Here’s the deal: the deadline for the end of JUNE is to be fully funded. I am about 3500 away from that goal. The Lord put me on the race for a list of reasons I’m sure I could start telling you and I know He’s not done. I trust that He’ll provide and get me to 14,300 if He wants me here. I’ll list a few reasons I know so far of why God put me on the race:
1. to teach me that nothing is mine, it’s all His
2. to teach me how to be in relationship the right way
3. He’s taught me how to actively trust Him and not just have the trust mentality
4. to give up my personal space
5. to share
6. to meet a boy in swazi that i will support
7. to live the lifestyle of a missionary no matter if I’m in the field or not
8. i could go on and on.
I fully believe that the Lord only has greater things in the future. And not just for me-for everyone that I could pray for and encourage and help. I’m not on this trip for me even though I end up realizing so many things about myself and my life that need to change. I’ve seen the Lord radically change lives and He won’t stop. If the Lord wants me to come home-He’ll bring me home but I write in full faith that it’s not His will for me to come home. Not now, at least. SO! If you can help in any way whether it be $10 or $1,000 you would be changing lives. Sure, it’s cheesy but if it’s the truth it’s ok that it’s cheesy. I know this is a lot to ask but spread the word-tell one or two people. The race has become a reality to me. The other day I saw a crippled man pull himself across the street by his hands. It was a busy street and he had to hurry. It’s normal to see kids with sores on their heads and no shoes to wear. It’s a normal day for people to be blind and working just as hard as any person with sight. These things are normal and I’m on the race to offer something to these people whether it’s a hug or a bible verse or a meal. It’s my heart to have this opportunity for the next 5 months. Honestly, I don’t want this to be all I can do on the race. I want to meet a girl in Thailand that I can mentor and be persistent in getting her out of what she’s known as a normal life. I want to show girls that they are more than what they’re treated as. I want to love girls so passionately that they break my heart. I want to have Jesus’ heart for a ministry and these are all things I haven’t yet done. These are my selfish reasons for asking for support. Think of all the ministries to come and think of the knowledge I can bring home. Just think.
Moments that stuck out to me this month:
At hospital ministry we went in and prayed for a man who was seizing about every 20 minutes. He was a prisoner from jail and was paralyzed so he couldn’t walk. He could barely talk because he was so worn out. Our translator, Lovemore, was getting him to confess his sins so he could be freed of the seizures and being paralyzed. He was in the middle of confessing when he seized again. He tried to say the name of Jesus but couldn’t. We prayed for him a while and have faith that he is freed from his sins whether or not he was healed soon after. That was a hard visit because we step into peoples lives for half an hour and intercede for them but we get to leave their pain. My heart was defeated in that moment and could only think of him lying there on a mattress on the floor seizing and being exhausted all night. I got to see his pain, prayer over it, and leave. I got to go back to my life of health. I trust the Lord didn’t let him suffer all night because of our prayers. I have to trust.
We get to worship with the prisoners at the jail on Wednesdays. I love watching them close their eyes and lift their hands in submission. They have some pretty lively songs that the men dance to. Those are my favorites! I can’t even explain how it feels to stand amongst 100+ men and worship with them as they lead. Their voices are so loud and their claps are so joyful. It’s incredible every time. I wish jail ministry was more personal because you can look at these men and see they have a heart on fire for God. We worship with them, preach, and then pray. It’s a ministry I’ll really miss.
Our first widow visit was a lady who was taking care of her three grandkids. She has leprosy and has no toes as well as almost no fingers. Iris Ministries provides food for her but the fact that her husband has died and her son has left his kids with her still breaks my heart. Many of these widows don’t have visitors besides a man who works with Iris. He is very dedicated to visiting these women and encouraging them. I wish I could visit them each every day and just hug them and share a meal with them. I also wish I could speak their language so they could have an adult conversation! The widows we visited were in awe of the Lord and they lived off of His love. You can tell they wouldn’t be able to survive otherwise. I feel like they should be ministering to me and sharing their wisdom! They were all so beautiful and each one touched my heart. They contain and uncontrollable joy and fervor for the Lord. Conviction: anytime I feel lonely and want to whine-I have Jesus and they’ve shown me that’s all I need.
This morning Iris had all the widows come to the base for worship and a short word. Then we helped fill their bags/buckets they brought with corn. These women walked out with a heavy bag of corn on their heads, a woven mat underneath their arms and usually something else to carry. I saw one woman who was pregnant with a baby on her back, an umbrella in her hand, her mat in the other hand, and the bucket of corn on her head. These are big buckets and she balanced it on her head all the way home without using her hands! These women are so determined and willing to work hard for what little they have. They’re ridiculously inspiring because I struggled every time to carry a bag of corn with TWO hands. This is their lifestyle-they’re hardworking and driven women. Both lessons I am hardheaded to learn, I think.
If you feel led to support me financially-thank you thank you thank you! If you don’t feel led-that’s a-ok and I’m still thankful for you. Take time to talk to the Lord about it. I’d much rather you talk to Him than make a hasty decision because you feel obligated. No pressure from me! I hope you’re enjoying a nice summer day as you read this. Today it rained most of the day-the first day of rain in Mozambique. The roads are dusty and hot here when there is no rain. Summer rains are my favorite so enjoy those storms for me.
Love
