Workers of the Light

Imagine there is this ancient town where in the innermost square of the city is a well of fire. This will geysers fire into the sky with unfathomable heights. The flames are strong and jubilant, dancing and swirling with freedom. As the pillar of fire reaches skyward, it also sends out arms of fire in all directions away from the well. These arms of fire crawl outward, never singing the landscape and never slaying a living creature. When the arms of fire have spread out enough, they burrow into the ground, creating a web of roots. These roots, too, are of fire and they branch out throughout the underbelly of the city. Tree begin to sprout via the roots of fire and tower above the inhabitants. As the trees continue to grow, fruit blossoms speckle the branches and eventually enough fruits of fire fill the branches of the trees all throughout the landscape of the city.

The inhabitants of the city live in this light with appreciation. For in all directions leading away from the City of Light, darkness reigns and enshrouds other cities of the world. The inhabitants of the City of Light eventually formed themselves into two sects of people. The one sect began to become engulfed by the fire and wore the flames intently. The other sect only lived in the Light and remained unaffected by the fire raging through the town. These ones, who call themselves the Inhabitants of the Light, place themselves throughout the city without any real concern for the people who live on the other side of the walls. Some Inhabitants of the Light live on the walls themselves, but soon become unstable. For as they live on the Boundary of the Darkness and Light, they find themselves entranced by the darkness and wonder the lifestyles of living in the darkness. They envision life without the constant array of fire that dances about them. They wonder at the life that could be lived under the guise of darkness, never to be seen by friends or family. Some remain in the City of Light merely because they fear the darkness more than they are awed by it. They fear death and fear what dwells in the darkness.

Then there is the sect who call themselves the Workers of the Light. These people view life in the light and in the darkness differently. They understand that life in darkness is lived in fear of death and fear of light. They realize that the people in the darkness are not sources to be feared, but rather to be loved as much as people in the light are loved. The Workers of the Light consistently put on cloaks of fire and bear a torch lit with the direct flames of the well, venturing out into the darkness to establish light in the darkness. They claim the safety that the light gives them to ward of the fears that the darkness attempts to enchant them with. They enter cities of darkness and find people to share the light with. They realize the torch they bear cannot erupt the entire world in light, but they know that it is enough to engulf one or two Inhabitants of the Darkness.

As the Workers of the Light continue their journey back and forth between the Well of Fire and the budding cities of light, they work to build a fountain of fire in the liberated new cities of light. As the fountain is built, more Inhabitants of the Darkness embrace the light given by the Workers of the Light and burn away their cloaks of darkness and put on cloaks of fire, burning with the same embers of the Workers of Light. They live no longer in fear of what the darkness may hold for their light shines in the darkness and they see the world as it is meant to be seen and may live free from fear.

That is not to say the task of the traveling Workers of Light nor the duty of the newfound Workers of Light is unchallenged. For there are Workers of Darkness just as fervent, if not more, as their counterparts of Light. They gather in all their power to put out the light they bear, whether it is by murder or by influences of fear. The Workers of Darkness never stand idle as their cities are defeated by the light and they have begun to set up sentries at the untouched cities of darkness. As the Workers of Light venture out into new lands, the Sentries of Darkness pounce and stifle the light to the best of their powers. Some succeed while others despair in their defeat to the light.

The thought that compels the Workers of Light to never quit is that one day the planted fountains of fire will eventually spring out and connect the Cities of Light around the world with bands of fire, leading back to the Well of Fire in the grand City of Light. While there is danger from the Sentries of Darkness and while there is fear by the Workers of Darkness, there is power in the light that is unmatched if dear is dispelled. They journey out with their cloaks and torches, meeting the Inhabitants of Darkness to bring to them the light that can burn away their darkness and end their fears.

The challenge for the Workers of Light is ever fierce. Never is there a day in which they can pass on their burning fires with little oppression of the darkness. Even when there are no Workers of Darkness present, the darkness itself is thick and haunting. Though there be fire dancing within their spirits and leaping from their shoulders on the ground around, the darkness lies in hideous wait, watching for moments to drown out the light. For the darkness is not an idle conception, flowing through the world on a breeze; it is on an endeavor to reign. Darkness finds richness in the unseen and in the frightfulness of the unknown. The glory of its riches is to pursue deeper, madder darkness. The pinnacle of fulfillment is the decline in humanity into uncontrollable chaos and panic. It is in respect to this nature the darkness has to magnify itself that the Workers of Light battle ferociously against.

With intent to enrich the soils with the fountains of fire which are blossomed by the torch burning with the flames of the Well of Fire, the Workers of Light travel the highlands and lowlands. Yet despite such resolve, the level of their fervor diminishes with each seedling of fire planted within the minds of the Inhabitants of Darkness. For they are not simply providing an enlightenment of the light in which they produce a kindling of fire; but rather the Workers of Light give away a portion of their fire to burn away the darkness and give birth to an Inhabitant of Light. When the Workers of Light give away their light, they must return to the Well of Fire to be rekindled with the ever-flowing flames which radiate into the entirety of the City of Light.

As the newly birthed Inhabitants of Light find their flames and burn away the darkness, they are presented with an assortment of paths to travel. One is to stay where they are and remain an Inhabitant of Light, though much distant from the City of Light. However, with that is the risk of being overpowered by the darkness of their city and lose their light, resulting in a low-burning ember. Another option is to make a pilgrimage to the City of Light and embrace the warming flames of the Well of Fire and remain affixed to the city, never choosing to leave again. Such a choice keeps them in the sect of the Inhabitants of Light. Yet a third choice remains for them. They may choose to become a Worker of Light and make continuous pilgrimages to the Well of Fire all the while birthing the light which burns away darkness into Inhabitants of Darkness. As they continue to choose this path, they will soon be a part of a blossoming of a fountain of fire which would radiate the fires throughout the city, becoming a city of light, burning away the darkness within and shining against the darkness without.

Diligence must always be named among the Workers of Light. They must carry their torches with pure determination to see humanity banish fear and dispel darkness. They must walk with their minds on the Well of Fire. When they notice themselves dimming and darkness tries to persuade them to remain in the darkness which surrounds them, they must ever resolve to return to the Well of Fire and once again reignite the flames that radiate through their bodies and dance off of their clothes. They must also dip their torch into the Spire of Fire to redeem the embers which grew soft during the journey. If they refuse to live with such devotion to the maintaining of their fire, they will eventually find themselves lost in the darkness, torn between embracing the darkness and returning to the light. For in the twilight there is much deception to what the deep darkness holds. It promises freedom from the burden of light-bearing; it promises joys and rewards for embracing the darkness; it promises to some kingdoms of darkness to reign over. The twilight distorts the line between dark and light and questions rise to the importance of light. For if one can see fine in such dim light, certainly they can see well enough to navigate the darkness and remain fearless. Or so they imagine.

But the light beckons. It reaches high into the heavens rooted at the Well of Fire: a beacon of truth and of life without fear. It spirals far above the City of Light to remind the Workers of Light that the darkness is nothing to desire. If only those who find themselves in the twilight look to the beacon and take a couple steps toward the City of Light, the deceptions of the darkness will fade into the depths from which they come.

The hope of all Workers of Light is to see the entire world in light and unite together with fellow Workers and Inhabitants of Light to burn away the final traces of darkness one day. They hope for that final day when the Well of Fire interconnects with the Fountains of Fire and course light like veins through the world. And when that happens, the world will welcome a new age to its citizens. An age of final fearlessness. An age of pure light filling every edge of the world. An age of communion in the light, never to be assaulted by the darkness or the Workers of Darkness again.

And for such a new age, the Workers of Light bear a saying in their minds and hearts when they rise from sleep, when they walk their course, and when they lie down to sleep: “May I fill my being with the fire which burns away fear and darkness and may I give it away to those who walk in darkness. May they, too, fill themselves with that fire and give it away freely. So that we may work together to burn away darkness and remind each other of the Well of Fire which clothes them with fearlessness and light.”

~ ~ ~

So I am here, to be a worker of the Light of God. As I give my portion of light of God which burns away the darkness of sin, I must purpose my heart to return to the source consistently to be rejuvenated in His power and love and Light.

May I continue to saturate my heart in the wisdom of God, and consecrate my passions to the will of Christ, and devote my ideas and imaginations to the mind of Christ.

3 and 6. Numbers with deep meaning.

3. Three months until I board the plane to Ethiopia.

6. Six months is the amount of time that I have enough money for.

No matter how much money I have, I will be leaving in September. However, beyond the 6 months...I depend on God's providence and your giving.

Won't you consider giving so I can go to Ethiopia? There is little I can do now as far as fundraising events are concerned. I might have chance to do one or two more things, but time is limited. Now it rests in your hands. God is going to provide through you. God doesn't provide by birds dropping off bundles of $100 or by mysteriously placing money underneath my pillow. God provides by touching people's hearts and impressing them to give.

God's way of providing my plane ticket and providing me money each month is you giving. Whether it is $20 or $100; $5 or $200. When you give at whatever amount God impresses, you are the hand by which God provides. You are the heart through whom He loves.

Follow this link to learn more about my following God's grace in Ethiopia.

You can send your donations to me directly at :

919 S. Battleground Ave.

Kings Mountain, NC 28086

Thank you for your giving. Thank you for your caring. Thank you for your loving!

 

3 Months.

It's scary.
It's invigorating.
It's so close.
It's even further away.

Thousands of words describe my excitement and timidness. And yet barely a sentence can be formed to appropriately explain.

I'm ready, and yet utterly ill-prepared.

I want to go now. Yet, I still don't want to leave the people I'm bonding with here.

I want throw caution to the wind and embrace God's unknown. But I don't want to be hurt.

Three months. An eternity inside a breath.

And yet I'm boarding that plane to Ethiopia soon enough--ready or not, here I come.

Why I Don't Want to Go to Ethiopia

People often say that I must be excited about going--even asking what I'm most excited about.
Amid any excitement, I have things I'm not too keen about. Things that make me not want to go.

It's been two years since I left Ethiopia. Except for the national workers with BCI, it is safe to assume at least 80% of the people will not remember me. It is only logical. I was there for four months in and out of people's lives. I would like to say I made an impact, but a lot of regrets desire to differ. Particularly because most of the children I worked with were under the grade of 7 (under the age of about 12), they are probably to young to remember me. For the most part, I guess that is to be expected and accepted. But what about those kids I really bonded with? What about the boy I sponsor? Will they remember me? I've built up returning to Ethiopia in my mind--like a big reunion after a two year hiatus. But now, what if it isn't as special for me or them as I've always imagined? What if, upon my re-introduction, they don't like me?

Another reason I don't want to go to Ethiopia is because I'm not too keen on the idea of being sick. I never get sick. I get allergies, but very rarely anything else. While I was in Ethiopia in 2012, Jonnett got sick like 100% of the time. =P I don't want to get gross-sick. I don't want to be shackled  to my bed for weeks until I get better.

I also don't want to go to Ethiopia because I don't want to fail. What if I go to Ethiopia and just screw up everything? What if I snap with anger and frustration and wreck months of relationship building? What if I blow up and mess up testimonies of people I love ( I mean, how would it look if I yelled at my students and slam a book down on the counter?)

I don't want to go to Ethiopia because I don't want to get there and realize I wasted two years of anticipation and throw away the money it takes to get there. I don't want to have my heart crushed that this whole experience, this whole journey was a misdirection and I was blindsided by misconception.

I don't want to go because I don't want to leave my kids here in the Bible clubs I work in. Last time I went to Ethiopia, I didn't have this strong of an emotional bond to these kids. I don't know what's different this time. I'm just really attached to them. I now hurt when they hurt. I now get excited when they find happiness. I now get sad when they are lonely. This will be my last semester with most of them because they will be in the Intermediate school by the time I return. I possibly will never see them again. Sure that will happen once they graduate from 4th grade, but some of these kids are in 2nd or 3rd. Even those who are younger than that, I might be leaving NC for college when I return and still won't see them again except maybe a hello-goodbye day.

I don't want to go to Ethiopia because the reverse will happen to the above problem. I will be in Ethiopia for two years, slowly building stronger emotional bonds with those I interact with. By the time I leave in 2016, I will be leaving more people I love whom I will probably never see again because I'm not sure if A.) I will be back at all or B.) if I will be back before two years. More emotional pain.

I don't want to go because I have a feeling I will have to give up my anti-social tendencies. I will have to be outgoing on my first encounters with people. I will have to keep my eyes and ears open to be able to realize things before leaving their homes (A lack of food in the house, a hurting mother, a desperate child for love).



Some of those reasons are stupid (I mean, I can get over being sick); some of them are seriously frightening to think about. Some of it makes me just want to stay where I'm at. To find a job that will both work around my doing Bible clubs and yet pay me enough to live off of the job. To get a degree in writing/journalism so I can work from home and start up a Bible club at the Intermediate school where there is no club. To invest in the lives of those I love in Ethiopia simply by means of sending a check to them and keeping up with monthly correspondences.

That way I won't have to hurt. I won't have to risk pain. I won't have to lose friends. I won't have to risk failure.


Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

I go, not entirely 100% because I want to, but because God has called me and I know He will be with me. Whatever fears I may have, I can leave them up to God. Whether they happen or not: God is my God and He will be with me. 

Time to Return

Sometimes we take a road to change the life of someone else. Sometimes someone else changes our life when we weren't expecting it. Sometimes God gives us opportunities to show His love to people someone else can not. Sometimes we mess that up and get caught up in our own plans. Sometimes we get second chances.

God is leading me to Ethiopia. He is urging me to love with deeper passion. There are 91 million people living in Ethiopia, Africa. I will never be able to meet each one of them. I will never be able to make any type of impact for even one one-hundredth of them. But that is not my goal. There is a story about a boy on a beach with washed up starfish. As he walks along, he picks up one every so often and throws it back into the ocean. He realizes he cannot help all of them, but he can make a difference to the ones he throws back into the ocean. I cannot help everyone. I am not their messiah. I can, however, make a difference for the few that God will lead me to. I can be that person to show them who their Messiah is.

God has been opening my heart for this missions to Ethiopia ever since I returned in 2012. I didn't know how much love God would enable me to feel for these people, but each day my heart burns within me to be back and to show them the way to Jesus. I feel their sorrows when they feel scared and sad. I feel their pain when they lose hope and love. I can't bear to see precious children grow to a hopeless future. I want to share with them the hope that is found in the grace of Christ.

So I follow God to Ethiopia and I will live there for two years. I will be serving with an organization called Blessing the Children International. They work with orphans and widows and desire for them to know Christ. They have an academy where they educate with a high level of quality. They have a sponsorship program where they provide food, education and supplies, and healthcare. They also function with five local churches in the Debre Zeyit community where national pastors and congregations minister together to spread the love of God and the gospel of Christ.

I plan on leaving sometime during the month of September 2014 to join the work God is already doing in Ethiopia. I will be teaching a Sunday School class and will be teaching a computer usage class at the Academy. Beyond those two points, I leave any more details up to God. I know I will be building relationships with people so that I can be the salt and light God has called me to be.

But I cannot go without your help. I would like to request two things from you. First, I would appreciate your prayers. When you think about me or think about children knowing more about God, please offer a prayer that God will work through me to bring hope to children in Ethiopia. Second, I would appreciate any donations you might give to my mission. I will be living in Ethiopia for two years without any sort of job and will be paying a monthly living fee. Above that, there are a few administration fees here in the States plus the airfare to and from Ethiopia. Please consider your part in my ministry as God works in your heart to give. You mustn't give extravagantly, but please listen to any urging that the Spirit is working within your heart.

With any donation, you will become part of my mission team. You will receive newsletters which will inform you of what is happening in Ethiopia and you will be able to see where your money is going. In each newsletter there will be highlighted things for you to pray with me about. You will not regret donating because it is more than just giving dollars, it is giving love and hope. Children across the world can know that you gave even when you didn't know them so that I can go and tell them about God's grace.


If you would like for your donation to be tax deductible, then please write your check out to “Blessing the Children International,” with the memo line “Kevin Barrick Mission Trip.” You may mail any donation directly to me at my postal address (Just email me for it), or if you would rather, you can send it straight to Blessing the Children International.

I would like to add each of my donors to an email correspondence list, so if you would like to be on that list, please mail your check directly to me with an additional paper with your email address.

If you cannot donate to my mission, but instead desire to be part of my team by prayer and still want an email correspondence of God's work in Ethiopia, then please email me your contact information so that I can add you to the correspondence list.






Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your giving. Thank you for your love. May God bless you for your faithfulness.








Kevin Barrick
kevin2ethiopia.blogspot.com
kevinmbarrick@gmail.com

Blessing the Children International
2267 Fraser Road - Kawkawlin, MI 48631-9145
www.blessingthechildren.org

James 1:27

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Contributions to Blessing the Children International are generally considered tax deductible;
however, in accordance with IRS regulations, these designated offerings are subject to the
governing board's control and discretion. When contributions for a particular individual exceed
trip/support expenses, or if that volunteer is unable to participate on the trip, the governing board
may redirect contributions to another activity within Blessing the Children International's mission
program. If you are uncertain whether your donation qualifies for a tax deduction, please contact
your tax consultant. Blessing the Children International is an approved 501(c)3 nonprofit.

You're Sending Me, God?

It's a thought that exhilarates me. However, at the same time it worries me. The thought that God has called me to return to Ethiopia. The thought that once more I can hold my kiddoes and see how they've grown and to see if they remember me and my quirkiness. The thought of traveling the streets of Debre Zeyit or cruising through the highways of Addis Ababa.

But it's more than those luxuries of fleeting memories.

What excites me more is the thought of maybe being able to plant seeds of the Gospel in the hearts of various and random children I meet along the way. I envision a lot of ministry options. The most definite seems to be teaching a Sunday School class at the church of my sponsor kid, Natnael. I also consider staying until my visa expires in two years after my arrival on Ethiopian soil. It's a challenging thought.

However it's not the going away that challenges me.
I don't worry about my emotional stamina in leaving America. As much as I love my family and friends and the kids I work with, I imagine only dealing with homesickness halfway through my trip. By that point I will be able to set up Skype sessions, work around school schedules and phone my Bible Club kids, and send email to my friends and family at least weekly. And that can suffice me, I'd think. I have nothing for my kids in Ethiopia, save random photos from people returning from a missions trip throughout the year.
What challenges me is the huge spiritual task in front of me. I'm not a Praying Clyde (Missionary to India with a great track record for praying). I'm not some spiritual fortitude.

I'm weak.

I often fall prey to Satan.

That's what frightens me. What if I erect myself to be some lighthouse, shining the way to Christ through the broken streets of Debre Zeyit-- and then my lighthouse crumbles to the ground, thrusting them into an unexpected darkness. What if I lift up the faltering in Ethiopia, pointing their way to the Healer--and then I, myself, trip on those pebbles and trip them, causing them to circle around and lose sight of the Saviour?

Can God still spread His Gospel and Kingdom?

I understand God can be the iron casting that weaves around my lighthouse, empowering it to stand against the thrashes of the sea I stand in. I understand God can keep me from falling and that He holds my hand in his while I hold the hand of a struggling soul on the streets of life.
But why risk it? Why play with the fate of someone who will reject Him with a volatile human as myself?

Because He risked it for me.

God doesn't send me out with absolutely no help from Him. He isn't sending me to reach Ethiopia's children for Him in my own strength, plans, or abilities. And because it isn't in my strength that He is sending me out, I can rest in His strength to keep me from falling into a disgrace.

So, yes. I am weak. Yes, I do what I don't want to do (sin) and I don't do what I want to do (glorify God). Yes, my spirit flaunts its independence in the face of the Father only to be pushed to my knees by the Opposer. Yes, I am far from worthy of the call to point the children of Ethiopia to the Messiah who will wash away their sins and restore their hope.

But, no. I'm not alone. No, I am not left to be weak. No, I'm not wandering blind. No, God doesn't keep me on my knees, but instead pulls me to my feet and shows me what it means to depend on His grace.

Thus God sends me out. A weak, broken, faltering light to shine the path to the One who sustains. He sends me out as one who is in the process of being sanctified into His holiness. Not as completely perfect, but as one with a cast or a bandage: showing my gwadenyoch (friends) that God can heal their pains and bind their wounds; and that God can restore them and use them for His glory.


Thus God sends me to boast of His power, not to rely on mine. May His love be seen in my love; may His power be seen through my weakness. May His redeeming grace be seen by my surrendered life.

April Showers Bring May Flowers: Showering Ethiopia with Prayer

I would like to call all my friends and family to join me on a month-long prayer journey. God is working great things in Ethiopia, and I think it would be appropriate to shower the work over their with prayer. Prayer over the people; over the ministries; over the ministers. Prayers to bless; to care; to give hope.

Each day I will post either a link to a story about an individual or family, or I will write up a little bio-article. Please join me in this prayer journey. It should only take you five minutes to learn the story, to learn the persons, to learn the struggles. It should only take you a minute at a time randomly throughout your day to lift these persons up in prayer to God.


Showering Ethiopia with Prayer: Day 1
Praying for the poorest of the poor.

Click here for the worst Jonnett has seen.


Here are the names again for you to pray for:

Fasika Girma (Girl, 9 months old)
Meseret Girma (Girl, 8 years old)
Elias Sintayehu (Boy, 5 years old)
Weynishet Girma (Girl, 10 years old)

Remember to pray that God will provide money for food and shelter, as well as sponsors to take on sponsoring these precious souls.