Worshiping with the Nations

Hey everybody!


I wanted to share with all of you a really neat experience that I have every time I go to a worship service here.  I have the opportunity to worship alongside people from all over the world, and it's one of the most powerful and moving things I've ever been blessed to experience.  Yesterday, worship in the morning consisted of everyone from the base - staff to students.  At the beginning, they called up everyone who speaks English as a second language and a representative from every country present.  They lined up in the front and passed the microphone, each person giving a shout-out to God in their native language or accent.  There had to have been 25 different people, each speaking out to God in a different language or accent.  Hearing someone shout out in African, to Swedish, to Spanish, to French, to Japanese in worship to God was such a beautiful sound.  Directly following that, we sang "He Reigns" by the Newsboys.  Here's a clipping of those lyrics:

It’s the song of the redeemed

Rising from the African plain

It’s the song of the forgiven

Drowning out the Amazon rain

The song of Asian believers

Filled with God’s holy fire

It’s every tribe, every tongue, every nation

A love song born of a grateful choir

It’s all God’s children singing

Glory, glory, hallelujah

He reigns, He reigns

It’s all God’s children singing

Glory, glory, hallelujah

He reigns, He reigns

Let it rise about the four winds

Caught up in the heavenly sound

Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals

To the faithful gathered underground

Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation

Some were meant to persist

Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples

None rings truer than this

And all the powers of darkness

Tremble at what they’ve just heard

‘Cause all the powers of darkness

Can’t drown out a single word

If you get a chance to listen to the song, go for it, and imagine singing it alongside nations all over the world.  It was one of the most powerful things I've experienced in song.  Just the thought that despite any differences - in language or culture - we are completely united in our love for Christ and the movement of His Spirit.  Simply awesome.

Just some extra snippets.  As part of our training, we have a work duty every day Monday through Friday that we have to complete.  I am a floor-cleaner, and two hours of my day will be mopping tiled floors. I'm actually looking forward to it - I'll get a good arm work-out and get some great time to just worship in service.  It's really neat to really feel like part of the family - everyone has a role to play and is necessary for the base to function as our home.  I also met my small group leader who I will have a one-on-one with once a week.  Her name is Esther, and she has already been so encouraging and spoken so much truth into my life.  If you guys could really remember her in your prayers, that would be really appreciated.  If anything specific comes up in regards to her, I will let you know.  Also, I played rugby for the first time, and it is a blast!  It's not really anything like football, and I think I enjoy playing it more than I do playing football.  I know I know, I'm a traitor!  But truly, it is some of the most fun I've had in my time here so far.  That's all for now.  Thanks for reading!

Finally settling into normalcy,

Nikki