Last Thursday afternoon, during our week of evangelism, I came
into a broken down housing complex in the Africa village with two groups of
people. One had about seven older men in
conversation and the other was a mixed group of people who were hanging out and
I noticed that they were playing some type of card game. As this random white person showed up they
all stopped and said “hello”. I then
asked them if I could do a card trick for them, as my translator did a very
good job in Swahili. From there the
group grew to about 25 Tanzanians as I sat on a bench and shared the story of
Jairus’s dead girl and the sick women of twelve years. They listened intently of the story of Jesus
miracles and then moved into the work of salvation that Jesus did for us. It was such an awesome moment to see these
people who had no idea what salvation meant hear it for the first time. One guy asked why Jesus had to die on the
cross? Unfortunately my team couldn’t
stay any longer but I told them that I wanted to come back, not knowing that
would be the next day.
into a broken down housing complex in the Africa village with two groups of
people. One had about seven older men in
conversation and the other was a mixed group of people who were hanging out and
I noticed that they were playing some type of card game. As this random white person showed up they
all stopped and said “hello”. I then
asked them if I could do a card trick for them, as my translator did a very
good job in Swahili. From there the
group grew to about 25 Tanzanians as I sat on a bench and shared the story of
Jairus’s dead girl and the sick women of twelve years. They listened intently of the story of Jesus
miracles and then moved into the work of salvation that Jesus did for us. It was such an awesome moment to see these
people who had no idea what salvation meant hear it for the first time. One guy asked why Jesus had to die on the
cross? Unfortunately my team couldn’t
stay any longer but I told them that I wanted to come back, not knowing that
would be the next day.
The next day Andrea, Rachael, my same translator and I cameagain to the same group. They rwelcomed us on the small wooden stools, benches, and rocks and
showed them the card trick; they kept trying to catch me but never
could. I asked them if they remember the
story I shared and did. I asked
them if they remembered how Jesus saved, and they barely did but wanted me
to share again. So I asked them that if
they listened with much attention that I would show them.
As the group of twenty of so sat on seat against a house andwatched, I drew a HUGE picture in the dirt of the plan of salvation to
them. I never knew that red African dirt
could be so impactful and useful; I’m learning that everything on this earth is
spiritual in someway. As I spoke, I pray
boldly in Christ, and shared with them pictures in the dirt of what Christ did
for us, they listened so well and questions followed. After the fifteen minutes passed, I told them
that I wasn’t going to force anyone to make decisions like I didn’t yesterday,
and I wasn’t going to keep asking. But
then one person stood up to receive Christ and then another, and soon there
were ten people and a certain number of kids who came to Christ that day as our
translator led them in Swahili.
It was a great day, and in all honesty I really wasn’t sure whatto say to them the second day because of the first; or honestly I was
tired. But God used our team that day,
and who would have known he’d use card tricks to bring us to Jesus.
On Wednesday, I joined another group to go to a rundown hospital
in Mwanza. We visited many patients with
illnesses or injuries; some that I barely could see. We prayed for them, spoke life, encouraged
believers as their strength made us stronger. Unfortunately these hospitals are in poor condition here. The beds look like the old metal bar beds
with little comfort, mosquito nets are over every bed to keep the patients from
being bit, there’s no AC so the windows will stay open for air all the time,
and there’s a really bad infestation of ants. I saw ants on almost every bed the patients were lying in and walking
around; it was so sad to see. One of my
hardest moments was when the group I was with visited a twelve year old boy
named Yusto, but unfortunately his family that was there gave him a nickname
called “Mateso”. The nickname means
problems, and here was a kid that was suffering from tuberculosis, was still to
the point that he seemed paralyzed from no strength, the only thing he could
move as his eyes and make groans, and his family nicknamed him problems.
in Mwanza. We visited many patients with
illnesses or injuries; some that I barely could see. We prayed for them, spoke life, encouraged
believers as their strength made us stronger. Unfortunately these hospitals are in poor condition here. The beds look like the old metal bar beds
with little comfort, mosquito nets are over every bed to keep the patients from
being bit, there’s no AC so the windows will stay open for air all the time,
and there’s a really bad infestation of ants. I saw ants on almost every bed the patients were lying in and walking
around; it was so sad to see. One of my
hardest moments was when the group I was with visited a twelve year old boy
named Yusto, but unfortunately his family that was there gave him a nickname
called “Mateso”. The nickname means
problems, and here was a kid that was suffering from tuberculosis, was still to
the point that he seemed paralyzed from no strength, the only thing he could
move as his eyes and make groans, and his family nicknamed him problems.
He laid horizontally on the rough bed with
his older brother hitting him with a towel to keep dust and bugs off of
him. Our team, Kerry, Liz, Kay, and I
was heartbroken for this young boy that couldn’t move and was sickly dying was
also distraught that the family, professed Christians, would give him such a
nickname. We shared with them that words
have power, and this child can easily believe that he is a problem to them and
has problems, but God doesn’t see that in Him. We strongly rebuked them about God seeing him as a child of His, and as
believers we should never call him such a thing, but that their church should
be praying for this child. We gave him a
new name, Aaron, as a name of support. We saw this family come to tears, the older brother and parents as they
heard our words and saw the needs of this child. We cannot give up on people, and neither
should we ever label them as someone less or different as us. We prayed over this child and for this
family, as our team came heartbroken for him.
his older brother hitting him with a towel to keep dust and bugs off of
him. Our team, Kerry, Liz, Kay, and I
was heartbroken for this young boy that couldn’t move and was sickly dying was
also distraught that the family, professed Christians, would give him such a
nickname. We shared with them that words
have power, and this child can easily believe that he is a problem to them and
has problems, but God doesn’t see that in Him. We strongly rebuked them about God seeing him as a child of His, and as
believers we should never call him such a thing, but that their church should
be praying for this child. We gave him a
new name, Aaron, as a name of support. We saw this family come to tears, the older brother and parents as they
heard our words and saw the needs of this child. We cannot give up on people, and neither
should we ever label them as someone less or different as us. We prayed over this child and for this
family, as our team came heartbroken for him.
Back on Tuesday Rachael, the pastor, and I met an older man
named James; he was born in 1934. He was
happy to see us informing that we were the first ever white people ever to
speak to him. After some great
conversation I came to find out this man wasn’t a believer though his wife went
to a church. I then said to him in
respect, “James I know you are a man of years and full of knowledge, but God is
wisdom and therefore you have not wisdom.” I then said, “If it’s ok for me to share with you what Christ did, I
will allow to you ask any questions that you want.” He felt respected and during the whole time
of sharing the gospel he was so involved and listened, we laughed, he asked
questions and I answered as later this man was “cut to the heart” and desired
to come to Christ. This man of
seventy-six years, a former farmer and fisherman, now in the village with his
third wife (his first two died) had now received the gift of God and
wisdom. A couple of days later we
followed up with him and he was so happy, and was happy that we came back as we
promised. He is such a great guy and the
family is great, he said he wants to come to my wedding someday. That would be an expensive invitation, when
that day comes hopefully.
named James; he was born in 1934. He was
happy to see us informing that we were the first ever white people ever to
speak to him. After some great
conversation I came to find out this man wasn’t a believer though his wife went
to a church. I then said to him in
respect, “James I know you are a man of years and full of knowledge, but God is
wisdom and therefore you have not wisdom.” I then said, “If it’s ok for me to share with you what Christ did, I
will allow to you ask any questions that you want.” He felt respected and during the whole time
of sharing the gospel he was so involved and listened, we laughed, he asked
questions and I answered as later this man was “cut to the heart” and desired
to come to Christ. This man of
seventy-six years, a former farmer and fisherman, now in the village with his
third wife (his first two died) had now received the gift of God and
wisdom. A couple of days later we
followed up with him and he was so happy, and was happy that we came back as we
promised. He is such a great guy and the
family is great, he said he wants to come to my wedding someday. That would be an expensive invitation, when
that day comes hopefully.
Animals seen: HUGE purple
and pink lizards, HUGE black lizards, big stork birds that live near us with
big throats, many other various type of birds. Safari soon!
Culture: Women will carry
a large amount of things on their heads, it is not culturally appropriate for
me to do so, they do on their shoulders. Women will wear skirts, especially in the villages as men wear long
pants.
Food: I had sugarcane for
the first time here in Africa, it was really good. You literally chew on sticks as the juice
comes out and then you spit it out. A
LOT of rice, beans, pinneapple (it’s the best here!), and potatoes. Bring on the carbs!
*carrying sugar cane for the first time
A typical kitchen, the pastor’s wife and kids
