I realized that my last blog about Africa was not exactly uplifting but at the same time truthful. And as many people have commented and said that we have pioneered West Africa for the World Race, I completely agree. I have found that what we did was labor and it was exhausting but that is part of the harvesting process. We plowed and planted as many seeds as we could so that someone in the future can reap that harvest.
And while it is good to be out of Africa and onto a new journey in Romania (which is AWESOME!), I wanted to write one more blog about Nigeria. I mentioned a little bit in my last blog about an orphanage we visited on one of our last days in Nigeria and I wanted to share a little more about it.
Many of the kids had been orphaned by HIV/AIDS and because of that they are rejected and outcasted from their village and even some churches. The man who runs the orhpanage is passionate about educating people, especially Christian ministers and pastors, about HIV/AIDS because there is so much confusion and deception about it. He told me that sometimes in churches, people will not even sit next to someone who has AIDS because they think that they are condemned. It absolutely broke my heart.
And he told me about these two beautiful young girls that live with him…that because their parents died from HIV/AIDS, their village completely rejected them and they had nowhere to go. These girls were tested negative for AIDS, but the village still did not want anything to do with them. By the grace of God this man was able to help them and get them enrolled in school in the city. I couldn’t understand how someone could completely reject a child like that. But the ignorance about AIDS in Africa is far worse than you can even imagine. I have spent much time reflecting on my time in Nigeria and releasing it to the Lord so I can move on with ministry in Romania and He has given me so much clarity. As soon as I left Africa, so much became clear. Even though I am so thankful for the promised land, I wouldn’t want to live without the deserts. If my faith was only based on experiences and feeling God or even feeling the value of the desert while in it, it is not very strong faith. I am learning to grow in faith so that when I can’t see the purpose of the desert or when I can’t necessarily feel God next to me, I can believe him at his word that he will never leave me and that his plan for me is always for good.
Romania is absolutely gorgeous and right now as I ride the train across the countryside, I am blown away at God’s faithfulness and goodness. He has truly brought me to a land flowing with milk and honey and it made every moment of the wilderness worth pain and struggle. Now I am excited for God restore my passion for the lost and to just love the people of Targu Mures, Romania by being ME!
