WE WERE THE GOLD.

If you have ever been to Knotts Berry Fam in Southern California, you may have paid to take part in their panning for gold experience. For a mere $10 you get to stand at an elevated trough and pan for gold and EVERY SINGLE time you leave with a tiny vial filled with flecks of gold. (spoiler alert: unknown to the participants, the instructor actually empties the gold into the trough each time as you come up :) ).

Until recently this was my experience panning for gold. Since moving into Bisorio almost 9 months ago, I have heard a lot of talk about gold and personally have seen how it effects so much of life here. In the last 10 years or so gold has been found on Bisorio ground and people will leave for months and months at a time to work in the gold fields. And with the blessing also has come many challenges, so I figured it was time I went and learned what this process was like. It was far from my shaded little gold panning station at an amusement park and even though I was only there for a little over 4 hours, the bending over, squatting, rotating the heavy dish of stones and sand in the scorching heat was all felt for days after our little adventure. While working, I kept thinking of something one of the Bisorios had said recently in a testimony given at church.

Because my co-workers have been here, the guys lead a course teaching through the book of Ephesians. God’s Word worked among their lives in a powerful way.  (thank you to those who were praying!!) For two weeks the church overflowed with people every morning to hear God’s word and almost 60 of them completed the work book we had created for them. As a team we were so encouraged by the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The guys were faithful to teach God’s Word, but only the Holy Spirit can bring the type of tearful testimonies and confessions and encouragement shared. Amidst one of the testimonies, Suduwama, one of the Bisorios said, “For many years I have been doing God’s work but now hearing this course, it is as if I am hearing Ephesians for the first time. It is fresh and new. We have been spending so much time searching for gold and going after things of this ground, but we are the gold God searched for. He came to us. He knew us when we were so far away and sent missionaries to us.”

“…We were the gold God searched for.”

“For many years I have been doing God’s work but now hearing this course, it is as if I am hearing Ephesians for the first time. It is fresh and new. We have been spending so much time searching for gold and going after things of this ground, but we are the gold God searched for. He came to us. He knew us when we were so far away and sent missionaries to us.”

While doing the tedious, tiring, hot, painful work of panning for gold, I kept thinking of this analogy He used. The work God has called us to do when He told us to “go and make disciples of all nations” is not easy wherever you are whether that is in the US or in the far corners of the world. It is tedious at times, it can be painful and it usually takes longer than you want to see lasting fruit.  But there is this moment when you see a little fleck of gold amidst the black sand and rusted dish and your heart jumps in excitement “ahh I got something!”....and I can’t help but think about how that is the same feeling I get when Christ’s light shines and illuminates and changes lives amidst the darkness of this world. It is a joy that nothing on this earth can bring. The Bisorios did nothing to create the gold, it’s just there but they have to do the work to get it and it is the same with being a part of God’s work, when we desire to glorify Christ with our lives we get the privilege of seeing what His Word can do in other’s lives…it’s there, we just have to be obedient to do what He has asked us to do. However, unlike gold, as we serve the Lord it isn’t temporary and it isn’t for personal gain, it is eternal and it is all for Him…and He is so WORTHY of it ALL.

My heart is so thankful for this last month. I have loved having my team here, I have loved seeing the Bisorios respond to truth and even though I’m still have a lot further to go with language, I continue to be motivated and driven to get this language with excellence as I see their hunger for a deeper understanding and discipleship.

As a team, there is a document that is over 15 pages long with testimonies and debriefs of the teachings that we have put together. I have been praying about how to share some of the beautiful things God did and I hope as a way of celebrating Advent to share each day over on social media in the month of December of how Christ’s coming and the expectation of His return continues to transform the Bisorio’s lives. So be on the lookout on Instagram/Facebook throughout the month.

I also can’t end this email in the week of THANKSGIVING without saying thank you to those of you who pray consistently for the work here in Bisorio and for those who faithfully give each month to support what the Lord is doing. You play such a vital part in this work and I pray you rejoice in all the Lord is doing. There are so many hopes for the future but first, I must get to proficiency in their language, until then I will always be hindered in communicating and understanding their hearts. Please keep praying the Lord helps me to hear well, to understand and to speak with clarity.

love y’all so much -Rachel

For more specific prayer requests click here.

**Also here is a taste of some of the testimonies shared from the time spent in God’s Word.