This month crazy things have been happening! At the start of our time in Tanzania, my team decided on some common goals. One of our goals was to pray with more expectancy. I had NO idea how much of an opportunity we were going to have with this one!
Coming from Nairobi, we had extremely long travel days till we arrived in Singida. We stayed overnight in Arusha where it began pouring rain (think monsoon rains). The next morning when we got up early to leave for the bus station it was still raining. Our taxi's car wouldn't start so Abby, Julia, and I waited in the car for awhile. Finally things get moving and we make it to the bus station. The guy who was escorting us to the bus station stacked our main packs somewhere, then we followed him to the bus staton office where we waited. We were waiting to pay, waiting for the bus, and waiting for the rest of our team. The three of us were sitting down when all of a sudden Abby grabbed my thigh, I screamed, Julia was startled, and the guys at the counter screamed and jumped onto the counter. I felt feet run across my foot and the tail hit Julia's leg. The guys knew after the moment had passed it was a mouse, but Abby says it was the biggest mouse she's ever seen! When I screamed though, the mouse bolted. In all the ruckus, the worship flags had fallen over. The guy behind the counter picked them up for us (because we definitely weren't putting our feet back on the ground with a mouse running around!) and placed them in the corner of the office.All of a sudden, the rest of our team was there and the bus had arrived. We hurried out of the office, into the pouring rain, and onto the bus filled with shouting people. It was a weird and uncomfortable ride to say the least, but once we were almost to Singida, I realized we had forgotten the flags in the office.
I was devastated! We had debated whether the flags should be split up or not and they are not even mine! When we arrived at the bus station, though, our Pastor and the bus attendant said they would call the office and get those back for us. I have a one-track mind, so I wanted everything to happen immediately. When it didn't, I felt the need to try myself. I knew our friends here were busy plus they didn't understand the significance of getting the flags back. We called and called with no luck. Most of the people we talked to didn't speak English; the person whom Joe spoke with simply said that she refused. After that call, I went to hammock to have alone/Jesus time and I cried. I felt completely responsible for losing them nor did I have any idea how I would tell Rachel (my first squad leader – who the flags belong to – whom I love dearly) that I lost half of the flags. All through this though, my team – who hasn't connected with the flags yet – put enormous amounts or effort, hope, and prayer into getting the flags back. They just knew the flags would come back! About three days into ministry, Pastor asked us the dimensions and color of the flags. We confirmed and he said the flags are waiting for us to pick them up at the bus station! Oh my goodness! I could not even believe it! I didn't want to mourn them again so I waited to see them to completely believe. It was true; the flags were back! I don't know haw Pastor and the Lord managed to get the flags back to us five hours from where we left them in a small town in Tanzania, East Africa, but I was completely ecstatic!!
We thought one crazy, expectant prayer answered was pretty sweet, little did we know we would get another opportunity! One day last week for ministry, we went around the neighborhood by the church, met people, and played with children. At the last house, we were there for a long time and started to take a lot of pictures. I had my camera out taking pictures then I tried to put my camera back in my purse and pose for a group picture. After that we left and headed for some large rocks to climb. Before we started climbing, I looked in my purse and noticed my camera was gone. I told Alli, Abby, and our translator, Nahson. We went back to look, couldn't find it, but walked around and asked every kid that had been there. No one said they had seen it. By the time we had found the last kid who we thought may have taken it, about ten other children were following us. The last child denied having it. My heart was sinking. I was thinking about how my response would be on our walk back to the rocks. Before we got there we ran into Pastor, a school boy, Joe, Chuck, and Julia. Nahson told them what happened. The school boy spoke up and said he knew who took it – the last child we had asked. So we were off and on a mission! I am not kidding you, I felt like I was on the three stooges or something. We probably walked back and forth in that neighborhood at least five times! It seemed like a show for all the adults to watch, because by then every one knew my camera was missing. We walked this way and that… The boy led us to his house. After an undetermined amount of time, but one which seemed like forever, the boy gave my camera back!!
Once Pastor was there looking for my camera, my team basically hung back and let the Tanzanians handle it. There were so many things going through my head during this time! There was a lot of yelling at the boy's house from all the adults and rumors of maybe calling the police? I doubt it though. It was really cool to see a community enact the tribal mentailty – where it is the collective community's job to raise the kid, no matter if good times or bad times. I was also a little embarrassed that so much commotion was being made over my camera, which I was pretty sure was gone. In the end, the commotion was a good thing! We made sure the boy knew we were not mad at him. Even though he did a bad thing, he was not a bad boy. He was a good boy and us/Jesus still loves him (paraphrase from Blood Diamond).
Through both of these experiences, I have seen the power of prayer and expectant prayers answered. I was privileged to see how respected the Pastor is within the community and how trustworthy he is. The stereotype is true: Tanzanians are the friendliest people! I am still in awe and want to challenge you to REALLY believe in your prayer. God listens and intervenes. In the next week or month, look for specific ways God answers your prayers. Email or message me them! I'd love to celebrate that with you!! Sorry the internet is too slow to add pictures.
P.S. Fundraising Update: The final deadline is January 1, 2012 to have 15,500. I am currently $2,500 away from my goal. This covers expenses such as: travel, lodging, some food. I have to pay for: food not covered above, team excursions, internet to stay in contact with all of you, 🙂 and the flight home. If you are interested in financially supporting me either way, please message/email me! I cannot express enough gratitude to everyone who has supported/will support me with their finances and prayers! I love you all!
