Talk of Africa always makes me feel like I’m Dorothy staring into the tornado. Life in the Americas has been uniquely impactful, and we have seen the hand of God move powerfully, but something in the pit of my stomach tells me that Africa is going to change everything.
“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
I don’t know how to prepare myself for what my eyes will see in Africa. Oppression. Disease. Children malnourished and living on the streets. The effects of a continent devastated by wars. A thick blanket of spiritual darkness. Hungry desperation. Mozambique in particular has recently been riddled with the bullets of flooding, typhoons, and the outbreak of diseases that follow. This is what we are preparing to step into:
“…I have arranged for 20 of the WR’s to go to Dondo, it is
impossible for them to accommodate more… the water situation at the base is
critical and the team will have to buy drinking water from Beira on the
coast 20 miles from Dondo, there is plenty of local transport between
Dondo and Beira. Claud and Steve will travel up with the teams in the two Land Rovers,
the teams will have to use the local bus service as transport to get to Dondo with the two Land Rovers helping them with
logistics on the way. Mozambique is a very difficult country to operate in, besides the
bribery, corruption and poverty, many of the bases have to have armed
guards with automatic rifles at night for protection otherwise they get
raided by gangs of armed thugs, the team has to be accommodated in a
secured area, this is a limiting factor.”
“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold for my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1
Three months prior to departure for the World Race, the Lord gave us a prophetic word. He told us that we are to mark a line, and claim every step we take as holy ground for the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Despite its history of hardships, I have heard of a miraculous resilience in Africa. I have heard that orphans dance and laugh and sing. I have heard that the people are hungry for Jesus Christ and the healing, purpose, freedom, and abundant life that He brings.
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear!” 1 John 4:18
I know a great challenge awaits us, least of all being the loss of all comforts and entitlements. On the edge of Africa, we stand together, fearless, for Perfect Love lives in us. Let darkness tremble. We carry the banner of the Most High God and we press on, pushing the line of his kingdom into Africa.
“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:31-37
