet, Sage laid her hands on the woman's knee and we commanded the leg to grow. This, we were not quiet about. I'm sure the people passing by were wondering what the heck two white girls were doing with a homeless looking, Chinese woman in the middle of Shanghai. But we focused our attention on the presence of God and the woman.
We prayed for at least 5 minutes, commanding the leg to grow and align. Slowly, as we prayed, we watched her leg lengthen. I'm not sure what was going on in this lady, but she had her head back, eyes closed and it looked like she was praying too. Her leg came to a point where it was about 2 inches shorter, and then it stopped growing. We felt we were finished, but we took advantage of having our hands on her and declared some radical encounters over her - that Jesus would walk in her room, that she would be filled with the Holy Spirit and that she would be a revivalist in her community. We like to do that :).
Looking at her as we stood up, she was amazed and full of joy. Then, she reached in her bag, took out her coin purse and started pulling out bills to give to us!! What??! The lady, who came to us begging, was now trying to throw her earnings for the week into our hands. That's what happens when the Kingdom comes and Heaven invades: things turn upside down, prostitutes become revivalists, thieves become givers, persecutors become lovers, law becomes grace, bondage becomes freedom.
Of course we said "no, no, no," and pointed up to God. It just so happened that we puchased some Chinese Bibles in Malaysia and smuggled them into China. I pulled one out of my purse and gave it to her as we said our goodbyes.
Just that moment, 3 police rode up on bicycles. Of course everything we were doing is super illegal. Praying, giving out bibles - definitely not ok with the Chinese government. God's grace covered us, and her, in that moment. Thank you Jesus!
We never saw the lady again. We like to think that Jesus came in her room at night and healed her leg all the way. We think that's why it didn't grow out the last 2 inches....so Jesus could do it personally, and reveal Himself to her. We also like to think she will be the woman at the well, who went back and told her entire village about meeting Jesus, and everyone came to know the King of Kings.
This was a perfect day. A little bit closer to living naturally supernatural.
He's so good all the time. He's always, always, always better than you could ever imagine.
here's some more pictures from China!
chinese tea time = tofu, mochi, boiled quail eggs and tea.
we love the Shanghai dumplings!!!!
long lines form to get an order of these delicious Shanghainese
dumplings (xiao long bao) at the famous Nanxiang Mantou Dian.
Pudong skyline at night.
high tea at the Peninsula!
the Bund. dozens of historic buildings lining the Huangpu River.
the Bund at night. gorgeous.
random people take your picture all the time in China...
sometimes they actually ask to be in the photo with you.
there's nothing i LOVE more than a moped ride in Asia.
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Posted in WR....take TWO! by Julie Lortz on 6/4/2011
On our way home to the States, Sage and I had a short stopover in China, with some planned fun of course. If I've learned one thing over the past several years, it's that life is ministry. It doesn't start or end based on your schedule. It's not confined to a certain activity or setting. It's certainly not contained within the four walls of the church or a mission trip. I don't just want to see God move in church or during "outreach," I want to do what He's doing all the time. Now trust me, I have much to learn on my journey toward living naturally supernatural. But allow me tell you about a very good day....in China.
We started the day loving on the Lord, as we got ready for some exploring! First stop after leaving the hostel = porridge....because you have to eat porridge for breakfast when you are in China. It was quite satisfying....and it only set us back fifty cents. Crazy!
After meandering around People's square and the park, we hit the shopping street. Umpteen invitations to buy brand name purses, shoes and watches, and we conceded. With this, we were given a tour of hidden away, back alley shops....all filled with look-a-likes of the most expensive brands. A must do when in China.
As afternoon rolls around, we grace the Peninsula hotel for high tea (if you know me well, you know I have a small dream of having high tea at every Peninsula hotel - 4 down, 5 to go).
After some down time at our hostel, we mosey down the Bund toward the famous Peace hotel. There, we have some drinks and enjoy the old Jazz band.
For a late night snack, we find a street restaurant serving Shanghai dumplings - mmmmm...so delicious!!!
I know, that sounds like a really good day, but I haven't even gotten to the really good part.....
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Posted in WR....take TWO! by Julie Lortz on 4/30/2011
One by one they spoke their prayer needs. I was thankful there were only six people sharing. I wasn't sure my heart could hear another request for prayer. It would appear they had very little to be thankful for, yet each one started by thanking God for His protection and provision in their lives. They followed with how grateful and encouraged they were to have us with them tonight.
We were at a Burmese house church in the capital of Malaysia. The setting was very simple. A small apartment. A few chairs. Church tonight was one family with 3 young children, 2 men in their 40s and 2 younger men in their 20s. Jamie and I spoke to them through a translator.
As they went around the circle and told us what they needed prayer for, we heard story after story of divided families. One man had not seen his wife for over 2 years. He had 2 sons that made it to Australia, but his wife and 4 more sons were still in Myanmar (Burma). The 22 year old was separated from his entire family - four sisters, 2 brothers and his parents still in Myanmar. He was alone in Malaysia. Each story was like this...families torn apart due to the horrible situation and unrest in Burma.
I don't fully understand the state of Burma. But I know there is genocide taking place. The tribal people (who are not pure Burmese people) are being killed by the Burmese soldiers. After our house church meeting, our translator shared his story with us. During a church gathering, the Burmese soldiers raided. As a leader of the church, he was arrested. After several days in jail, they were on their way to the higher court. The soldiers stopped for some drinks and our friend ran into the jungle, not knowing what would happen, but knowing he couldn't stay. He eventually escaped Burma, traveled through Thailand and made it to Malaysia. After 2 years, he still does not know what happened to the other 4 that were arrested with him. After 2 years, he is still waiting to know where he will go next.
Over 80,000 refugees from Myanmar live in Malaysia as they wait for acceptance to a third country. They each requested prayer for quick processing of their UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) application. They don't have much. They have been separated from family, not knowing if they will see them again. Forced to leave their country. Living in a foreign land. They don't even know what their future will look like, but they sure do worship God with their entire beings. It is humbling, and an honor to be with them. Something about persecution takes you into the depths of God.
Pray prayers of deliverance over Myanmar. It is absolutely not ok that genocide is taking place there. It is not ok that so many families are separated. It is not ok that children are hiding out in the jungles. This needs to change. And it needs to change on our watch.
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Posted in WR....take TWO! by Julie Lortz on 4/22/2011
My co-leader, Kels Sage, wrote this. I really love it and don't think I can write it better myself, so here you go....
As you know just by walking through the local grocery store, it is almost Easter. The innocent colors of light green, pink, purple and of course chocolate all fill the area near the entrance and cashier lines.
I for one have been convicted of the way I celebrate this "holiday"; or should I say lack of celebration. I do much more planning and anticipating for the 4th of July, and Thanksgiving, of course we all get hyped for Christmas. But what is the deal with Easter being just a chocolate-fest and cute pictures with bunnies? Sick.
This is what we SHOULD be celebrating, Jesus leaving the tomb empty! Jesus allowing us to live in complete freedom, victory from sin, victory from baggage and meaningless life!! No, I do not have to live with a glimpse of illness or affliction against MY body because of the empty tomb, because Jesus faced Satan right in the face and beat the hell out of him (or beat something else more serious out of him, just couldn't think of a better word to describe the intensity)! He did that for you and for me. Jesus wept and went through the MOST severe death known to mankind, not so we can eat purple marshmallows in the shape of rabbits but so our entire lives could be in union with God the Father. THAT is worth celebrating, more than any other day of the year, THE victory of LIFE and FREEDOM is the most important, most powerful day of every year we exist.
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4
Our old sinful, depressed, meaningless life WAS and STILL is crucified and buried. That life is over and done and a new is for us to take and experience.
If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. Romans 6:5
If we allow ourselves to be in complete surrender, if we accept and acknowledge the new life Christ paid for us to have, then we will meet death to our old lives of fruitlessness and be resurrected and filled with the Spirit to live a new life. I am a new creature, with new thoughts, new hopes, new power, new authority, new meaning because I died to myself. I am still continuing to surrender things over to the Father, I am continually dying to myself because I know that His ways are greater than my own. (Isaiah 55:9) Thank God. Thank God that I can be in surrender mode to Him and allow my life to be multitudes greater than any life I could create by myself.
So yuh lets hunt those eggs, cause really, who doesn't want to run around the neighborhood with a cute basket hunting dyed boiled eggs? Let's buy the chocolate, let's have the family over for lunch, let's go to church.
But let us never forget what the victory of the resurrected life truly means and holds for us. This is the day we should have a week off of work and school preparing for... maybe one day the world can wake up and realize Easter the most powerful day of the year.
Now doesn't that just make you want to scream RESURRECTION!!!!! It does me! :)
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Posted in WR....take TWO! by Julie Lortz on 4/17/2011
My favorite people!
I will be back in the States in less than 3 weeks. Kinda unbelievable! I still need $2000 to cover my costs for the past 4 months. His provision is always perfect and there is no lack in His Kingdom, so I know this is already done!!
I absolutely appreciate you partnering with me, sowing into my dreams and investing in the lives of the people I have been with for the past 4 months. I am so thankful and honored. You have been a support in more ways than you know.
I love you all and cannot wait to see you soon!!!!
the best way to donate is by mail:
Adventures In Missions
P.O. Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
Be sure to indicate for Julie Lortz on your check.
Much love and thanks!!!!
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Posted in WR....take TWO! by Julie Lortz on 4/13/2011
At the beginning of April, our entire squad came together for several days. We usually get together at the end of every month, but this month was special. This time, Sage and I announced the new squad leaders. It was a fun, beautiful and emotional weekend. It is what we came to do. We came to raise up, to pour out and to give away everything we have....
So we chose three leaders to take our place. We were never intended to lead this squad for 11 months. The three that we chose are the ones that will take this squad to places that we never could. We invited the three to step into this new position. After hearing from the Lord, they each accepted. Then, several days of beauty followed. We worshipped with them, we imparted our lives to them and we gave them what we have been given. Before the squad, we transferred the mantle of authority that we have carried for the past 3 months to the new squad leaders. We prayed over them and anointed them with oil. I wish I had pictures to share. It was breathtaking. It was exactly what we were meant to do and it was perfect. It's a beautiful thing to impart an inheritance; to give away what you have been given; to release those that follow you into a higher and greater place than you will ever go.
Some photos of them serving communion to the squad...
jake. favored son of promise.
chels. deep, deep well of treasure.
court. pillar of wisdom and truth.
the squad praying over their new leaders.
us and them... :):)
They are a most striking trio. Each so unique, and each carrying something specific that the squad needs. They complement each other really well. It is beautiful to see what God is doing in them. This month will be spent training them as they take over leadership of the squad. And, of course, loving on my 41 favorite people before returning to the States. But first, some fun...
)  yes, we saw Rio.....in 3D.
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