At the beginning of January, my friend from YWAM sent me an encouraging word:
 
"While walking through Manoa with Jesus, I felt like He wants to remind you that we entered the Philippines during a harvest and we reaped. Ask the Lord what season you are in in each country you enter. In some places you will be clearing rocks, in some you will be weeding, in some you will be turning the soul, in some planting seeds, in some tending the fragile crops as they grow and in others harvesting. I love you and I'm so proud of you! �"

During my YWAM outreach last year, the Philippines was in a season of harvest – we saw God move in miraculous ways. In a two month span of time we witnessed 23 healing and 3 salvations!

My team and I were beyond excited to see such fruit, especially since so many teams before us did not experience such fruit. We understood that those who went before us paved the way by clearing the rock, preparing the soil, planting the seeds, others weeded, but we reaped.

The Philippines was in a season of spiritual harvest – hearts had been turned and stirred and they were ready to receive.

My friend's message spoke such truth and brought me to a place of understanding – I finally understood why after five months on the race I have yet to witness the miraculous – the countries we are in are in a different season.

I've understood the importance of knowing what season I'm in personally and even corporately as a team, but it never occurred to me to pray into a country's season.

As we prepare to enter Africa in a few days, my prayer is for God to use us to further his kingdom whether that means pulling weeds, planting, or reaping.

During our prayer time for Africa last week, we heard several interesting things:

  • The blind will see and the deaf will hear – spiritually and physically!
  • Forerunners – bringing the gospel to people who haven't heard the name of Jesus before
  • Salvations!
It sounds to me as if we're entering during a season of harvest – the seeds have grown, the weeds pulled, and hearts are ready! The time is now!

This coming month we're working with Bethel Family Worship Center in Arusha, Tanzania. Our main focus will be evangelism – a prefect ministry for a season of harvest!