Arriving

Well we have officially been in Colorado for one week and it has been a whirlwind! We are trying to get settled and situated in our one room. I'm not sure the square footage but imagine an empty hotel room and that's what we've got! We were blessed to find a queen sized mattress on craigslist for $20 and the base had an old desk and tv stand with 3 drawers up for grabs that we're using to store mine and Savannah's clothes and Eric's are in stacks on the floor. The desk acts as a desk/kitchen. We've had to get REALLY creative and once we get some extra income, Eric will put his handy man skills to use and build some shelves and such. There have definitely been some frustrating moments but we try to keep it in perspective. We have heat, electricity, running water, plenty of clothes and toys, which is way more than most of the world has. Like the apostle Paul says in Phillipians 4, we are learning to be content in all circumstances. We know what it is to be in need and what it is to have plenty. It's definitely a season of stretching and growth.
 
  We are very excited for the School of Strategic Missions. We will be learning A LOT of incredible things that will greatly benefit us as our ministry continues. In addition to  lectures, we will be spending 2-3 hours in worship and intercession everyday. We are looking forward to implementing more prayer in our daily lives and for the daily opportunity to be praying for any requests that you may have. What better way to learn and grow than to talk to God Himself.

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Merry Christmas from our family to your's! May this holiday season be filled with joy and love as we celebrate the savior born to us and enjoy spending time with friends and family. We wanted to update you all on the latest in our lives. We first want to tell you this story: Because most of our donors won't begin donating until January we have been living off little to nothing. For the first time in four months we really had no money, even after working odd jobs when they were presented. YWAM receives our donations and allocates it to us twice a month like a paycheck. The first part of the month we only received $50. It shocked us! We were looking at needing around $855 to transition to Colorado Springs. Of course we went to God and basically said "This is scary and we need you!" we prayed and prayed and repented and worshiped. We wanted to lean fully on the faithfulness of God. Since that time we have had our trailer and trailer hitch($450) paid for by supporters so we could get to Colorado. We have also received $1,050 in donations since then. Thank you LORD! We can't be surprised when God does wonderful and amazing things because that's who He is. He is Faithful and so worthy of all of our praise! We are planning on pulling out of Georgia on December 31st, staying with friends in Kansas that night and arriving in Colorado late January 1st. Our School of Strategic Missions begins January 5th. Randi's birthday is January 8th :) We are 60% of the way to our support raising goal. We have our mentors, board of advisors and board of intercessors in place. Savannah is growing and having lots of fun this year looking for the elf every day and playing with the nativity. We are excited and a bit terrified as we make this leap of faith and we are looking forward to sharing the journey with you all!ing in tosharing !!.hh..Savannh is Don't forget to contact us with ways that we can be praying for you too! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Our Appeal

To our faithful supporters and loving family,

We hope you all are doing well as the season of advent is officially underway and we look forward to Christmas! We would like to get very transparent with you for a moment. The object of this letter is not to ask you for money (enter sigh of relief here!) but it’s to make clear the purpose and intent of our “missions” work. We also hope to shed some light into understanding missions as a whole. Since we started down this road a year ago there have been misunderstandings about who we are, what we do and why we do it. The following are those questions answered. As you read this please have your Bible and read along with our references so you can find our true heart in scripture.

Why Are You At Home and Not In The Field?

            In august we returned from Uganda and a Discipleship Training School. Our work was incredible and life changing. Both to those we worked with and to ourselves. We are using this time to support raise, invest in family, raise awareness and prepare to spend at least the next two years in missions. The next two years of our life we have committed to being full-time missionaries with YWAM. We leave the first of January to head to Colorado Springs, Colorado to the YWAM base.

 Where Do We Seek Guidance?

Our family of three, in partnership with many other individuals (Pastors, family, and friends of Faith), have been praying and continually pray about every step we take. (Proverbs 11:14)  We have come to be missionaries, not blindly, but by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the teachings of Christ. We have stepped forth in Faith and obedience to answer the call. (Matthew 28:18-20/ Isaiah 6:8/ John 14:26) The easy answer to everything is simply that we want to Glorify God in all that we do. The Word of God is our structure. We aren’t perfect, but we are founded in Christ. (Paul says it perfectly in Philippians 3:12-14) We want to be so based in Scripture that our actions radiate the Glory of God. (Matthew 5:16/ John 8:31-32)

Why Be Missionaries and What Is Your Specific Calling?

We are missionaries because God calls us all to spread the Good News to all nations, and we are honored to go. (Matthew 28:19-20) We follow the Biblical Pauline definition of a missionary, which is to reach those that don’t know of the saving grace of Jesus. (Romans 15:20-22) Paul planted churches where people did not already know Christ. Jesus obviously has compassion on those that are ignored by the world. (Matthew 9:36-38) Indeed let us have compassion for those that are ignored in the world for they too are children of God. Our work focuses at the ignored 10/40 window (North Africa, Middle East, Asia, etc.). Less than a penny of every dollar given to missions is directed toward the 10/40 Window. Yet dollar for dollar and hour for hour, the harvest coming from the 10/40 Window nations outstrips that from the rest of the world 100 to 1. The top 10 countries with the largest “unevangelized population” are located in the 10/40 Window. 85% of the world’s poorest of the poor live in the 10/40 Window. We want to go where no one else is going because that is where Jesus would be.

What About People That Need Jesus In The U.S.?

            We understand that our own community needs help as well as the rest of the world. We believe 100% in helping others in any capacity, anywhere. We are excited when people answer the call to help their community or any other part of the world. Jesus said “make disciples of all nations.” That means our nation too. Believe me, when we aren’t overseas, we are helping our community however we can. It’s not either/or. It’s both/and. We choose to aim our focus at the 10/40 window because that is one of the most helpless areas of the world. Paul enlightens us in Romans 15 that it was his calling not to just stay where he was, but as a “missionary” to go to those that didn’t know of the saving grace of Jesus. The simple fact is that people in the U.S. have way more access to Jesus and organizations that will help them than anywhere else in the world. We have a world view that wants to level that playing field.

You can also look at it this way. Imagine the world has just been in a horrible bus accident. Any professional emergency crew performs triage. Meaning everyone in the accident needs to be attended to, but the most severe cases are treated with more urgency. In regards to the Gospel, most everyone in the U.S. has the opportunity to at least hear enough about Jesus to accept Him or not. Their diagnosis (just in regards to accessibility, not spiritual condition) is, say, a sprained ankle and some scratches. Now a person of the Qashqa’i people in Iran with a population of 1,750,000 is diagnosed with internal bleeding and a left arm that’s severed. Hundreds of them die daily without ever having the opportunity to have heard the name of Jesus. Who would you say is more desperate for immediate help?

Are You Committed?

            YES!!!!!! We understand that people want to make sure that their money and time isn’t going to waste. That’s what it comes down to. Who invests their money with a company that is known for losing money? We get it. That’s why we want you to know that it isn’t just your money that is going into this. Every dime that we have made since deciding to dedicate ourselves to missions is committed to our work. We have even picked up odd jobs here and there as opportunities were presented. Our money has gone before yours in furthering our work.

Often we are asked, “What if you don’t raise enough?” or “What is your Plan B?” We believe with our lives in what we are doing. We will not stop raising money in hope of reaching the unreached because Jesus Christ never stopped reaching for us. If it means we move to Colorado (Where our base is located) and continue to raise money until we have enough, then that’s what we will do. Do we believe that we will act out Plan B? No. We believe that God has, is and will provide for us always as long as we are acting in His will.

We would also like to be transparent and share with you the level of our commitment to Christ. Our dedication to this calling is not to be taken lightly; we have given up everything for this! We are leaving what we have called home for 24 years and selling everything we can’t fit in our car and small u-haul trailer. We are living at the mercy of God and are abandoning our “rights” to a traditional home and the “American Dream” to serve others. Please believe us when we say that we have and are giving up so much, but we’re not asking for your sympathy. We say all of this to make a point. Please don’t think for one moment that our family is in this for our own selfish desires. It is not easy to follow so closely after Christ that it conflicts with the rest of the world. It is very clear to us that Christ comes before all things. We would not walk through so much trouble for anything less than Christ. All of what we have done is SO worth it: that others may know Christ and His love. May His name be exalted above all things! (Matthew 19:20-21/ Matthew 10:37-39/ Philippians 3:7-11/John 3:16-17)

We work very hard for our money. How do you use the money we donate so that we don’t think you’re just getting a free ride?

            “Everything comes from You(God), and we have given You(God) only what comes from Your(Gods) hand.” (1 Chronicles 29:14) The money that is received from our supporters is honored and respected. We try very hard to be good stewards with all money because it is entrusted to us by God. If we misuse any money, we are not only disrespecting those that give generously to us but we are disrespecting and dishonoring God Himself. In addition we never want anyone to give us money that God has not instructed to do so. We want people to realize that money given to us is in actuality God’s money being given back to God and His purposes.

            By being a monthly supporter you are helping us sustain ourselves. We are in ministry, and as many know ministry is not a 9-5 job you can leave. Jesus never stopped working for us so we don’t plan on stopping work when 5 o’clock rolls around. We are required to work 40 hours a week by YWAM but it never stops there. Our work is 24/7. Scripture says that we are to “love our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.” And “whoever loses his life for My (Jesus’) sake will find it.” (Mark 12:30-31/ Deut. 6:4-5/ Matthew 10:39) We have given our lives to our work. So yes, let me be clear, you are paying us to change lives, to be missionaries. You do feed us, you do put a shelter over our heads, and you do clothe us. And believe us we aren’t going to Ruth Chris’ Steak House, or shopping at some expensive retail store. We have committed to a life living less, because to us it’s worth it. We know the work we do is worthy of every donation. And you know that we are proud not to live for material possessions but to be living for the Kingdom of God. “But seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:20-21) “There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.” (Acts 4:34-35)

            We very much understand that we have to be one with God’s will for this to be “successful” because if it isn’t then we will be fighting against God. “Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go. For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find ourselves fighting against God.” Acts 5:38-39 This verse pertains to those for us as well as those against us.

“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exist because worship does not. Worship is ultimate…Where there is no worship there is a need for missions.” –John Piper

"All nations you have made will come and worship before you,

O Lord, they will bring glory to your name." Psalm 86:9

Thank you for taking the time to read this and to better understand our hearts and why we’re making this wild leap of faith that so many don’t understand. Remember we couldn’t do what we do without you. Just like a bridge is only as effective as its supports, we too are only able to reach the world in regard to the strength we have in our support.

Please, Please, Please contact us directly with any further questions or comments. This letter is written as one part to a conversation, and we hope and expect to hear from you. We seek to end any miscommunication so if there has been any in this letter we trust that you can bring it to our attention to discuss. We are passionate about this and are excited to discuss anything about the matter with you. We welcome e-mail, Facebook, snail mail, smoke signals and phone calls.

Call Eric at 912. 313.7438 or Randi at 770.851.8953

7ericjohnson@gmail.com or randilynn.johnson7@gmail.com

Fall 2011 Update

“’Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” Matthew 28:19-20

Dear friends and family,

 

Fall is in full swing and we are taking advantage of the beautiful colors, weather, pumpkin spiced treats and time with loved ones. We continually reflect on our incredible summer spent in intensive discipleship and ministry in Uganda. The relationships we built will last a lifetime and we are still marveling at the work God did in and through us.

Uganda!

One of the highlights from our time in Africa is our friend Apong. He was a boda (motorcycle taxi) driver staged at the corner shop adjacent to our house in Gulu. We quickly became friends and learned of his heartbreaking story. He is apart from his wife and kids due to insufficient funds paid on the dowry for his wife. As a result her parents took her and the young kids from Apong. His wife is also HIV positive, a fact she kept from Apong until they were married. Thankfully his son, Andrew, and daughter, Mercy, are negative for the disease but he had never been tested because he didn’t want to face the inevitable. Two weeks into our trip depression and lies from the enemy had overtaken him and he was ready to end his life and leave this world. Eric and another friend of ours rushed to his company and began praying for him and speaking truth over him. Apong ended up leaving this world that night, though in the most joyous of ways. He gave his life to Christ. Eric was able to continue discipling him and spent a lot of time praying and fasting for him. We saw a man go from desperation to joy in the hope of the Lord. A few weeks after our return home we received a message from Apong. He took an HIV test and was negative! This is just one of the amazing stories that God let us be a part of while we were there.

“Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!”

Psalms 96:3

What’s Next for Us?

Through our DTS it has been confirmed in our hearts that we are to join God in the work he is doing in international missions with YWAM. If you haven’t heard yet, our plan is to go back to Colorado Springs and join staff for the next two years. While there Randi will be involved with the media department to help raise awareness through video. Eric will join the nations teams which oversee the work being done in the nations that our base supports. In addition to our other jobs, both of us will hopefully staff Discipleship Training Schools. Until our return to Colorado we will be in Georgia support raising, spending time with friends and family and preparing ourselves for the move. We will be spending time in both Atlanta and Savannah. In November we will be celebrating Savannah Lynn’s 2^nd birthday! Hard to believe she’s two already!

In January we will be taking a School of Strategic Missions to further our missions education. This is designed to equip us with the tools needed to do full-time missions efficiently. We’ll be learning about justice, church planting, communication, Biblical worldview, launching new ministry, globalization and developing communities and more. The school consists of a 3 month lecture phase and an internship lasting anywhere from three months to a full-time stay somewhere in the 10/40 window.

 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

The Vision of YWAM Colorado Springs

The focus of the YWAM base in Colorado Springs is to send missionaries into countries in the 10/40 Window, where 2.8 billion people(roughly two-thirds of the world population) have little or no access to the Gospel. The 10/40 Window is made up of North Africa, Middle East, and most of Asia.  The base presently supports 500+ frontline missionaries in these very difficult countries and needs to add to their ranks while expanding the existing work. It’s a huge blessing to be partnering with other people who are responding enthusiastically to God’s call to engage the least reached. One reason that the 10/40 Window is a priority is that only five percent of all church dollars in the U.S. go to world missions, and of this amount only .5 percent are designed for mission to the unreached. Or you can say that from every dollar, less than a penny goes to the places most in need of the name of Jesus Christ.

“’And I, because of their actions and their imaginations, am about to come and gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see my glory. ... and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations.'" Isaiah 66:18-19

So, we are now preparing for our move to Colorado Springs at the year’s end. We have a lot to do, including getting our support lined up. We’ll need $3,000 a month to make it happen. This includes housing, insurance, food, utilities, car, school fees, traveling etc.

As missionaries we have to raise 100 percent of our living and ministry budget. This makes us entirely dependent on help from people who catch this vision and feel led by God to bless the least reached people. Any monthly gift of any amount is a huge blessing for us and many others. From what comes in, we will be able to support pastors, projects and initiatives in hard to reach places in the 10/40.

We are inviting you to have our ministry be your ministry. Your financial support and prayers make sending us into the world possible. We can’t do it alone. Just as the hand can’t work apart from the body, we can’t work apart from you. And we aren’t asking you to give money to us but to give that money to God and the work He is doing in the Kingdom.

 “The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.” 1 Samuel 30:24

We are so excited for the next season of our lives! Yes, it’s difficult to leave all that we’ve ever known but the calling is worth it; Apong and many others are worth it. We’re grateful for any and all support that allows us to reach the least reached with the healing love of Christ. We cannot do this without you. And, as always, we truly desire your prayers.

Carrying His Name to the ends of the Earth,

 

   Eric, Randi Lynn & Savannah

Missions Support (Tax deductible)

Online: http://www.ywamsf.org/donate  select missionary support under donation designated for and enter 545 in the box asking for missionary name.

By mail:

Eric & Randi Johnson or Accounting

PO Box 60579

Colorado Springs, CO 80960

                   Make the check payable to YWAM with 545 in the memo line.

Final Uganda Trip Update!

This update is coming at you stateside as I'm a little behind on sending things out. We didn't have internet at the house the last two weeks and we were so busy I never made it into town to get one sent out. But better late than never right?! Prepare yourselves. It's going to be a little longer and is packed full of some of the incredible things the Lord did in our final days in Uganda.

I last updated you all saying that we had begun our sports camp and that the first day had been a success. The other days proved just as exciting. Things were more organized at that camp than I had ever seen in Africa. The kids showed up, stayed in groups and went from station to station all while having a good time and learning some skills. We went over soccer and volleyball and really made some good friends. Two little boys in particular stand out to me most. One was Douglas, he was 12 or 13 and deaf. He was so sweet. And he always gave it 100%. It was fun to have to get creative when trying to explain things. But thank goodness for pantomime and gestures. Another little boy named Aaron came out to camp but wasn't able to participate like the others because he was crippled. We spent probably thirty minutes praying for him one day, asking God to do a miraculous healing for this little boy. Nothing that we saw came to fruition but we're confident that God is at work in his life even now. On the final day of the camp we had one final tournament and presented the gospel at the end. I wrote Douglas a letter telling him how special he is and all about Jesus. I didn't want him to miss out on the very important news all the other kids got to hear.

Wednesday the 10th was our final afternoon to visit Gulu Army Secondary School and we had the smallest turnout yet. They were all in the middle of finals but a few made the effort to come out, have some worship and hear more about Jesus and His word. As I sat there and looked at those students I just became aware once more of how much God loves them and how these young people are going to be nation changers. The fact that they are as close to God as they are already makes thinking about their futures really exciting. Jenny and I said goodbye and it was pretty difficult. I realized then that the end was just around the corner and that that goodbye was just the first of many to come.

We had a good time being in Uganda for the start of the premier league soccer season. On August 13th Jake, Tyler, Jacob, Eric and I went to Alululululu pork joint with some of the boda drivers, including Apong, to watch a match. Sports and pork. The boys were in heaven. I've got to admit, I sure loved that pork too. Smoked pork on a skewer, kasava fries, tomatoes and onions. All for 2,000 shillings or 80 cents. Thank you, Lord! But the fellowship with our friends was even more worthwhile.

On our final ministry Monday Jacob presented the women of the vocational school with a business plan that he had been working on. He said goodbye to them then and laughed to himself that on the original paper we filled out ranking our interests, working with the women's vocational school had been his lowest but now he feels such a connection with them.

Tuesday afternoon (16th) after the sports camp the majority of us went out to Apong's family's village to spend some time with them and to have dinner. We spent close to 8 hours travelling by van and foot but it was well worth it. We got to meet his son and see his mother and brother at a local hospital. His brother suffers from sickle cell anemia and he was in the clinic getting treatment. We appreciated their hospitality and they appreciated our visit and for loving on their son.

Wednesday afternoon (17th) we drove out once more to Francis' village. It was raining pretty hard the whole way out there and sure enough the van got stuck just enough that the men had to get out to push. They were muddy and soaking wet, but they got the job done. We talked with Francis' family and friends and near the end we presented the gospel to them and offered to pray for any requests. I had the honor of praying for Lilly, Francis' sister who has 5 children and HIV from being attacked by the LRA. Francis also presented the families with woven baskets he had made. He is so sweet. It's amazing to see his life and how God has carried him through such difficult times.

Thursday afternoon (18th) we went to the ministry one last time to say goodbye to the children and to pray over the land and people once more. We left them with a few toys and Josiah gave Bruce his Perry the Platypus boots and you would have thought it was Christmas morning for Bruce. He was so proud of them.

Friday (19th) we woke up at 4 to leave the house by 5 to go on safari! What a cool experience that was. The land itself was beautiful and even on the way out to the park we saw a huge elephant on the side of the road. We also saw a rainbow in the sky before we began. It just felt like God was confirming His presence with us that day. We saw lions, giraffes, impalas, water buffalo, warthogs, elephants, monkeys and countless gorgeous birds.

Saturday (20th) was full of cleaning and packing and last minute runs into town. We all went to dinner and invited Cie Cie and Sarah (our fabulous cooks) to join us. We will be missing them very much. Come later that night it was time to say goodbye to Apong. I don't think there was a dry eye there. Definitely not after Jacob told him that we'd be seeing him in heaven someday because of the decisions he had made while we were there. We hugged him, prayed for him and cried like babies with him. Who would have thought that we go to work with a ministry in northern Uganda and the person who impacts us the most is a boda driver. That's a God story if we've ever heard one. Even the music playing in the background as we said goodbye was perfect.

Sunday (21st) we got up early again to go to Jinja. We made it to the YWAM base and settled in. We ate dinner at a delicious Indian restaurant, even though it took what felt like hours to get our food!

The next morning (22nd) we said goodbye to David. We got him settled into his DTS and cried once more as we said "see you later" to this incredible man of God. We had enough team money to pay for all of David's lecture and outreach fees. We were so blessed to be able to bless him in that way. After goodbye they took us to the Kingfisher Resort Safari and we were in awe of how beautiful everything was. There were gorgeous flowers, a pool, good food and a view of Lake Victoria. We relaxed at the pool and later went into town to do some souvenir shopping. After dinner we had our first debrief meeting and everything went very well. I'm so thankful to Tyler and Jake for being such great leaders to our team.

August 23rd was a really special day to our team for a few reasons. One it was Josiah's birthday, two Isaiah accepted Christ into his heart and we went to the Nile river to baptize people from our team. Jake baptized Eric first, Jacob did Josiah, and Jake then baptized Shannon, Jenny's SBS roommate who joined us for a few weeks before going to help staff DTS in South Africa. Before all was said and done though Tom and Jerrica expressed their desire to be baptized together. That was a very cool experience and I could not be more happy for them and really everyone who was baptized that day. It's amazing to think that that water will make its way into the Mediterranean Sea and to the Middle East in a few months time. May that water bless others. Eric and I then had one more date while in Uganda, coffee and shopping in town. We had a lot of fun. After lunch we all took a boat ride out onto Lake Victoria and to the source of the Nile river. It was neat to see the humble beginnings of such a powerful river. We had more team debrief after dinner and stayed up way later than we wanted to trying to pack to get everything put in there securely. But nonetheless we made it to bed excited to think that the next day we were leaving to go back to the States.

Travel was long but relatively smooth. One of my favorite parts was while we were in Ethiopia we saw a lot of Muslim women from Saudi Arabia. I watched them watch and laugh at Savannah and encouraged Savannah to go say hello. That then gave me the opportunity to go and talk with the women. The whole exchange really gave me the desire to visit a Muslim nation someday.
The kids were great on all the flights and all the luggage except one family's made it. They got their bags in D.C. but they were then mixed up on their way to Denver. Prayers that they're recovered quickly!

So now we're back in the U.S. and although we're weary and worn out, we wouldn't have it any other way. We gave it our all up until the end and we definitely felt God telling us to rest, relax and dwell with Him on debrief and I still hear Him instructing us to keep doing so. It's still so surreal that we just spent two months halfway around the world. We will always remember our friends made there and look forward to seeing them all again, either this world or next.

Thank you all for taking the time to read these updates and for all your love, prayer and support. We are excited to see you all very soon!