Where do I even begin? This month my team, Team LOL (Ladies of Love), and team RAJ (Right After Jesus) were together in Chimoio, Mozambique. Let’s just say we coined a hashtag that was used several times throughout our stay. #TIA, or this is Africa. It was used to make sense of the immediate culture shock, things we didn’t understand, and their norms that seemed completely foreign to us.
Mozambique. Yes, this is Africa. It’s the Africa we expected (but didn’t). The Africa that took us off guard around every corner.
Our journey to our host home consisted of packing 4 people into the backseat of a pickup and 5 in the bed with all of our luggage. I road in the back on top of my suitcase through the city in the rain on bumpy dirt roads. Oh yeah, the guy happened to mention not to lean against the tailgate because it’s not really reliable to stay latched.
Welcome to Chimoio.
I realized, wow, I could literally just fall out of this truck and die right now. What can you do but laugh? Africans live like this every day. #TIA
We camped in our tents in the front yard of our host’s house. It was gated, but anyone could’ve jumped the fence. All the neighbors were watching the 13 white American girls move in and unpack. We were quite the spectacle. We were told the neighborhood is safe and not to worry. Even when we heard gunshots in the middle of the night we were reassured by our hosts that that’s just normal. #TIA. I was a little on edge the first night, but I truly believed in the Lord’s protection. He kept us safe and secure.
One thing I will never take for granted again is the American bathroom. Does your toilet have a seat and flush? Does your water run at all hours of the day? Does your shower get warm? Consider yourself blessed.
Another thing I thought was interesting was how many people back home were impressed by what I’m doing. Many people told me they could never live like that, in a tent taking bucket showers. But you know what? My tent has become my refuge. Bucket showers have become a blessing. Don’t think you could do it? Millions of Africans do every day. #TIA
Walking through the streets of Chimoio provided the most culture shock I’ve ever experienced. African skirts, head wraps, and baskets of bananas being carried on women’s heads? Totally a thing. Breast feeding in the middle of the street? No problem. Kids standing naked on giant tires bucket showering in their front yard? Normal. Buying your entire day’s worth of groceries on the street? Yup. Transporting live chickens on the bus? Sure. 20 people riding in the back of a truck through the streets? Absolutely. #TIA
You know what? I’ve loved every moment of it. By American standards these people don’t have much, but you know what they do have? Joy. Things move a lot slower here. They are definitely less organized. My host house doesn’t have an address, just a neighborhood number. #TIA. As an American, the lack of organization and promptness was frustrating. But you know one thing that Africans put high value on that many Americans don’t? Relationship. So maybe they were two hours late to pick us up for our ministry, but it was because they were spending time with their family. Priorities?
You know another thing most Africans put a lot of value on? God. A large part of our ministry this month has been street evangelism. We are working with a tiny church in Chimoio to help build them up and spread the word of God. We are known all over town as the white church girls. I speak minimal Portuguese, but the people here never refused me when I talked about Jesus or the church. They never looked at me like I was crazy. The majority of them welcomed prayer in the middle of the street, even if they didn’t understand what was being said. The spiritual isn’t taboo. In fact, it’s real. #TIA
Jesus is alive. He isn’t just some story here like he has become in so much of western culture. Mozambiquens’ pockets may be a lot emptier than most Americans’, but their hearts are certainly fuller. Which is more important?
We spent the first week of our ministry painting at an orphanage. We had the opportunity to hang out with the kids a few days. I spent time with two girls named Ana and Mikaela. They didn’t speak any English, but they were sweet and kind-hearted. They followed me around the next day and helped me clean. I was blessed to talk with them and pray for them. Their smiles warmed my heart. It’s difficult to walk in and out of so many people’s lives, especially children. But if God has taught me one thing in Africa, it’s the power of prayer. Prayer is all I can do. Prayer is all I have. But prayer can move mountains.
Today, I walked into a bar. I asked the bartender if he spoke any English. He nodded and said, “a little bit.” I had a 10 minute conversation with him about Jesus’ love at his bar while he was passing out bottles of beer to his patrons. I even had the opportunity to invite him to church and pray for him right there. I felt the Holy Spirit at work when he shuddered under my hand. I can only hope a seed was planted. Some of my teammates saw 20 people come to Christ in a bus station today. God is alive, and people are hungry. #TIA
Everyone hungers to be known. Everyone hungers to be loved. We have been creative this month in finding ways to show God’s compassion. One of my teammates buys a homeless man lunch whenever she has the opportunity. Another of my teammates hugs whoever will let her on the street. We frequent a cafe run by Muslims and talk to them about Jesus. They’ve grown so fond of us they gave us lunch for free. We tell them they’re a lot like Christ. They just smile.
As I reflected on my month I began to compare myself to many of my teammates. The enemy tried to convince me that my actions were inadequate, but God told me that He has seen everything I’ve done. He has seen my growth. I am on my own journey. The Kristen I was even two months ago wouldn’t have been able to do the things I did this month. I’m thankful that the Lord has shown me the importance of loving His people. I’m blessed He knows my heart.
These last three months in Africa have been something I will never forget. I’ve seen things I could’ve never imagined and experienced Jesus in ways I never knew I could. I’ve learned lessons from the Lord through everyone around me. I consider myself incredibly lucky that the Lord chose to send me.
Next stop, India! Please keep my team and me in your prayers as we travel to our next destination!
