It’s 2:19AM here in the Maramba village in Livingstone, Zambia, and I can’t sleep.
I was sleeping with the enemy and couldn’t stand it. Who is this enemy?
A mosquito..or twelve. In my ear.
Well, the Lord had a few lessons to teach me through all of this. First, I sadly realized that my initial thought when I woke wasn’t praising God but cursing this mosquito. I want God to be at the center of all I do and worshipping Him to be the first thing I turn to even when, especially when, it doesn’t make sense.
And I realized that I have been sleeping with the enemy for way too long. Maybe not as literally as with these mosquitoes but figuratively, yes. I’ve allowed shame, pride, lust, materialism, gluttony, gossip and I’m sure a number of other sins to dwell. Yes, they seem innocent just buzzing around me but ultimately, they distract me from the one that matters. They come and go as they please, and I’m the only one who really hears them and knows they are there, so it’s all good, right? Wrong.
Well, I decided it’s time to fight my stubbornness and pay the $10 for a mosquito net and bug spray at the local SHOPRITE. I know you’re probably thinking why in the world didn’t she do that in the first place. Well, I am prideful, lazy and didn’t want to take the steps necessary to protect myself from harm, also known as malaria. I thought, “Hey, I’m taking doxycycline so I don’t need any more protection, right?.” Wrong. Why would I just use one weapon to fight something when I could use several?
Relating to this, what tools does God give us to protect ourselves against this world? And why aren’t we using all of them to protect ourselves?
He has given us the Scripture, His Spirit and accountability through community. Please learn from my mistakes and don’t choose just one. Rather, utilize all three. I mean that’s what they are there for, right?
Ephesians 6:10-13 tells us, “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world- rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.”
A note to supporters: I sincerely appreciate the support and love you have shown me over the past 10 months. While I am fully funded for this missions trip, there have been several expenses along the way that weren’t included in the cost of the trip. Some of these include: my gear (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, big pack, clothes, daypacks, etc. = total of $1050), international health insurance ($320) and medications/shots ($870). If you are interested in making a donation towards any of these things, then you can get in touch with me at [email protected] with any questions.
If you have a Paypal account, then you can make a donation to my account at [email protected] or mail a check to Meredith Snapp, 435 Biddle Road, Sumter, SC 29153. Please be aware that these donations are not tax-deductible.
I am so excited to reunite with you in less than 2 months and share more about the adventures that God has taken me on.
