Posted in General Posts by Matt Delaney on 8/11/2010
We arrived in Dublin,
Ireland on
August 4th and spent our first night sleeping on the airport floor.
Not exactly the way I pictured my first night, but I'm on the world race and
that stuff is to be expected. The tile floor treated me well for about 3 hours
of sleep and then McDonalds was calling my name for a fattening breakfast. Not
too much time went by before I found myself back in the McDonald's line for
lunch. Once an American, always an American.
When we got to the hostel that afternoon we found out that
Manchester United was playing the Ireland Airtricity League in the grand opening
of their new stadium here in Dublin.
Honestly I couldn't have asked for better news upon arrival. I threw my bag in
the room and went straight to the store to purchase my ticket and of course an Ireland jersey
for the game. I got one of the last tickets available. I was living a dream of
mine and realized in that moment how great it was to be in Ireland.
We got back to the hostel to find an elderly man being
thrown out for being drunk and apparently wetting the bed. We watched for a
moment and then made our way up to the room. Jessica stood by the window and
watched as the man stumbled his way down the back ally. He lost his footing on
a curb and smashed his face against the cement. Jessica saw the man roll over
with his head covered in blood. Jessica, Rachel and I ran out there as fast as
we could with a roll of toilet paper that we figured we could use to clean up
his face. We sat him up against the wall and started asking him basic questions
to assess how with it he was after the fall. We learned that his name was
David. He also informed us that he had too much to drink which to us was not
breakthrough information. Once we got him sitting up and cleaned up, we
attempted to continue conversation to keep him conscious while a local called
for an ambulance. David had a rough day. He told us it wasn't just that day,
but the whole year has been rough. Jessica prayed over him for freedom from his
addiction and that he may find purpose and hope in the Lord. I was then able to
look him in the eyes and share with him how much the Lord cares for him and
desires to know him. It wasn't until I told David of the love the Lord has for
him that he started shaking his head in denial. He couldn't believe that anyone
would love him in the state he was in. I just repeated over and over again to
him that he was the one God loves. The Lord calls him his beloved. That is who
he is. That is his identity. His identity is not that he is a drunk, but that
he is a son of the King. Just before the ambulance showed up David stopped
denying what I was telling him and showed a little smile acknowledging the
truth I was speaking over him. It was so good to see God breakthrough to him.
That made for a fantastic first day in Ireland, but I still had the game
at night.
The Manchester United game blew my freakin mind. The
atmosphere surrounding the stadium reminded me of college football game day
which was the best feeling in the world. We got into the stadium just in time
for the opening ceremony. Manchester
dominated, but everyone knew that was going to be the outcome. I had my first
Guinness in Dublin
at the game which was quite enjoyable. Overall it was a fantastic first day and
I couldn't believe the Lord had me here in Dublin for the month to do ministry. The Lord
is good and continues to bless every area of my life.
Posted in General Posts by Matt Delaney on 8/10/2010
Last month God taught me a difficult lesson about
perseverance. He taught me a lot about relying on the Lord's strength and not
my own. He called me out on my lack of faith. He showed me I was unsatisfied
with my current relationship with the Lord and placed a burden on my heart to
experience more of the Spirit. He revealed my insecurities. He showed me how
important it is that I start focusing on Jesus in people and not their
shortcomings. He pointed out my selfish desires in more situations than I was comfortable
with. He walked with me through the darkness looming over the village and
taught me how to be a light in those places. These lessons were not received
easily. They made me uncomfortable. They made me want to run from my troubles.
But God was faithful as always and brought me out of them in victory.
Philippians 3:16 "Only let us live up to what we have
already attained."
This verse came alive to me last month with everything I was
dealing with. Whether it was the darkness that surrounded me, my feelings of
inadequacy, or my temptation to run from my issues, God assured me that I had
everything I needed to face the day. He reminded me that the same Spirit that
allowed the blind to see, the lame to walk, and the dead to rise lives inside
of me. I already am what I am becoming. The Spirit is more than enough for my
life. I learned that God doesn't call the equipped, but he equips the called. I
am called to be a light in the darkness. I am called to see others and myself
the way Jesus views his children. I am called to lay down my selfish desires
and choose the cross. I am called to have faith like a child. And all these
things would be impossible in my flesh, but thankfully I serve a God who equips
the called. He has equipped me with the Spirit which allows me to live for
something greater than myself. It allows me to live in a way unnatural to this
world. I am privileged to be in the position that I am. So today I can walk in
confidence knowing that with the Spirit I am more than enough.
So last month was tough. Personal growth came at the expense
of life being extremely difficult. I am sorry if my blogs from Romania have
been ambiguous, but to respect others I had to keep them that way. I am doing
well though. I am more the man God is calling me to be after all that I
experienced this past month. Thank you so much for your prayers and please keep
them coming.
Posted in General Posts by Matt Delaney on 7/28/2010
I want to apologize for
the lack of blog posts this past month. The internet situation is
rough, but even more so it was a rough month for me personally. I am
still processing a few things that I experienced here and more blogs
will surely come. But for now here is a picture of what the month has
looked like...
On July 13th
I arrived in Villa Tecii, Romania for month two of ministry. My team
was paired up with the all girls team which meant Garrett and I were
outnumbered 11 to 2. Let's just say we were never short on
estrogen. We had a blast with them though serving and growing
together as one body. Both teams were split up into three separate
houses within the small village where we were to do ministry amongst
the Gypsy people for the month. The village resides in a valley
surrounded by beautiful green rolling hills. The people of Villa
Tecii are extremely generous and were such a blessing to live and
work amongst. However we found the village to be a dark place. We
sensed a spirit of violence and oppression that influenced the
community and held them captive. This was a difficult environment to
live in, unlike anything I have ever experienced. But I realized we
are called to be a light in the dark. We are called to be a lamp on a
stand. Ministry would be pointless and boring if we just sought out
the light and not the darkness. So we ministered in the darkness. For
me this consisted of playing guitar for people in their homes,
helping our contacts work around their house, speaking to church
congregations, visiting and praying with families in their homes,
loving on the children down by the corner store, giving children's
messages in nearby villages, and going up on top of the hill early in
the mornings to pray and speak life over the city. This was what my
ministry looked like in a place where for so long I struggled to see
where God was. But I found the Lord up on that hill. I found the Lord
in the lives of our ministry contacts. I found the Lord when I heard
stories of redemption from an oppressed people. I found the Lord in
the beauty of nature that surrounds this place. The Lord is real and
he is ever present. Jesus Christ lives in Villa Tecii.
On August 3rd
I will regroup with the entire squad in Bucharest, Romania and then
head out at midnight on a flight to Dublin, Ireland! I am so stoked
about ministry there. My team will be working with the homeless in
Dublin for the entire month. Please pray for safe travels for our
team. Also, we don't really have solid housing plans yet for the
first week, so pray that God will provide once we get there. Thank
you so much for all of your support!
"YES I am from America and NO I don't know Justin
Bieber"
We are finishing up our third week of
softball camp here in the Ukraine
and I continue to be entertained. The kids here are hilarious. Most of them
have never seen an American before. What they know about the states comes from
the influences of their American idols. For the girls it's Justin Bieber and
for the guys it's Eminem and 50 Cent. These wouldn't be my first choices, but
hey they can't influence them too much since no one here understands English. And
they all assume we are friends with these people. Although that may be
partially my fault since I did convince one kid that my teammate Garrett was
T.I. I admit that might have been a questionable decision, but we got it
straightened out.
It continues to weird me out how much they
exalt us for being Americans. I have autographed more pictures, magazines, baseballs,
tennis balls, arms, and faces than I am comfortable with. Most of the time I
just have to laugh at the situation because that's the only way I know how to
deal with it. However, when I am asked to sign a little boy's arm that has cut
marks all on the inside, the laughing suddenly stops. I am reminded of the
brokenness that floods Ukraine.
I am reminded of the lack of satisfaction that these children must have with
life. And I am reminded of why God has brought me to Ukraine.
Yesterday after autographing a few empty cigarette
cartons, I asked a group of kids what they wanted to do when they grow up. I
asked to hear their dreams. The response I got was incredibly depressing. They
told me they had no dreams; no aspirations in life. The only plan I heard from
them was to drink vodka the rest of their lives. This also came from a kid with
the most self-inflicted cuts I have ever seen on someone's arm. Their response
to my question absolutely broke my heart, but it was not shocking. That is all
they know. Society in Ukraine
revolves heavily around drinking. It is entirely common to see people passed
out in the grass on the side of the road until they sober up enough to walk
again. Along with alcohol, apparently cutting is a prevalent response amongst
teenagers for the pain they feel in their lives as well. This is life here and
for these kids it is the cycle they are familiar with. Thankfully God was able
to speak through me to these kids and tell them they were made for more than
what they are currently living for. It is only through hearing the gospel that
they will be changed. This is how the cycle can be broken.
Like I said earlier, signing autographs for
kids is awkward every time and never fails. However, I have learned to be
thankful. These children come before me longing to hear me speak and I hold the
truth of life that they are all searching in the wrong places for. It is an
opportunity to redirect the spotlight off of myself, the American, and speak
truth over their lives. As I signed one boy's hand, I told him how his very own
name is not only signed, but engraved in the palm of the Lord. That is how
special he thinks this boy is. That is how special he thinks all of these kids
are. And I am so thankful that God has called me here to bring this message to
ears who have never heard.
Posted in General Posts by Matt Delaney on 6/28/2010
My first week of ministry has officially
come to an end and it was certainly filled with both highs and lows. Ministry
is difficult. The language barrier is frustrating. Fatigue is ever present. Feelings
of inadequacy and home sickness have started to attack. God and I wrestled all
week, but even when I was blinded by my struggles God remained faithful in
showing himself to me. I am still sorting out my struggles, but I would like to
share a story of God working from the past week.
This past Friday we were given the
opportunity to administer an eyeglass clinic at a local church. This was a
chance for people in the community to receive an eye exam and free pair of
prescription glasses. It was also an opportunity to get them familiar with the
local church and to experience the church loving them for no reason other than
Christ. Nothing is free in the Ukraine,
nothing at all. So when something so valuable is distributed for free, people
begin to ask questions. This opened many wide doors to present the gospel.
Meet Sasha. Sasha is a fifty something year
old man who lives down the street from where our eyeglass clinic was held.
About fifteen years ago Sasha was in a car accident killing all of his friends
in the vehicle. He has been hit with an axe in the head three times. He has
multiple stab wounds across his body. A blow to the head by a steel bar has
left a scar across his face. He has been to jail more times than anyone else in
his town. He has no wife. He lives alone in a small house with no electricity because
the money he earns is used to feed his alcohol addiction. This is Sasha and
this is his life. Last Friday my teammate Garrett got a chance to meet Sasha.
Sasha is well known in the community and
has had many encounters with the local pastor. He attends church every so often
and is presented with the gospel quite frequently. He has heard it all and
makes quite an effort to reject it whenever it comes up. After receiving his
free pair of glasses last Friday he ran into Garrett on the way out. With the
help of a translator, Sasha poured out about his life to Garrett. The local
pastor saw this openness and took the opportunity once again to present the
gospel to him. Unlike the past times, it was received with a more open heart.
Garrett then remembered a verse that changed his own life and wanted to share
the power in these words with Sasha. Out of the message he read Proverbs
14:12-13 which says, "There's a way of life that looks harmless enough; look
again - it leads straight to hell. Sure, those people appear to be having a
good time, but all the laughter will end in heartbreak." Sasha stared into
Garrett's eyes for a good 10 seconds with a look on his face that will never be
forgotten. God spoke to him through that verse. He thanked Garrett for his word
and proceeded to say goodbye as he walked out the door.
Garrett told me this story later that
night. He told me how much that encounter affected him and how much Sasha was
on his heart. He said Sasha is someone that he will never stop praying for. This
hit me really hard. Garrett will never stop praying for Sasha. What a cool
thought. Have you ever heard of the saying "there's nothing like a praying
mom"? Sasha doesn't have a mother praying for him. Sasha probably doesn't have
anyone praying for him. But Garrett traveled to Ukraine, met Sasha, heard his
story, and is now praying fervently for his life. There is now someone in this
world praying for this man. My question for both Garrett and myself was what if
that's all that comes of this whole trip? What if all we do is meet people
around the world, hear their stories, and make sure there is at least one
person in their life praying for them? Are we going to be ok with that? Will
the sacrifice of leaving our lives back home still be worth it?
These were difficult questions for us to
stomach, but we came to the conclusion that yes it would be worth it. God has
called us both on this trip for a specific reason. If the reason is to bring a
thousand people to Christ, then that's awesome. If the reason is to plant a ton
of seeds and never see the fruit, then that is great too. Or if all we do is
pray for the lives that we come in contact with, then that is cool because that
is God's plan. Our expectations are just that, our expectations. We are
learning more and more to throw these out the window and to be thankful for how
God is using us each day.
Posted in General Posts by Matt Delaney on 6/19/2010
After one domestic flight, two
international flights, one night in a hostel, and a 14 hour train ride I am
finally in Lugansk, Ukraine! It has been such a crazy
journey. For this month we will be working with an American contact named
Bruce. He and his family have graciously accepted us into their home for the
month. They are making our transition to the world race life pretty easy on us
with warm water, comfortable beds/couches to sleep on, internet, and great home
cooked food. Bruce and his family have lived here for almost five years after
moving from Tennessee.
The main language here is Russian since Lugansk is only 30 minutes from the
Russian border. Bruce knows both English and Russian which allows him to bring
world race squads in and have us be effective in the ministries he has
developed over the years. I am incredibly excited about the work we will be
doing this month. Monday thru Thursday of each week we are running a softball
camp for teenagers and young adults. Soccer is the dominant sport in Ukraine and
pretty much all kids here are better than us Americans. There is no way we
could put on a soccer clinic and hold their attention for more than 6 minutes.
Introducing them to a new game like softball is effective in holding their
attention which allows for relationships to develop. It is through this that we
can take opportunities to tell them about the relationship that is available
with a God who is madly in love with them. Each night after the softball camps
we will show movies to both the kids and their families to expand on the
relationships that are developed through softball. Also on Fridays we will take
part in eye glass clinics. We will administer eye tests to anyone and everyone
who is interested and fit them for a free pair of glasses. This blows their
mind because nothing is free in Ukraine.
Saturdays are about rest for us and Sundays will be filled with church and
other random ministry opportunities such as hospital visits or events with our
softball friends. This is an outline of what our month will look like. Please
take this information and use it to pray for me and my team more specifically
as we minister to the people of Ukraine.
Posted in General Posts by Matt Delaney on 6/17/2010
Well the journey has officially begun. It
is 1:00pm in Paris
and I am writing this during our 4 hour layover. There are 52 of us sprawled
out on the airport floor trying everything we can to catch up on a little
sleep. We have been awake and traveling since the wee hours of yesterday
morning. After meeting everyone in New York,
we flew through the night to Paris and will soon
be boarding for our final flight to Kiev,
Ukraine. This
has been the most bizarre 2 days of my life filled with many firsts. It was the
first time I had to say goodbye to my family for such an extensive period of
time which was far from fun. It was my first experience on an international
flight which apparently includes dinner, breakfast, movies, video games, and
even a couple dance parties in the isle. And it was my first time seeing the Eifel tower, even if it was just from a distance out the
airplane window. When I look past my physical exhaustion and longings for
people back home, I have had such an amazing time so far. The people I am
surrounded by are unreal! There have been so many laughs interspersed with
conversations that are both uplifting and spiritually challenging. There is
already a solid level of community that has developed amongst us all and I am
extremely excited to watch that grow deeper. The opportunity to be a part of
this is absolutely insane so that is why I want to thank everyone who has
supported me to make this happen! Please continue praying for me, my team, and
those whom we will be ministering to in Ukraine.
Posted in Training Camp by Matt Delaney on 5/26/2010
Today marks the midway point of training camp. This trip that for so long was an exciting topic of conversation is suddenly a reality. It is a bizarre feeling shaking hands with the people that you will soon be embarking on a crazy journey with. These are people of different ages, races, and backgrounds. Each individual has a unique story, but our stories are suddenly colliding as they all have led us to this same point. They have led us to the edge of the cliff and in a couple weeks we will all make the leap into the unknown in search of the heart of God. It is an incredible feeling to know that I will be making this jump with the individuals that God has placed on my squad. These are men and women that hear the whisper of something more and are acting upon that whisper to reach the nations. I am extremely excited about the relationships that will be built between me and the other guys on this trip. In the few days that I have known them I feel confident that these relationships will bring me closer to Christ and together we will be able to advance his kingdom around the world.
Posted in General Posts by Matt Delaney on 2/21/2010
Posted below is a copy of my support letter. If you are reading this and feel led to give, please go to the "Support Me" section of my blog to do so. God continues to give me confirmation about going on this trip each time a donation comes in. He is using people like you to reveal His faithfulness and to show me why He is called provider. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me so far!
Dear Family and Friends,
I hope this letter finds you amidst a time of great peace as you begin the new year. I am writing to share with you where I feel God is leading me in the next season of my life. During the last three and a half years at Auburn University I have made an honest, yet broken attempt at being intentional with my time here. Through this effort God has opened doors and orchestrated circumstances allowing me to show the love of Christ through practical ways in Auburn's community. It is these experiences that have transformed my life and are the catalyst for what Christ is calling me to do next.
In May, I will graduate from Auburn University with a degree in psychology. I had always assumed, that like most students in my major, I would immediately attend graduate school. However, after much prayer, I have decided to spend the next year of my life on a mission trip with Adventures In Missions. This is an eleven-month mission trip to eleven different countries including places such as Romania, Uganda, Israel, Egypt, and Thailand. Our ministries will involve, but are not limited to, teaching English, working in orphanages, building churches, administering HIV/AIDS relief, and empowering young women with life skills who were rescued from sexual slavery. I am incredibly excited about this opportunity to take part in just some of the remarkable ways God is at work around the world.
First and foremost, as someone who firmly believes in prayer, I need people who are willing to pray each day for myself, my team, and our ministry. I also need to raise financial support. The basic cost for the trip is $14,300, which includes my international travel, food, and lodging. There are other miscellaneous expenses that need to be met as well such as my domestic travel, vaccinations, international insurance, and equipment. I am looking for people to partner with me and join in on this little piece of God's story around the world.
I have enclosed two pre-addressed envelopes which invite you to share in this ministry. For donations toward my $14,300 goal, please make checks payable to Adventures In Missions. Include the response card which will provide AIM with all the information necessary to send you a receipt for your tax-deductible donation. Please send these checks in the pre-addressed envelope to AIM by April 30, 2010. If you prefer to contribute toward my personal expenses, please make checks payable to Matt Delaney and enclose them in the other pre-addressed envelope. Any way that you are able to contribute will be an incredible blessing.
Will you consider partnering with me both prayerfully and financially? I hope not only to be a blessing to those I serve, but also to you. I would love for you to join me on my journey by visiting my blog at www.mattdelaney.theworldrace.org. Please help me to bring the Gospel to those whose lives can be transformed by the love of Jesus Christ. Thanks!
Posted in General Posts by Matt Delaney on 1/12/2010
In about 5 months I will say goodbye to life as I have known it and embrace a new life of total abandonment. My life will be placed into a backpack, which unfortunately will not fit my family and friends. I will join a group of strangers and embark on an 11 month pilgrimage around the world in search of a deeper relationship with the one who spoke the world into existence. My expectations for this trip are constantly evolving, but as of today these are a few I would like to share:
I expect to be utterly miserable at times.
I expect to see the wretchedness of this world and question why God would ever allow these things to exist.
I expect to be filled with joy as I see God restoring the world around me.
I expect to be forgotten by some and missed by others.
I expect to build incredible relationships with my fellow racers.
I expect to realize how completely selfish I am.
I expect to be broken and repaired over and over again
I expect to see God fail to provide in the ways I feel as though He should.
I expect to see God provide in ways I could not fathom.
I expect to see Heaven meet Earth
I expect to serve and be served
I expect to love and be loved
I expect my faith to be tested, stretched, bent, but not broken.
I expect to develop the most intimate relationship with God that I have ever known.